Visit/economy/global-economy/600711/the-charts-that-matter-coronavirus-or-a-liquidity-air-pocket
The charts that matter: coronavirus – or a liquidity air pocket?
With the yield curve showing worrying signs of flatlining again. John Stepek wonders what's to blame and turns to the charts that matter most to the g…
25 Jan 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600709/the-coronavirus-is-scary-but-its-irrelevant-to-your
The coronavirus is scary – but it's irrelevant to your investments
The spread of the coronavirus is causing alarm around the world. And, while it could be a serious short-term threat to human health, it’s not somethin…
24 Jan 2020
Visit/520380/investors-neednt-fear-the-rise-of-europes-green-parties
Investors needn’t fear the rise of Europe’s green parties
Green parties across Europe are finding the centre-right to be natural allies. That will be great for business, says Matthew Lynn.
12 Jan 2020
Visit/520272/iran-and-us-oil-price
What escalating tension between Iran and the US means for oil prices
The tension between the US and Iran is unlikely to mean all-out war in the Middle East. But markets may be getting a little too complacent about its e…
6 Jan 2020
Visit/520018/emerging-economies-find-their-feet
Emerging economies find their feet
This year saw a return to normal for emerging markets. It’s a far cry from 2018, which brought misery for those betting on the world’s fastest-growing…
26 Dec 2019
Visit/519784/south-africa-runs-out-of-time
South Africa is running out of time to reform its economy
Unless South Africa institutes economic reforms, including greater fiscal discipline, a clampdown on corruption, and easing labour laws, it risks losi…
22 Dec 2019
Visit/519683/markets-risk-for-2020-what-if-everything-goes-right
The big risk for 2020: what if everything goes right?
Markets are positioned for a low-growth, low-rate world, says John Stepek. What if we get the opposite? Markets could get a nasty shock.
16 Dec 2019
Visit/519637/the-charts-that-matter
The charts that matter: Britain elects and the risk is on
John Stepek looks at how the week's events have influenced the charts that matter the most to the global economy.
14 Dec 2019
Visit/519581/eu-throws-green-spanner-in-the-trade-works
EU throws green spanner in the works of global trade
Europe has big plans for the environment – but making them work without damaging world trade will be a challenge.
12 Dec 2019
Visit/519180/central-banks-should-steer-clear-of-taking-on-climate-change
Central banks should steer clear of taking on climate change
In a classic example of mission creep, the world's central bankers are going green. They are making a big mistake, says Matthew Lynn.
8 Dec 2019
Visit/519179/will-mexico-make-progress-under-amlo-its-controversial-president
Will Mexico make progress under AMLO, its controversial president?
Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), Mexico’s controversial president, has been in power for a year. Can he solve the country’s chronic problems and he…
7 Dec 2019
Visit/519094/why-the-gig-economy-means-nations-will-soon-find-taxation-more-taxing
Why the gig economy means nations will soon find taxation more taxing
The world of work is changing as the gig economy – and the self-employed themselves – go global. That will leave a big hole in countries’ coffers, say…
6 Dec 2019
Visit/519152/trumps-trade-war-tantrum-returns
Trump’s trade war tantrum returns with new tariffs
This week the US president unleashed surprise tariffs on Brazilian and Argentine steel imports.
5 Dec 2019
Visit/519036/corporate-debt-is-at-record-levels-heres-what-the-risks-are
Corporate debt is at record levels – here’s what the risks are
With interest rates at rock bottom, companies have been loading up on debt. And a lot of it is poor quality debt. John Stepek explains what that means…
3 Dec 2019
Visit/518498/the-one-thing-a-divided-britain-can-agree-on
The biggest threat to capitalism right now isn't Jeremy Corbyn
The greatest danger to capitalism isn't a far-left Corbyn government, it's the rise of powerful corporations distorting the free market.
21 Nov 2019
Visit/518525/german-banks-are-now-charging-savers-could-it-happen-here
German banks are now charging savers – could it happen here?
Until now, putting money in the bank has come with at least a little bit of interest. That might be about to change, as savers in Germany are finding …
21 Nov 2019
Visit/517831/the-charts-that-matter-markets-are-back-in-bull-mode
The charts that matter: markets are back in “bull” mode
As markets move back into "bull" mode, John Stepek looks at how the charts that matter most to the global economy have changed in the last week.
9 Nov 2019
Visit/517797/government-spending-binge-is-coming-your-way
Governments have got the message – right or left, a spending binge is coming your way
Politicians of every hue have committed to throwing vast sums of money at their voters. Rampant inflation will eventually make them stop. But for now…
8 Nov 2019
Visit/516989/chinas-downturn-threatens-global-growth
China’s downturn threatens global growth
Economic growth in China is slowing. And that will do nothing to help a lethargic global economy.
25 Oct 2019
Visit/516670/chart-of-the-week-world-trade-growth-has-stalled
Chart of the week: world trade growth has stalled
World trade is struggling to recover from the massive recession caused by the financial crisis.
21 Oct 2019
Visit/516669/global-stocks-will-catch-up-with-us
Global stocks will catch up with the US
US stocks have eclipsed other markets over the past decade and continued to outperform this year. But that outperformance looks set to end.
18 Oct 2019
Visit/516654/us-china-trade-truce-both-sides-back-down
US-China trade truce: both sides back down
China and America have agreed to a “pretend” trade deal, with details are so thin that the Chinese preferred not to call it a “deal” at all. That didn…
17 Oct 2019
Visit/516513/trade-wars-and-brexit-are-we-really-any-closer-to-deals
Trade wars and Brexit: are we really any closer to deals?
With a ceasefire in the US-China trade war and Brexit negotiations entering "the tunnel", John Stepek asks if we're any closer to real deals in either…
14 Oct 2019
Visit/516383/indias-banking-crisis-deepens
India’s banking crisis deepens
Bad loans are rising at India's fourth-largest private bank by assets and the lender needs fresh capital to plug the gap. And it's not alone.
10 Oct 2019
Visit/516171/money-minute-wednesday-9-october-japans-pipeline-inflation
Money Minute Wednesday 9 October: Japan's “pipeline inflation”
In today's Money Minute we’ll get data on producer price inflation and machinery orders in Japan.
9 Oct 2019
Visit/516163/us-china-trade-trump-and-xi
Are Trump and Xi desperate enough to kiss and make up yet?
Chinese growth is struggling. US markets look vulnerable. But are the two leaders desperate enough to put a positive spin on the next round of trade t…
7 Oct 2019
Visit/516133/the-dangers-of-negative-interest-rates
The dangers of negative interest rates
Negative interest rates could spark the next financial crisis. And central bankers could end up the object of the public's wrath, says Merryn Somerset…
7 Oct 2019
Visit/516141/the-charts-that-matter-recession-fears-take-hold
The charts that matter: recession fears take hold
John Stepek looks at how the charts that matter most to the global economy have reacted to fears of a recession.
5 Oct 2019
Visit/516084/is-a-recession-coming-heres-what-to-watch-out-for
Is a recession coming? Here’s what to watch out for
Markets have taken a sharp knock recently as fears of a recession have grown. John Stepek looks at what’s got them rattled, and how it affects your in…
3 Oct 2019
Visit/515540/why-has-the-oil-market-taken-the-saudi-attack-so-calmly
Why has the oil market taken the Saudi attack so calmly?
After an initial spike in the oil price, the market seems to have shrugged off the attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure. John Stepek asks if it…
23 Sep 2019
Visit/515235/the-shock-of-the-saudi-attack-will-linger-over-the-oil-market
How the shock of the Saudi attack will linger over the oil market
The drone strike on Saudi oil facilities proves that the global oil supply chain is vulnerable to attack. Markets must start to price a bigger risk pr…
19 Sep 2019
Visit/514938/chart-of-the-week-foreign-direct-investment
Chart of the week: the seed investments that fail to sprout
Foreign direct investment is supposed to stimulate productivity and growth in other countries by transferring skills, technology and capital. But much…
16 Sep 2019
Visit/515113/saudi-arabia-oil-price-drone-attack
Could spiking oil prices burst the bubble in bonds?
The oil price has spiked after drone strikes crippled some of Saudi Arabia’s vital oil production infrastructure. John Stepek looks at the effect on t…
16 Sep 2019
Visit/514874/globalisation-is-going-into-reverse
Globalisation is going into reverse
It finally seems to be dawning on investors that globalisation can no longer be taken for granted.
13 Sep 2019
Visit/514418/ray-dalio-back-to-the-1930s
Ray Dalio: back to the 1930s
In economic and political terms, today’s environment has a lot in common with the late 1930s, warns Ray Dalio, founder and co-chief investment officer…
9 Sep 2019
Visit/512368/liontrust-sustainable-investment-a-climate-of-positive-change
A climate of positive change?
SPONSORED CONTENT - Whatever people’s views are on the current state of capitalism, it is hard to deny that it has created a huge amount of economic g…
9 Sep 2019
Visit/514343/what-have-populists-ever-done-for-us
What have populists ever done for us?
Apart from the wage rises, the jobs, the tax cuts, the rising living standards…
8 Sep 2019
Visit/514448/can-donald-trump-really-buy-greenland
Can Donald Trump really buy Greenland?
The US president’s idea of buying Greenland is not quite as preposterous as it might seem to modern minds, but why buy it when there are so many bette…
7 Sep 2019
Visit/514569/the-charts-that-matter-a-new-hope
The charts that matter: a new hope?
The gap between yields on short and long-dated US bonds turned positive this week, after having briefly turned negative. John Stepek looks at how thi…
7 Sep 2019
Visit/514537/money-minute-monday-9-september
Money Minute, Monday 9 September: the week ahead
Welcome to today's Money Minute – in which we preview the big stories of the week ahead in just 60 seconds. This week, we see UK unemployment and the …
6 Sep 2019
Visit/514422/australias-economy-could-be-going-under
Australia's economy could be going under
Australia – the “lucky country”, which has gone 28 years without a recession – may yet run out of luck as its economy falters.
6 Sep 2019
Visit/514523/markets-have-had-a-pretty-good-week
Believe it or not, markets have had a pretty good week
Things seem to be looking up in global markets, with US stocks approaching an all-time high. John Stepek looks at what's behind the sudden bout of opt…
6 Sep 2019
Visit/514362/japan-versus-south-korea-asias-other-trade-war
Japan versus South Korea: Asia’s other trade war
Decades of bickering between South Korea and Japan are feeding an increasingly nasty trade dispute.
6 Sep 2019
Visit/514360/china-toughs-out-trade-tensions
China can tough out trade tensions with the US
China’s economy is feeling the pain of US tariffs. But with no elections to bother its leadership, it is in a much better position than the US to ride…
6 Sep 2019
Visit/514189/money-minute-wednesday-4-september-eurozone-retail-data-and-canadian-inflation
Money Minute, Wednesday 4 September: eurozone retail data and Canadian inflation
In Wednesday's Money Minute, we preview July’s retail sales data for the eurozone and Canada's latest decision on interest rates.
3 Sep 2019
Visit/514188/money-minute-tuesday-3-september-us-and-european-manufacturing-figures
Money Minute, Tuesday 3 September: US and European manufacturing figures
Welcome to Tuesday's Money Minute, in which we preview the big stories of the day in just 60 seconds. Today, we get the latest manufacturing figures f…
3 Sep 2019
Visit/514167/what-to-buy-in-a-world-of-negative-interest-rates
What to buy in a world of negative interest rates
The world’s most bizarre financial experiment ever – negative interest rates – continues. Merryn Somerset Webb looks at how investors should respond.
2 Sep 2019
Visit/514098/money-minute-monday-2-september-the-week-ahead
Money Minute, Monday 2 September: the week ahead
Welcome to Monday’s Money Minute – in which we preview the big stories of the week ahead in just 60 seconds.
2 Sep 2019
Visit/513904/why-the-amazon-has-gone-up-in-flames
Why the Amazon has gone up in flames
The Amazon rainforest is suffering from the worst spate of fires in years. Does it matter? And how can the blazes be stopped?
31 Aug 2019