Category Archive: 5) Global Macro

Weekly Emerging Markets: What has Changed

Bank Indonesia signaled it may pause its easing cycle.  Senior Deputy Governor Adityaswara said “We want to see the impact on growth and inflation before we do the next cut.”  Elsewhere, Governor Martowardojo said that the central bank must be carefu...

Read More »

Frisky Yen Upsets Japan’s GOSPLAN

  It Wasn’t Supposed to Do That… When you’re a central banker in a pure fiat money system and even your ability to print your own currency into oblivion is questioned by the markets, you really have a problem. This is actually funny on quite a number...

Read More »

Latin America – Seven Ugly Sisters in Deep Political Trouble

Get beyond endless Latin American headlines burning column inches and you come to far broader strategic conclusion: The seven ‘ugly Latino sisters’, namely Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico and Argentina are all deep political trouble from collapsed benchmark prices.

Read More »

What Killed the Middle Class?

If the four structural trends highlighted below don't reverse, the middle class is heading for extinction. Everyone knows the middle class is fading fast. I've covered this issue in depth for years, for example: Honey, I Shrunk the Middle Class: Perhaps 1/3 of Households Qualify (December 28, 2015) and What Does It Take To Be Middle Class? (December 5, 2013)

Read More »

Emerging Markets: Preview of the Week Ahead

EM ended the week on a mixed note after posting strong post-FOMC gains. The bounce in risk seems likely to continue this week, with little on the horizon to derail it. Specific country risk remains in play, however, with heightened political concerns in Brazil and South Africa. Taiwan reports February export orders Monday, which are …

Read More »

Weekly Emerging Markets: What has Changed?

China press is reporting that policymakers are drafting rules for a so-called Tobin tax on yuan transactions.  This would seem to go against China’s efforts at making the yuan more accessible and liquid.  While it could deter speculative activity, th...

Read More »

Can we train our brains to process information differently? | The Economist

Reading Braille is a tactile activity. But an experiment by researchers at Jagiellonian University in Poland shows that sighted people can coax the visual part of our brains to read it. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 Check out Economist Films: http://films.economist.com/ Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk Like …

Read More »

Why concussion in sport needs to be tackled | The Economist

New research suggests that repeated concussion may lead to CTE, a degenerative brain disease. Sports like American football and rugby need better safeguards for players. Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 Check out Economist Films: http://films.economist.com/ Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk Like The Economist on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEconomist/...

Read More »

Charles -Hugh- Smith – Nearly- Free- University

http://www.oftwominds.com/blog.html Like #Berniesanders, economist, author, and financial blogger Charles Hugh Smith believes college should be free (or nearly free.) The way to do this, he says, is not by taxing others, but by re-thinking traditional educational delivery methods (ex: expensive buildings, classrooms, professors, etc.) and taking advantage of modern technology. Higher education as currently delivered, …

Read More »

Emerging Market Preview: Week Ahead

EM enjoyed an extended rally last week, and it should carry over to the early part of the week. The Wednesday FOMC meeting poses a risk to EM, especially if markets continue to price in a more hawkish Fed. The dot plots and press conference will be very important. BOE and the Norges Bank also … Continue reading »

Read More »

How to predict rogue waves | The Economist

Rogue waves can damage and even sink vessels. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have come up with an algorithm that predicts when they are about to strike Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.trib.al/rWl91R7 Sailors and fishermen spend days, sometimes weeks, at sea often battling stormy weather. Dangerous conditions can …

Read More »

Anti-Trump advertising: A last-ditch attack | The Economist

Anti-Trump groups are spending millions on negative advertising ahead of key primaries on Tuesday Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.st/2lI31px Daily Watch: mind-stretching short films throughout the working week. For more from Economist Films visit: http://econ.st/2lJ3rMf Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk Like The Economist on Facebook: http://econ.st/2lI330D Follow …...

Read More »

The Bionic Man

How does it feel to move a foot that isn’t even there? The world’s first recipient of a thought-controlled bionic leg reveals all. Future Works features the people doing tomorrow’s jobs today. The series examines the impact of new technology in creating new jobs—and transforming existing ones. It looks beyond the gadgets to reveal what … Continue reading...

Read More »

Emerging Markets Preview: Week Ahead

(from my colleague Dr. Win Thin)Risk sentiment ended last week on a strong note, and that should carry over into this week.  The global liquidity backdrop remains positive for EM, with the ECB widely expected to add more stimulus on Thursday.  I...

Read More »

Emerging Markets: What has Changed

In the EM equity space, Brazil (+17.8%), Singapore (+7.1%), and India (+6.4%) have outperformed this week, while Qatar (+0.6%), Poland (+1.1%), and Malaysia (+1.7%) have underperformed.  To put this in better context, MSCI EM rose 6.8% this week whil...

Read More »

Revolutionary Guards: The Way of the Iranian Future

Iranian elections have supposedly put a very nice ‘moderate’ spin on Iranian politics in parliamentary ranks, and more importantly, Assembly of Experts composition. While it would be churlish to deny, it represents a significant step forward for Pres...

Read More »

Emerging Market Preview, First Week of March

  EM ended last week on a soft note, due to a variety of both external and internal factors.  Firm US data continue to support our call for resumed Fed tightening, and this gave the dollar a bit of a bid.  With the dollar gaining against the majors, this spilled over into generalized dollar gains … Continue reading »

Read More »

Weekly Emerging Markets: What has Changed?

(from my colleague Dr. Win Thin)

Read More »

Ports and policy in Indonesia: A maritime superpower in the making?

Indonesia’s president has ambitious plans to overhaul the country’s backward infrastructure. He had better work fast Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: http://econ.st/2lI31px Daily Watch: mind-stretching short films throughout the working week. For more from Economist Films visit: http://econ.st/2lJ3rMf Check out The Economist’s full video catalogue: http://econ.st/20IehQk Like The Economist on Facebook: …...

Read More »

The New Food Revolution

Have they found a better way to feed the planet? Meet the people hoping to revolutionise the food chain. Future Works features the people doing tomorrow’s jobs today. The series examines the impact of new technology in creating new jobs—and transforming existing ones. It looks beyond the gadgets to reveal what it’s like to work … Continue...

Read More »