Ninety countries join e-commerce initiative – Industry roundup: 30 July
by Graham Buck
Three rate decisions awaited; Russia hikes rates to 18%; Supply chain shortage dents Porsche; Slovenia first EU nation to issue sovereign digital bond
Africa
France’s audit office sounds warning – Industry roundup: 16 July
by Graham Buck
Pakistan wins U5$7 billion IMF loan; KPMG launches Clear on Climate Reporting; World Bank helps Pacific islands; La Niña threat to EM bonds
More companies use AI for supply chain management – Industry roundup: 9 July
by Graham Buck
French election “ends pro-business agendaʺ; South Africa to change ETF payments; RBI joins Project Nexus; Ireland's tax windfall continues
Hong Kong and France join forces on CBDCs – Industry roundup: 4 July
by Graham Buck
EIB funds North Sea wind farm; MSCI and Moody’s form ESG partnership; New facility to boost Africa trade; SMBC Aviation Capital raises US$1.5 billion
KPMG predicts upturn for UK economy – Industry roundup: 2 July
by Graham Buck
IFRS and IFC partner on sustainability; China’s PBOC plans to borrow bonds; BlackRock pays US$3.22bn for Preqin; Greece introduces six-day workweek
South Africa to hold rates ahead of election result – Industry roundup: 30 May
by Graham Buck
ABN Amro acquires German bank; Global debt “has risen to US$315 trillion”; N26 blames regulator for lost growth; IFS-PwC UK sustainability venture
China beefs up semiconductor sector with US$47.5 billion funding – Industry roundup: 28 May
by Graham Buck
US aims for rare earths self sufficiency; Boeing’s cash flow situation worsens; South Africa’s ‘Big Four’ banks target China; German economy rallies
US restaurant chain Red Lobster joins retail casualties – Industry roundup: 21 May
by Graham Buck
China tariffs threat to EU wine exports; Microsoft tells suppliers to go green; Japan investors await rate hikes; SocGen invests in energy transition
War casting a shadow over economies, EBRD warns – Industry roundup: 16 May
by Graham Buck
Japan's economy shrank in Q1; Klarna's staff embrace AI; EU issues anti-greenwash guidelines; Reshaping of global supply chains accelerates
Riksbank is ahead of the ECB with interest rate cut – Industry roundup: 9 May
by Graham Buck
South Africa's post-election prospects; Global debt load at record US$315 trillion; CEOs prioritise sustainability; Argentina adds 10,000 peso notes
Spain’s Sabadell rejects €12 billion offer from rival BBVA – Industry roundup: 7 May
by Graham Buck
Australia holds interest rate at 4.35%; Markets primed for June rate cut from ECB; Japan bids to host ADB summit 2027; Saudi Arabia and UAE compete
New use cases push global real-time payments to record highs
by Ben Poole
Global real-time payments growth has reached sustainable levels with 266.2 billion real-time payments transactions recorded in 2023, up 42.2%.
US economic growth hits a speed bump – Industry roundup: 26 April
by Graham Buck
No change from Bank of Japan; South Korea's growth accelerates; Indonesia rate hike wrongfoots analysts; Ecuador looks at more debt-for-nature swaps
China reports mixed start to 2024 for the economy – Industry roundup: 16 April
by Graham Buck
IMF stymies Ghana debt deal; Bank of Israel chief on outlook; Report predicts continued ESG progress in Europe; Global supply chains "still fragile"
US inflation data dashes rate cut hopes – Industry roundup: 11 April
by Graham Buck
CHIPS migrates to ISO 20022 messaging; IMF sees productivity crimping growth; Fitch's China downgrade riles Beijing; Pension fund giants partner
Europe’s banks complain about ESG demands – Industry roundup: 9 April
by Graham Buck
TSMC lifts US investment to US$65bn; IFC and DBS aim to boost trade flows; China launches tech funding programme; Grocery giants form investment fund
HSBC sets up US$1 billion fund for Asean’s digital economy – Industry roundup: 28 March
by Graham Buck
Sweden could cut rates in May; Sri Lanka rate cut surprises markets; Life less sweet as cocoa prices soar; Thames Water faces funding crisis
Swift plans new CBDC platform by 2026 – Industry roundup: 26 March
by Graham Buck
China woos foreign investors; Boardroom reshuffle at Boeing; Bombardier raises US$750m via junk bond; More central banks shift rate policy
Hong Kong crackdown conflicts with financial hub goal – Industry roundup: 21 March
by Graham Buck
Reddit valued at US$6.4bn ahead of IPO; Malaysia expects 4-5% growth in 2024; Fed reassures on rate cuts; UK retailers get embedded finance lift
Deloitte restructures amid dealmaking drought – Industry roundup: 19 March
by Graham Buck
Japan agrees first rate hike since 2007; Unilever loses taste for ice cream; M&S plans new deal with HSBC; EU progresses on supply chain law
India’s economic boom echoes 2003-07, says Morgan Stanley – Industry roundup: 14 March
by Graham Buck
Japan's unions win major pay hikes; Swift to assist Bangladesh central bank; Israel plans for shekel CBDC; €240m funding for sustainability in Africa
Japan nears end of negative interest rates era – Industry roundup: 12 March
by Graham Buck
Egypt’s inflation jumps to 35.7%; India signs US$100bn free trade deal; NatWest to exit BNPL market; Inditex investors seek supply chain transparency
US bank secures US$1 billion rescue deal – Industry roundup: 7 March
by Graham Buck
China's foreign trade rebounds; EU to water down supply chain law; UK's Nationwide to acquire Virgin Money; South Africa records 0.6% growth in 2023
Nigeria hikes rates to support currency – Industry roundup: 29 February
by Graham Buck
US economy ends 2023 on a high; Deutsche updates sustainable investment guide; Verizon completes sixth green bond; Action plan on plastic pollution