Economics
That's One Tough Dollar, but Oddly Down for September

True to its recent habit, the US dollar is finishing the week on a firm note. On the month, ...

Thursday Headlines: OPEC, Deutsche Bank and Many Fed Speakers

The US dollar has firmer against most major and emerging market currencies. It remains well ...
Markets
Does Japan's Democracy Have Room for Women and Children?

A wave of political activism has animated East Asian politics: Taiwan’s Sunflower Student ...

It's an Italian Thing

Italian Prime Minister has set the date for the constitutional referendum as late as practically ...
Investing
Are You Ready for Renminbi?

On October 1, the Chinese renminbi officially joins becomes the fifth international reserve ...

The Peso, but Probably not Voters, Moved by the Debate

The first US Presidential debate may not sway many voters but has lifted the Mexican peso. ...
Personal Finance
Apple is Just the Beginning for Ireland

When the European Union decided to fine Apple €13.5 billion for tax evasion in Ireland last ...

An Angry Apple

The EU’s ruling that Apple must pay the Irish tax authorities
Industries
Brothers in Energy

China used to call Russia its ‘older brother’. However, never again since the fall of ...

Move Over Oil, It's LNG

During this year’s G7 summit, Japan announced its vision of creating a LNG market to meet ...
Statistics

Political Economy

26 September 2016

Global Political Developments Take Center Stage

The major central banks have placed down their markers and have moved to stage left. There are the late-month high frequency data, which pose some headline risks in the week ahead. The focus for most investors will be on several political developments.
21 September 2016

Japan's LDP could Use Some Competition
19 September 2016

Do the Capital Markets have a Political Limit?
10 August 2016

Eurozone Finance Ministers to Iberia: No Fines for You
29 July 2016

Women Running for High Office, this One in Tokyo

Featured Articles

Details of Japan's stimulus package are still unclear.

27 July 2016

Fiscal Stimulus Questions Force Abe's Hand

As uncertainty over Japan's fiscal stimulus roiled the yen and domestic equities, Prime Minister Abe was forced to announce his fiscal intentions earlier than he initially intended. The JPY27 trillion (~$265 bln) package.

The details are far from clear, which may help explain why the dollar is in the middle of the two yen range (~JPY104.65-JPY106.55). Note the high for the week was set on Monday near JPY106.70. An unspecified part of the spending will be included in fall supplemental budget, which Japan regularly introduces.

Populism has defined the U.S. presidential campaign.

19 July 2016

Countries Beware, Populism can be Expensive

Populism has become a defining feature of the political landscape on both sides of the Atlantic. In addition, populists succeed by “instilling fear of various real or imagined dangers.”

Zimbabwe's informal economy is little known outside the country.

14 July 2016

Zimbabwe's Informal Sector has become its Economy

The upheaval sweeping through Zimbabwe comes with a new economic and political reality – the informalisation of the country’s economy. In Zimbabwe today, the informal sector is the economy.

Free trade agreements are under attack from unusual suspects.

12 July 2016

The Popularity of Protectionism

Surveying democratic election results around the world, it’s clear the high water mark for globalisation has been met. Free trade, always-questionable economics, is no longer good politics and in many ways has jumped the shark.

Are Trump's TPP claims correct?

6 July 2016

Analyzing Trump's TPP Claims

Donald Trump has been bashing free trade for much of his campaign. However, in recent weeks he’s taken his anti-trade tirades to a whole new level in lashing out at the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a deal that was signed by its 12 Asia-Pacific members but has yet to be ratified.