U.S. importers are grappling with a complex web of overlapping tariffs that add up to far higher duties than the headline rates publicized by policymakers. Known as “tariff stacking,” this practice occurs when newly imposed levies are applied on top… Read More ›
Geopolitics
Ghana’s Missing Treasure: Unpacking the $11 Billion Gold Drain
Over the last five years, Ghana’s artisanal gold sector has quietly funneled an estimated 229 tons—or some $11.4 billion—of precious metal beyond the reach of government coffers. A combination of under‑resourced inspection units, shifting tax policies and entrenched informal networks has turned… Read More ›
Surge in Clean Energy Drives Global Investment Toward All-Time High of $3.3 Trillion
Global energy investment is on track to reach an unprecedented $3.3 trillion in 2025, propelled by a widespread pivot to clean energy technologies, supportive policy frameworks, and the drive for energy security. Despite lingering economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, investors… Read More ›
Global Equity Funds Suffer Second Consecutive Weekly Outflow as Tariff Worries Mount
Global equity funds experienced a second straight week of net withdrawals in the seven-day period ending May 28, shedding $7.5 billion as investors became increasingly risk-averse amid renewed concerns over U.S. tariff threats and the broader implications for economic growth…. Read More ›
Fed’s Pause Under Scrutiny as Inflation Eases but Consumers Hold Back
Federal Reserve policymakers are widely expected to maintain their current benchmark interest rate in the months ahead, despite the latest data showing signs of cooling inflation and increasingly cautious consumer behavior. Although the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index—a key… Read More ›
Tariff Checkpoint: How the Court’s Stay on Trump’s Levies Ripples Across Markets and Policy
In a landmark decision this week, the U.S. Court of International Trade struck down the vast majority of President Trump’s sweeping, across-the-board import tariffs, ruling that he had exceeded his statutory powers under emergency authority. The permanent injunction halts blanket… Read More ›
European Firms Cite Slowing Growth, Regulatory Barriers and Geopolitics for Deep Pessimism on China
European business sentiment toward China has plunged to historic lows as companies reassess their strategies amid slower economic expansion, mounting regulatory complexity, and intensifying geopolitical tensions. In a recent survey covering more than 500 European firms operating in China, nearly… Read More ›
Surge in Japanese Bond Yields Sparks Fears of U.S. Capital Outflows, Carry Trade Unwind and Global Market Shocks
Japan’s government bond market has emerged as a flashpoint for global financial markets, with long‐dated yields climbing toward multi‐year highs. As yields on 30‐ and 40‐year Japanese bonds approach levels not seen in over a decade, investors fear a wave… Read More ›
Trump Praises “Positive” Progress in U.S.-EU Trade Talks as Markets Rally on Deal Prospects
U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that recent developments in discussions with the European Union represent a “positive” step toward a broader trade agreement, a statement that spurred a rally in both European and U.S. equity markets. The White… Read More ›
Can China’s Stimulus-Driven Industrial Profit Recovery Endure Amid Rising Trade Uncertainties?
China’s industrial sector reported a stronger rebound in April, as state data revealed that profits among large manufacturers rose 3.0 percent year-on-year that month, accelerating from a 2.6 percent gain in March. For the January-April period overall, industrial profits increased… Read More ›