Geopolitical Events
NAFTA Update – Have US Negotiations Progressed?
It’s been one year since the trade renegotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Canada, the United States and Mexico began. Since then we have seen tough rhetoric on how the agreement should look like moving forward from each country, especially the United States. But are we finally getting closer to an agreement? Ab...
China Taking Stock Of US Trade Deficit Figures
The US official trade deficit number with China is $375.2bn in 2017. But According to China Customs General Administration, this number should be $275.8bn. Notice there is a vast gap between the versions from two sides. So, which version is closer to the facts? Firstly, let’s start this debate by looking at the US perspective. Previously in the...
Time Ticking for Brexit
Time Ticking for Brexit By Klavs Valters In just over a year – on 29th March 2019 to be exact – Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union. It has been nearly a year since Theresa May triggered Article 50 and began the two-year process to negotiate an exit deal. As we know, the negotiations so far can’t be classed as successful. Even ...
US Trade vs the World
US Trade vs the World Since Donald Trump became the President of the United States in 2016, we have heard him say a lot about the "unbelievably bad" trade agreements the world’s largest economy has with some countries around the world. We have already seen Trump attempt to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which...
City of London Feeling the Brexit Effect
City of London Feeling the Brexit Effect Not a day goes by without Brexit being mentioned and we can expect more of this to continue for some time, even after Britain leaves the European Union next year. With the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cutting its economic growth forecast for Britain for the coming years, are we also starting to see the...
UK Trade vs The World
UK Trade vs The World With the UK leaving the European Union next year, its trading arrangements with the bloc will change. How they will change will be determined over the coming months when both parties start the second phase of the negotiations. This will shine a light on what the agreement will look like and how it will impact the world’s fi...
UK Making Post-Brexit Plans
UK Making Post-Brexit Plans 2018 is shaping up to be a defining year for the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. After making sufficient progress in the first phase of negotiations, talks will now begin on the trade arrangements after the UK leaves the EU. Even though the UK cannot agree on any trade arrangements...
Brexit Breakthrough
Brexit Breakthrough After months of discussions and nearly a year and a half after the Brexit referendum took place, there has been a breakthrough in the Brexit talks. Both sides have now agreed on major key issues which was vital before moving onto the trade talks, which are estimated to begin in February of next year. Overview of the deal...
New sanctions imposed on North Korea
New sanctions imposed on North Korea by United Nations (UN) Security Council North Korea has been slapped with new sanctions after the detonation of a hydrogen bomb, an even more powerful nuclear weapon than the atomic bomb. The new resolutions widely adopted by the international community show the urgency of restricting North Korea’s ability to ...
NAFTA Negotiations Begin
16th August 2017 marked the beginning of renegotiations between the United States, Canada and Mexico on the North American Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The leaders from each country will meet up over the next few months to begin discussions on the agreement which has been in place since 1994. American view The United States have got a tou...
Jackson Hole Economic Symposium
The annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has been held since 1978. From 1978-1981 it was held at different locations but since 1981 it has been held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and this year is no exception. From 24th – 26th August 2017, the most influential central bankers, finance ministers, a...
War of Words US and North Korea Tensions
Markets are rattled by US- North Korea tensions as Trump vows to respond to North Korea nuclear threats with “fire and furry”. The senior administration officials and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tried to find different ways to explain the President’s comments and play down the tough talk. Trump reinforced his threats stating “they shou...
How Brexit will effect the finance industry
An update on Brexit: How it will effect the finance industry With Brexit talks in full swing, financial services companies based in the United Kingdom are starting to plan for the life after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union in 2019. With a deal far from being agreed upon and the likelihood that a deal may not be agreed within two-year t...
Qatar Turmoil Continues
On 23rd June 2017, Saudi Arabia and its allies issued a list of demands giving Qatar 10 days to respond to their ultimatum. It has now been just over a month since seven countries announced that they will be cutting all diplomatic ties with the Gulf nation 5th July saw the leaders of the four countries seeking to isolate the tiny Gulf nation met in...
G20 Summit and what to expect from the market.
Friday 7th July 2017 saw the official start of the two-day G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, were delegates from 19 countries come together to discuss matters ranging from free trade to Global warming. We have compiled this quick guide to what you can expect from the markets after this year’s summit. What is G20? The G20 started in 1999 as a...
