International Finance

Category : Economy

Now invest in Asia’s future

By Azis, Iwan 10th December 2013 The US Federal Reserve announcement delaying the start of a slowdown in asset purchases gives Asian markets a bit of a reprieve but does not change the basic picture that the US is embarking on a gradual normalization of its monetary policy. The big question is whether that normalization...

World Bank Group, Private Sector Can ‘Advance a Common Good’

The World Bank Group is reaching out to the private sector as part of an effort to achieve its goals of ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity. 10th December 2013 Official development assistance alone can’t close big infrastructure gaps in poor and middle-income countries, estimated to cost an extra $1 trillion a year through 2020....

Indonesia’s “continuing adjustment”

By Alex Sienaert. 3rd December 2013 2013 has been a year of adjustment for Indonesia’s economy.  In the recent edition of the Indonesia Economic Quarterly report, the flagship publication of the World Bank Indonesia office, we asked the questions: what are the drivers of this adjustment and how should policy respond? 2013: a year of adjustment...

Billionaires: Decline of the West, Rise of the Rest

By Robin Broad and John Cavanagh. 3rd December 2013 With the help of Forbes magazine, we and colleagues at the Institute for Policy Studies have been tracking the world’s billionaires and rising inequality the world over for several decades. Just as a drop of water gives us a clue into the chemical composition of the sea, these billionaires offer...

What Does The Future Hold For Shared Services?

by Karen Airey, Marketing Communications Manager, Basware UK 2nd December 2013 The Shared Services Forum UK annual conference always provides an excellent opportunity to understand what’s happening within the community.  Led by shared service professionals themselves, the event attains a level of end-user engagement and attendance rarely seen elsewhere, so there are always interesting viewpoints put forward...

Survey Uncovers Surprising Tricks Aussies use to Save a Dollar

One interesting finding was that 32% of people did not bother taking the time to research whether they were getting the best rates when dealing with banks. 25th November 2013 More than half of us smuggle our own snacks into the movies to save money, according to a new study on the interesting methods Australians...

Is Capital Gains Tax on foreign investors a good idea?

Written by Stuart Long, Partner and Head of Tax at HowardKennedyFSI. 25th November 2013 The Chancellor, George Osborne, has indicated that a charge to capital gains tax (CGT) could be introduced for foreign property investors as early as next month’s Autumn Statement. In view of the recent rise in house prices, the Chancellor foresees this...

The superman CFO: Insights into the evolving role of the CFO

Written by Brendan Walsh, Senior Vice President of American Express Global Corporate Payments Europe. 22nd November 2013 Encouraging innovation is most important contribution to growth the CFO will seek to make within the next two years. What does it mean to be a CFO today? The economic downturn clearly affected British businesses in a number...

Growth in Greece? A Logistical Possibility

BY DARIA TAGLIONI. 20th November 2013 More than 95 percent of goods traded between Europe and Asia are transported via deep sea. All of this happens through two primary routes– some serious traffic. But it’s far from stop-and-go. In fact, most doesn’t stop at all. Large container ships leave ports in Asia and proceed directly...

Rich Countries, Poor People: Will Africa’s commodity boom benefit the poor?

BY ANAND RAJARAM. 20th November 2013 Travelling across Africa these days you are likely to run into increasing numbers of mining, oil, and gas industry personnel engaged in exploration, drilling, and extraction across the continent. Although commodity prices are moderating, the discoveries being made in Africa offer the real prospect of significant revenue to many cash-poor,...