Why soft climate deals are better than tough ones
Dec 14, 2015 17:18 pm UTC| Insights & Views
The Paris climate talks have been heralded as a historic deal. But while they have been praised for the very feat of reaching an agreement and for setting an ambitious aim to keep warming below 2℃ and endeavouring to limit...
What low interest rates have done for the world – and the likely effects of a rise
Dec 14, 2015 16:36 pm UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks
With the US Federal Reserve seemingly set on raising interest rates, its time to take stock of what low rates have done for the world. And what the prospects are when this era of low interest rates comes to an...
Why the actions of South Africa's president have rendered him a lame duck
Dec 14, 2015 16:23 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
Mayhem is the only word that can describe President Jacob Zumas shock reversal of the appointment of almost-minister of finance Desmond van Rooyen. Markets welcomed the move to a well-known and trusted Pravin Gordhan, the...
Dollar’s longs reflecting desperate gains upon Yellen’s move
Dec 14, 2015 12:42 pm UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks
The large majority of price sensitive market participants still seem to be betting on USD longs. However, these only have a reasonable risk reward profile medium term. I doubt that nobody will square their USD-long...
PBoC strikes a chord again – Is Fed likely to discount FX war?
Dec 14, 2015 10:56 am UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks
The focus for this week would be apart from the Fed meeting the main movers this week will be: US CPI (Tuesday) German ZEW (Tuesday) Euro Flash PMI (Wednesday) German Ifo (Thursday). Focus would remain to...
Zuma's about-turn shows power of the South African media, and the markets
Dec 14, 2015 10:45 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
South Africa has had three finance ministers in the space of four days. First President Jacob Zuma replaced his trusted and competent finance minister Nhlanhla Nene with David van Rooyen, a malleable backbencher with a...
How the commodities crunch is hitting mines around the globe
Dec 11, 2015 15:58 pm UTC| Insights & Views
Anglo American, one of the largest mining companies in the world, has announced a restructure that will cut 85,000 jobs worldwide, a reduction of its workforce by almost two-thirds. The move follows a huge downturn in...
South Africa’s plan to move away from coal: 8 steps to make it succeed
Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects