China’s focus on quality gets results

Following the appointment of Vice Premier Wu Yi to a special task force to raise standards, results continue to be reported. On one hand it is a little bit worrying to see the lack of standards compliance (though they are not accompanied by stories of swathes people getting ill), but it is refreshing to see …
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Financial market turbulence – research by EIU

The Economist Intelligence Unit has produced a special report (PDF, 508 KB) that analyses the various scenarios for the global economy and the potential impact on individual regions. This free report looks at the background behind recent events and presents EIU findings on the increased risks to economic growth. Download here (PDF, 508 KB, dated …
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Compliance with new US restrictions on investment in Iran

KLD Research & Analytics, Inc. have launched a new Iran Compliance product that helps US institutional investors and money managers comply with engagement and divestment mandates of publicly trading companies conducting business in Iran. KLD’s Iran Compliance product meets all U.S. state legislative requirements mandating Iran divestment. KLD Iran Compliance Product press release

Riding along a precipice

That’s what it feels like watching the markets.  The Economist offered a suitably scary briefing for Halloween: Spooking Investors – Financial markets remain on edge because the credit crunch has not been solved.  While we know there are credit problems throughout the banking system, we don’t know how big or where they are.   And stock …
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Money wins over humanity, by a wide margin

Humanity’s interest in raising the poor and destitute from the threshold of survival is insignificant. But our interest money, even the virtual money crated by trading opinions in the stockmarket, remains supreme. Whether Boston or Bombay, money, that metaphysical asset, seems to feed our souls. It took minutes for the top guns to swing into …
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Awareness to Action: Sustainable Finance for today’s global markets

UNEP FI Global Roundtable, Awareness to Action: Sustainable Finance for today’s global markets, took place on 24-25 October.  The website now offers presentations, summaries etc online.

China to invest in Africa’s biggest bank

China’s largest bank, the state-run Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, announced plans to acquire a 20% stake in Africa’s biggest bank, Standard Bank, for US$5.5 billion. If approved by South African regulators and ICBC shareholders, the deal would lead to the creation of a US$1 billion private equity fund that will be established by …
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September US new home sales down 23%

Sales of new US homes fell 23% year on year.  Commerce Department data shows sales of newly-built US properties totalled 770,000 in the year to September. September sales of existing US homes fell 8% y o y – the biggest year-on-year decline for non-new build properties in 16 years. The September new home sales figure …
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EIU economic scenarios

The EIU’s recent review of financial market turbulence is a useful analysis of what economic climate we can look forward to over the coming couple of years.  Heading For The Rocks analyses the global economy and offers three scenarios for the future.  Whether or not you subscribe to their analysis it presents most of the …
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Oil, Asia, Asset Managers

McKinsey released this useful research on the world of money, pertinent to investors, asset managers and strategic planners. The New Power Brokers: How Oil, Asia, Hedge Funds, and Private Equity Are Shaping Global Capital Markets McKinsey reviews petrodollar investors, Asian central banks, hedge funds, and private equity and their increasingly important role in world financial …
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