AUTHOR
Alex Rankine
Interest-rate rises mean more pain for stocks
Stockmarkets
Interest-rate rises mean more pain for stocks
Interest rates are rising around the world as central banks try to get inflation under control. That’s hitting stockmarkets – and there is more pain t…
13 May 2022
Currencies: the yen just keeps on tumbling
Currencies
Currencies: the yen just keeps on tumbling
The Japanese yen is trading close to a 20-year low with the US dollar, with the Bank of Japan in no rush to raise interest rates.
11 May 2022
Russia ups the ante on Europe's gas supplies
Gas
Russia ups the ante on Europe's gas supplies
Russia's suspension of natural gas to Poland and Bulgaria saw the gas price spike by 24%. A complete shut-off could see it rise by 200%.
4 May 2022
Singaporean stocks: a cheap play on life after Covid
Emerging markets
Singaporean stocks: a cheap play on life after Covid
Singapore is returning to normal after the pandemic, with almost every sector in the stockmarket set to benefit.
4 May 2022
Why China's Covid lockdowns will be the next big shock for global growth
Global Economy
Why China's Covid lockdowns will be the next big shock for global growth
China’s attempts to eradicate Covid with repeated lockdowns will affect supply chains and depress the global economy.
4 May 2022
Gold shows its mettle as a safe haven at last
Gold
Gold shows its mettle as a safe haven at last
Gold has proved its worth as a safe haven, gaining 9% since the start of the year and recently finishing its best quarter in nearly two years.
28 Apr 2022
Indonesia aims to step up its economic growth
Emerging markets
Indonesia aims to step up its economic growth
Indonesia's economic growth has lagged that of neighbours such as the Philippines and Vietnam. But soaring commodity prices could change that.
28 Apr 2022
Why food and fuel subsidies will push up debt
Global Economy
Why food and fuel subsidies will push up debt
Many governments have adopted subsidies or tax breaks to shield households and businesses from rising food and fuel prices. But that's just causing go…
28 Apr 2022
The bond-market bloodbath isn’t over yet
Government bonds
The bond-market bloodbath isn’t over yet
The bond-market sell-off isn’t done by along chalk – rising interest-rates could yet push yields higher.
28 Apr 2022
Stagflation is sapping the UK's economic growth
Inflation
Stagflation is sapping the UK's economic growth
For the first time in decades, the economy is staring at stagflation (high inflation and slow growth).
21 Apr 2022
Why Europe could be heading for a "nuclear renaissance" with energy prices at record highs
Energy
Why Europe could be heading for a "nuclear renaissance" with energy prices at record highs
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sent gas and power prices soaring. Alex Rankine explains why Europe could be heading for a "nuclear renaissance".
15 Apr 2022
How will the end of easy money pan out?
Global Economy
How will the end of easy money pan out?
Minutes from the Fed meeting shows that it plans to shrink the central bank's balance sheet faster than expected to tackle inflation. Alex Rankine exp…
14 Apr 2022
Tokyo Stock Exchange launches shakeup to attract foreign investors
Japan stockmarkets
Tokyo Stock Exchange launches shakeup to attract foreign investors
Japan's flagship Tokyo Stock Exchange launched its biggest shake up in decades to attract foreign investors. Alex Rankine explains why Japan's investm…
8 Apr 2022
Why Russian sanctions could make the dollar less attractive
Currencies
Why Russian sanctions could make the dollar less attractive
The US dollar could lose its appeal if America keeps sanctioning countries like Iran and Russia. Alex Rankine explains why.
8 Apr 2022
Why Latin American stocks are attractive right now
Emerging markets
Why Latin American stocks are attractive right now
Low valuations and soaring commodity prices have boosted Latin American stocks this year. Alex Rankine looks at why the region is lucrative right now.…
1 Apr 2022
The yield curve has inverted- what is it telling investors?
Bonds
The yield curve has inverted- what is it telling investors?
The US yield curve inverted for the first time since 2019, typically a sign that a recession is looming. Alex Rankine explains why this time may be di…
1 Apr 2022
China tries to calm its stockmarkets
China stockmarkets
China tries to calm its stockmarkets
After Chinese tech stocks plunged, the government said it would introduce policies that would benefit the markets – sending stocks soaring.
25 Mar 2022
An uncertain outlook for oil supply
Oil
An uncertain outlook for oil supply
Much of the speculative froth seems to have gone from the oil market, but sanctions on Russia is disturbing the crude oil supply.
25 Mar 2022
Central banks change their tune on inflation
Inflation
Central banks change their tune on inflation
With prices rising at 7.9% in the US and 6.2% in the UK, and global commodity prices surging, central banks around the world are being forced into inf…
25 Mar 2022
South Korea: new president, new policies
Asian economy
South Korea: new president, new policies
Yoon Suk-yeol has been elected as as South Korea's next president, a move that could bring new economic policies and reinvigorate the country's stockm…
18 Mar 2022
How the London Metals Exchange saved the nickel short-sellers’ bacon
Industrial metals
How the London Metals Exchange saved the nickel short-sellers’ bacon
Short sellers were caught out as the price of nickel briefly soared to $100,000 a tonne. But the London Metals Exchange saved their skins by halting t…
18 Mar 2022
The world is bracing itself for a stagflationary shock
Inflation
The world is bracing itself for a stagflationary shock
The world is heading for a period of stagflation – falling growth and rising prices - a particularly miserable type of recession.
18 Mar 2022
Index firms write off Russian stocks
Emerging markets
Index firms write off Russian stocks
Russian stocks will be removed from MSCI’s main emerging markets index at a price that is effectively zero.
11 Mar 2022
Why inflation matters more than war
Stockmarkets
Why inflation matters more than war
Nuclear war isn't the kind of risk that investors can usefully take into account when building a portfolio. Inflation and stagflation, however, are.
11 Mar 2022
Emerging-market investors turn cautious
Emerging markets
Emerging-market investors turn cautious
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked a selloff in emerging markets as investors head for safe haven assets.
11 Mar 2022
An end to investing in Russia
European stockmarkets
An end to investing in Russia
Foreign investors have abandoned Russian markets - and index compiler MSCI could remove it altogether from its stock and bond benchmarks.
4 Mar 2022
Commodity prices spike on supply fears
Commodities
Commodity prices spike on supply fears
The price of commodities including oil, gas, metal and wheat are soaring because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
4 Mar 2022
Markets fear inflation more than war
Inflation
Markets fear inflation more than war
The world's stockmarkets have dismissed Russia's invasion of Ukraine - preferring to concentrate on the perils of inflation.
4 Mar 2022
Japan takes a small step towards post-pandemic reopening
Japan stockmarkets
Japan takes a small step towards post-pandemic reopening
Foreign students and business travellers will be allowed in to Japan from next month, although tourists will remain barred for now.
25 Feb 2022
Ukraine crisis offers gold a chance to shine
Gold
Ukraine crisis offers gold a chance to shine
Russia's threats to Ukraine are pushing the price of gold higher. But investors are also worried that US interest-rate rises could go too far and spar…
25 Feb 2022
Russian invasion of Ukraine risks driving energy prices higher
Energy
Russian invasion of Ukraine risks driving energy prices higher
Major stockmarkets are surprisingly calm about Russian's invasion of Ukraine. But it's a different story in energy and commodity markets.
25 Feb 2022
Commodities boom spreads beyond energy and metals
Commodities
Commodities boom spreads beyond energy and metals
Commodity prices are soaring – oil, gas, copper and a whole host of metals has seen prices take off. But price rises are spreading to soft commodities…
18 Feb 2022
Oil price races higher as demand rebounds
Oil
Oil price races higher as demand rebounds
Supply constraints, increased demand and the Russian threat to Ukraine are sending the oil price racing towards $100 a barrel.
18 Feb 2022
China's stockmarket gets ready to roar
China stockmarkets
China's stockmarket gets ready to roar
Chinese stockmarkets had a terrible 2021, but with China's central bank easing monetary policy, 2022 could be much better.
4 Feb 2022
Central-bank monetary tightening rattles tech stocks
Tech stocks
Central-bank monetary tightening rattles tech stocks
Central banks are turning more hawkish on raising interest rates - and tech stocks don't like it.
4 Feb 2022
Markets don’t fear a Russian invasion of Ukraine
Stockmarkets
Markets don’t fear a Russian invasion of Ukraine
More than 100,000 Russian troops are massed on on Ukraine’s borders – but the markets seem to think the threat is not as great as many people think
4 Feb 2022