Economics, Policy & Regulation Archives

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Economics, Policy & Regulation

WILL KURODA SURVIVE JAPAN’S SNAP ELECTION?

Japan | Newsmakers Just weeks after Haruhiko Kuroda, governor of the Bank of Japan, surprised the world with a bold plan to inflate Japanese assets and weaken the Japanese yen by buying 80 trillion yen ($680 billion) in Japanese bonds, exchange-traded funds and real estate investment trusts, prime minister Shinz Abe upstaged him by calling a snap election for mid-December, two years ahead of schedule.

Award Winners

WORLD’S BEST INTERNET BANKS 2014 – ROUND TWO

Annual Awards In the final installment of a two-part series, Global Finance recognizes the best corporate/institutional and consumer Internet banks globally and in six regions, as well as an overall winner. We spotlight the financial institutions around the world that are leading the way in digital banking services that generate strong business results.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

A WATERED-DOWN EEU

Milestones | Commonwealth Of Independent States In October, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia put the finishing legal touches to the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union, which comes into being on January 1, 2015.

Banking

ARE BANKS UNSAFE AT ANY SIZE?

Banking Regulation The globe’s financial systems are still vulnerable to contagion. Critics say regulators are unlikely to fix the problem unless they shift gears.

Banking

ARGENTINE GOVERNOR MAY FURTHER DILUTE CENTRAL BANK INDEPENDENCE

Newsmakers | Argentina Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in early October triggered the resignation of the head of the country’s central bank, Juan Carlos Fabrega, by criticizing him for not reducing manipulation of the country’s currency. His replacement, Alejandro Vanoli, formerly the head of the country’s securities regulator, CNV, doesn’t look likely to set Argentina on a better path.

Banking

CFTC CONSIDERS REGULATING BITCOIN DERIVATIVES

Trends | CryptoCurrencies There are potential benefits that bitcoin or bitcoin-like technology—as opposed to the cryptocurrency itself—could bring to the derivatives marketplace.

Award Winners

CHINA: BANKS FORCED TO INNOVATE IN FAST-CHANGING MARKET

Annual Survey | Stars Of China Nothing has characterized the recent pressure on traditional banking in China more than the challenge posed by Internet companies to the Big Four Chinese Banks

Economics, Policy & Regulation

COLOMBIA TO JOIN OECD

Milestones | Colombia The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a relatively small club of 34 countries. It seeks long-term social and economic development through data collection, analysis and discussions.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

CROSS-BORDER M&A DOUBLES AS COMPANIES ENTER NEW MARKETS

Capital Markets | Mergers & Acquisitions Global cross-border mergers and acquisitions totaled $1.1trillion during the first nine months of 2014, more than double the level of the same period a year earlier, according to Thomson Reuters.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

CYPRUS BEGINS LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY

COUNTRY REPORT | CYPRUS Amid continuing harsh austerity measures, things are—very slowly—starting to recover, alongside restructuring that will change the focus of the economy. GDP in 2014 should contract by 3.5% before flattening out next year, with 0.2% growth forecast.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

FOCUS ON M&A DUE DILIGENCE

Management | Compliance Risk Corporations are stepping up their efforts to mitigate execution risk in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, as growing numbers of regulators worldwide are becoming more stringent about enforcing antitrust and anticorruption laws.

Banking

HILL TO PUSH SECURITIZATION AS FINANCIAL STABILITY HEAD

Newsmakers | United Kingdom After a bumpy ride, the UK’s candidate, lord Jonathan Hill, has been confirmed by the European Parliament as commissioner for financial stability, capital markets and financial services.