Democracy is due for an overhaul – could lawmaking-by-jury be the answer?

Dec 18, 2015 01:48 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Many will agree that, in practice, democracy leaves a lot to be desired. The system often falls short of its ideals: whether its the US congress causing a total government shutdown; Australian prime ministers being ousted...

Saudi Arabia's 'coalition' is a brazen challenge to Syria, Iran, and the US

Dec 18, 2015 01:10 am UTC| Insights & Views

Deputy crown prince and minister of defense of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salmans announcement of a new Saudi-led counter-terrorism coalition surprised allies like the US, adversaries such as Iran, and other interested...

Solar freakin' roadways? Why the future of this technology may not be so bright

Dec 18, 2015 01:05 am UTC| Insights & Views Technicals

When we are not driving, cycling, or walking on it, a road is just a waste of space, right? Not if it is a solar road! What a perfect combination. When its exposed to the sun, the road is generating clean electricity,...

I think, therefore I buy: how buying nothing at Christmas time is harder than it appears

Dec 18, 2015 01:01 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

Thousands of people all over the world took part in the recent Buy Nothing movement, but as Christmas approaches, is it really possible to buy nothing? The answer is yes - but you wont find it easy, as Ill explain....

FX Hedging Strategy Series

PBoC attempts via TWI to bring back surge in Chinese exports, CNY’s strength in turn

Dec 17, 2015 12:51 pm UTC| Insights & Views

PBoC in a working paper released yesterday attributed the weakness in Chinas exports to the strengthening of the CNYs real effective exchange rate (REER). On a year-to-date basis, Chinas exports has contracted by 2.6%...

Fed Hike Aftermath Series

Pace of Fed tightening in 2016 will be faster than markets price-in

Dec 17, 2015 12:04 pm UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks

In what was a unanimous decision overnight, the US Federal Reserve raised its target range for the fed funds rate by 25 bps to 0.25-0.50%. The Feds rate hike was the first in nearly a decade, which puts an end to a...

NOK paradigm shift divulges Fed rate hike already factors in but Norges unchanged monetary policy yet to function

Dec 17, 2015 11:44 am UTC| Insights & Views

Contrary to the expected reflection from last nights Fed rate decision, the NOK seems to be reacting adversely agreeing on Norges Banks rate decision this morning. Some set analysts expected key rates to be unchanged at...