How compromises and mistakes made in the Mandela era hobbled South Africa's economy

Dec 23, 2015 05:38 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Addressing the Oxford Union recently, Julius Malema, leader of South Africas opposition party the Economic Freedom Fighters, did something few South Africans have dared: he challenged Nelson Mandelas post-apartheid...

Japan's government has politicised a generation with its militarism

Dec 23, 2015 04:15 am UTC| Insights & Views

As the Japanese government continues to press ahead with controversial changes to its peaceful constitution, it continues to fuel domestic protests and fails to get full endorsement from the members of its own ruling...

Metal Supply & Demand Series

From blood diamonds to dirty gold: how to buy gold less tainted by mercury

Dec 23, 2015 04:02 am UTC| Insights & Views

When a customer walks into a jewelry store, weddings or special occasions are usually front of mind. Rarely does that customer think of where the jewelry comes from, let alone its social and environmental costs. The...

The world needs a more innovative approach to humanitarian relief

Dec 23, 2015 01:41 am UTC| Insights & Views

This has been a difficult year for humanitarian relief. Huge events have left indelible images. From a dead Syrian child washed up on a Turkish beach, to villagers trapped under rubble after earthquakes in Nepal and...

Fundamental Evaluation Series

Why don’t you dare to buck crude’s bear trend? Crude fundamental states wait and watch

Dec 22, 2015 13:32 pm UTC| Insights & Views

Jeopardy of even more supply returning as normalization in crude markets continues to be deferred. The disproportion in the global crude market has been diminishing in H2 of 15, but the hope for a rebalancing in 2016...

Currency War Series

Scandi currencies experiencing divergence after CBs stand pat in monetary policy

Dec 22, 2015 11:44 am UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks

Both the Riksbank and Norges Bank left policy unchanged last week, in line with the forecasts. We would be looking for a meaningful move lower to engage in long positions ahead of weak Q1 data and an eventual Norges Bank...

Oil in Global Economy Series

Lower oil prices may add pressure on ECB to “recalibrate” monetary policy in 2016

Dec 22, 2015 11:42 am UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks

The ECB has unleashed an unprecedented series of policy measures to try and push eurozone inflation back up to levels conducive to healthy economic growth. But even the most optimistic forecasts suggest that it could well...