Why social grants matter in South Africa: they support 33% of the nation

Feb 17, 2017 00:28 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The South African governments failure to fix a corrupted R10 billion social grant payment contract has caused a crisis that threatens to disturb monthly payments to millions of vulnerable households. The Conversation...

Australia's labour market report suggests plenty of spare capacity, RBA to remain on hold for an extended period

Feb 16, 2017 12:29 pm UTC| Economy Central Banks Commentary

Australias January labour market report released earlier today was broadly in line with expectations. Data released by the national statistics bureau showed seasonally adjusted overall employment rose by 13,500 to...

EUR/CZK likely to dip towards 25.00 this H2, says Commerzbank

Feb 16, 2017 07:33 am UTC| Commentary Economy

The EUR/CZK currency pair is expected to dip towards a level of 25.00 in the coming months, especially in the second half of this year. Further, Czech headline inflation is likely to overshoot the central banks 2 percent...

Roe 8 fails the tests of responsible 21st-century infrastructure planning

Feb 16, 2017 05:50 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The Beeliar Group of professors formed recently to oppose the building of a new highway, called Roe 8, through an important wetland and woodland regional park in Perths southern suburbs. They have joined a very active...

Singapore's banking industry to see limited upside in 2017 on weak GDP growth - S&P

Feb 15, 2017 15:16 pm UTC| Commentary Economy

SP Global Ratings in a report published today said that it sees limited upside for Singapores banks In 2017 due to weak GDP growth. SP Global Ratings maintains its stable outlook on the Singapore banking sector for 2017....

Central Banking Series

Markets price in 34 pct chance of Fed rate hike at March meet after Yellen's upbeat economic assessment

Feb 15, 2017 12:34 pm UTC| Central Banks Economy Commentary

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellens congressional testimony gave a rather upbeat assessment of the US economy, consistent with the Feds expectation of further gradual increases in interest rates. In a testimony before the...

FxWirePro: CBR remains hawkish, what drives Russian central bank’s short-term cautious and medium-term constructive approach

Feb 15, 2017 11:55 am UTC| Economy Central Banks

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Russia contracted 0.57 pct in the third quarter of 2015 over the previous quarter. Over a medium-term horizon, we remain constructive RUB. The fundamental drivers for the ruble over...