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EU/UK financial trading risks need close monitoring

Location:

EU/UK

Hedge funds are systemically important participants in financial markets and their preference for leverage amplifies their impact, especially when interest rate changes prompt…

Interest rate uncertainty keeps pressure on US bonds

Location:

INTERNATIONAL

The Fed and ECB seem set to diverge, with the latter expected to cut rates in June. There is a rising prospect, bolstered by the resilient US labour market and Middle East…

Gulf economies are on a stable track despite risks

Location:

GULF STATES

The IMF has revised downwards its forecast for Saudi GDP growth in 2024 to 2.7% but raised its 2025 forecast to 5.5%. This reflects a positive medium-term outlook for the Gulf…

Eastern Europe's rate policies diverge with Czech cut

Location:

EASTERN EUROPE

The NBP is not cutting interest rates further partly because of tensions with Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s pro-EU government, following the defeat of the nationalist Law and…

China’s economic model will evolve

Location:

CHINA

President Xi Jinping first used the concept on an inspection visit in Heilongjiang province in September 2023. The NPF concept recognises that China's existing growth model cannot…

Egypt's economy will stand on firmer ground

Location:

EGYPT

Its actions included floating the currency, which triggered a major devaluation, and a 600-basis point increase in its benchmark interest rate to 27.75%. Meanwhile, the government…

Canberra will be tough on pricing but not on mergers

Location:

AUSTRALIA

Under pressure on cost-of-living issues, Canberra is reviewing competition laws to see what effect market dominance may be having in a handful of major sectors, including banking…

Gulf states: Western investment drive will accelerate

Location:

GULF STATES

This trend was sustained in 2023 with USD23bn worth of investments in US markets alone. However, Gulf investments are subject increasingly to greater Western scrutiny because of…

French government faces a difficult fiscal dilemma

Location:

FRANCE

As a result of dwindling tax revenue, he also said that state spending would be cut by EUR10bn (USD10.8bn). The government’s forecast for this year is more optimistic than…

Brazil renewables will gain priority amid challenges

Location:

BRAZIL

Brazil has one of the cleanest energy matrixes in the world by international standards. However, the production of oil and oil derivatives continues to grow, and the country is…