Are we heading for “taper tantrum 2.0”? asks Duvvuri Subbarao in the Financial Times. In 2013 concern that the US Federal Reserve might cut back – or “taper” – its quantitative easing (QE) programme triggered the “taper tantrum”, a sell-off that hit emerging markets hard; India’s rupee plunged by more than 15%.
Now, as the Fed flirts with tighter monetary policy once more, policymakers have a feeling of déjà vu. No wonder. Many emerging economies have benefited from ultra-low interest rates in the developed world, which has sent investors looking for higher returns overseas. Tighter US monetary policy and a stronger dollar could see these capital flows swiftly reverse, leaving turmoil in their wake.
Policymakers in poorer countries don’t just have financial markets to worry about, says The Economist. A global divide is emerging between wealthier countries, which are vaccinating quickly, and poorer nations still struggling to do so.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
“In the world’s poorest 29 economies… only 0.3% of the population has received even one dose of vaccine.” That will hamper growth. Strong recoveries in developed countries are also boosting global inflation. Brazil and Russia have been forced to hike interest rates in response, not ideal given that both countries are still fighting Covid-19.
The taper tantrum saw the MSCI Emerging Markets index slump by 10% in four months, says Reshma Kapadia in Barron’s. But “things may not be as bad this time”. The 2013 crisis was amplified by trade and fiscal deficits in many emerging economies. With a few exceptions (notably Turkey and South Africa) most are better prepared for market storms today. Commodity exporters are also enjoying a windfall from the ongoing price rally.
-
Is the Financial Conduct Authority really contacting you? How to spot a scamFraudsters are impersonating the City watchdog to steal money from older people. Here is how to spot the scammers.
-
What is crypto?You may well have heard of cryptocurrencies, but it’s important to understand how these risky assets work before diving in
-
'The rise and fall of Kodak is a lesson for the tech giants'Opinion The long decline of Kodak – a once-dominant company – shows why no business is safe from disruption, says Matthew Lynn
-
8 of the best properties for sale with kitchen gardensThe best properties for sale with kitchen gardens – from a 17th-century timber-framed hall house in Norfolk, to an Arts & Crafts house in West Sussex designed by Charles Voysey with a garden by Gertrude Jekyll
-
Why investors can no longer trust traditional statistical indicatorsOpinion The statistical indicators and data investors have relied on for decades are no longer fit for purpose. It's time to move on, says Helen Thomas
-
Investors rediscover the virtue of value investing over growthGrowth investing, betting on rapidly expanding companies, has proved successful since 2008. But now the other main investment style seems to be coming back into fashion.
-
8 of the best properties for sale with shooting estatesThe best properties for sale with shooting estates – from an estate in a designated Dark Sky area in Ayrshire, Scotland, to a hunting estate in Tuscany with a wild boar, mouflon, deer and hare shoot
-
What we can learn from Britain’s "Dashing Dozen" stocksStocks that consistently outperform the market are clearly doing something right. What can we learn from the UK's top performers and which ones are still buys?
-
The most likely outcome of the AI boom is a big fallOpinion Like the dotcom boom of the late 1990s, AI is not paying off – despite huge investments being made in the hope of creating AI-based wealth
-
The rise of Robin Zeng: China’s billionaire battery kingRobin Zeng, a pioneer in EV batteries, is vying with Li Ka-shing for the title of Hong Kong’s richest person. He is typical of a new kind of tycoon in China
