The age of uncertainty is upon us, and we'd better get used to it

Dec 04, 2016 22:58 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Peter Varghese, former head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, now chancellor of the University of Queensland had a simple message for policymakers anxious about the arrival in the White House of a man whose...

Banks like RBS still look risky, but getting too tough could cause greater problems

Dec 04, 2016 22:55 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Even in less politically volatile times, the news that the UKs biggest bank, RBS, failed the Bank of Englands toughest ever stress tests would have dampened financial spirits. The bank must now raise an extra 2 billion to...

Global Geopolitics Series

Cuba is poor, but who is to blame – Castro or 50 years of US blockade?

Dec 04, 2016 02:40 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Alongside his depiction as a brutal dictator, negative reflections on Fidel Castro since his death on November 25 have focused on his mismanagement of the Cuban economy and the consequent extremes of poverty suffered by...

London's skyscrapers tell a rich story about the City's worship of finance

Dec 04, 2016 01:51 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

A new skyscraper is set to join the City of Londons world-famous collection of oddly-designed buildings with novelty names. With 73 storeys, the Trellis will rival the Shard in height, and overshadow its next-door...

Will Italy's referendum trigger the next crisis?

Dec 04, 2016 01:23 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

2016 has been a year of political surprises. June gave us Brexit, November US-President elect Donald Trump and December might give us a government crisis in Italy. On December 4, Italians go to the polls to approve or...

China Crisis Series

Chart of the Day Series

Chart of the Day: China bleeds treasuries

Dec 02, 2016 19:49 pm UTC| Commentary Economy

This chart from bond vigilantes shows, how the treasury holdings by Peoples Bank of China has declined to a four-year low amid increasing yields in the United States. Given the increasing interest rates in China,...

UK Construction PMI continues expansion in Nov, raises optimism for near-term outlook

Dec 02, 2016 16:49 pm UTC| Commentary Economy

The UK construction sector expanded further in November to hit an 8-month high. Business activity and new orders increased at the fastest pace since March and there was a sharp deterioration in supplier performance as...