The Trans Pacific Partnership known as TPP involves 12 nations and will constitute 35% of global trade, when and if it is fully implemented. The negotiations have been ongoing for almost 10 years, among the nations that straddle the Pacific Rim. If one were to add the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of these nations, it would add up to $28 trillion USD (United States Dollar). Together this represents nearly 40% of global GDP. The new partnership will bring massive new opportunities for […]
Investing In France Becomes More Challenging With Florange Act
At the beginning of the 21st century, France was still considered a leader in the world of business. As the 2nd largest economy in Europe, the country was able to greatly influence the biggest trade bloc in the world. Investing in France for the long term, seemed to make sense as it was recognized that there were a number of French companies considered world class. The country’s stock market at that time, (CAC-40) contained 5% of the global total of shares traded. […]
Corporate Debt In The United States Is Growing Rapidly
The issuance of corporate debt in the United States is expanding at an alarming rate, if investors consider the mediocre economic growth that has been the rule since the end of the Great Recession in June 2009. In 2015 it is growing faster than at any other time. This is on top of three record breaking years of additional debt. Much of this financial activity is being funded by the excessively low rates of interest, that were put in place by the […]
An Economic Recovery In Russia?
There are quite a few analysts and some investors that are insisting that Russia has finally turned the corner and that real economic growth will return soon. They point to the recent action by the Russian Central Bank in lowering the benchmark interest rate from 14% to 12.5%. The reduction in the cost of borrowing came in addition to the success of the government in auctioning bonds in April, after months of suspension. Earlier in the month the Governor of the Central […]
Will Elections In The United Kingdom Bring About A European Exit?
The national elections in the United Kingdom on May 07th is a crossroads for the future of the country. There are not only enormous economic implications, but political ones as well at stake. One is the future of the nation and its role within the European Economic Community (EEC). Will Mr. Cameron the incumbent Prime Minister, be able to renegotiate the role of of his country within the EEC or will he end up being the navigator of a long feared […]
Japan: A Case Study In The Limits To Quantitative Easing
Economists and politicians that become addicted to quantitative easing, often fail to realize when it is no longer working. Touted as a panacea for economies caught in a malaise, it is supposed to deliver new economic growth and stave off the harmful effects of deflation. Based on a theory that if a dose of quantitative easing (QE) is good for a stagnating economy, more of the same should be even better. The best modern example of this in the 21st century, is […]
China’s Latest Efforts At Monetary Stimulus
In an effort to encourage investment within China, the government has further relaxed bank reserve requirements. It is another attempt to maintain the Chinese rate of economic growth to at least 7%. The latest industry wide cut, is the second one in less than 3 months. The last one was on February 04th, when a 50 basis points reduction was made. That was the first across the board decrease made since 2012. It highlights the determination of the Chinese leadership, to fight […]
The Reluctant Economic Recovery in Europe
The European economy was stagnating in 2014. A number of the major economies in the region were on the verge of recession and deflation was haunting the continent. Austerity was being pursued with a vengeance in a number of countries, in an attempt to pay down debt and bring national budgets back into balance. Unemployment stubbornly refused to move down with joblessness among European youth approaching 50%. Economic growth meager at best, was limited to just a number of countries that had […]
A Wider War In The Middle East Is Now More Likely Than Ever
The news that Russia was going to sell Iran advanced S-300 surface to air missiles at the beginning of the week, raised the stakes for the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. In essence, it ends the international arms embargo against Iran and underlines the failure of the United States in trying to manage the deteriorating situation in the region. The news also in reality sets a deadline for Israel, to launch a preemptive strike against the nuclear installations in Iran. It […]
Nigeria: Will The Changing Of The Guard Help Investment?
Nigeria for investors has always been a nation with great potential since independence from the United Kingdom in 1960. The Civil War from the years 1967 to 1970 dashed the earlier hopes for a stable and prosperous economy. This was the end result of corruption and a series of military coups that culminated into violence on a massive scale. The era of the military juntas from 1970 to 1999 would then follow. Only in the 21st century, did the country painfully make […]