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Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

African Union Launches Catastrophe Insurance For Member Countries

Insuring Against Extreme Weather: Farmers and their families in five African countries will gain some financial protection against drought this growing season through a catastrophe insurance pool launched in May by African Risk Capacity (ARC).

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

A New New Delhi?

Election Coverage: “Good days are here,” tweeted prime minister-designate Narendra Modi after he led the right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party to a landslide victory last Friday in India’s bitterly fought parliamentary elections.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

Do You Still Remember the Financial Crisis?

Do you remember the 2007-2008 financial crisis? Its daunting impact on the world economy is finally fading away and the US Federal Reserve Board is slowly moving to a less expansionary monetary policy, but the debate on its causes and, more important, on what is needed to prevent similar episodes from happening again is still very much alive.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

THE INTANGIBLE INVESTOR

Indeed, there are those who think that the IP wars will continue to have no clear resolution or winners. The only real beneficiaries: lawyers. But commentators such as Bruce Berman argue that unless and until we can quickly sort out the real issues in the IP imbroglio, almost everyone –even the patent trolls – will lose out.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

BALTICS BOUNCE BACK

Although hit hard by the global financial crisis, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia recovered quickly. The three countries are building ever-closer EU ties to separate themselves economically from Eastern neighbors.

Banking

BANKING: BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Corporate banking has always lagged the retail sector when it comes to the adoption of digital technologies, but mobile-banking services are gathering pace—and some visionaries are even contemplating banking services based on wearable technologies.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

EM RISKS: DEALING WITH THE WILD CARDS

This year has already proven to be a wild one when it comes to emerging markets risks. Preparing for what is to come in volatile and disparate markets is ever more central to the treasury and risk management functions.

Economics, Policy & Regulation

ESCALATING SANCTIONS COULD HIT GROWTH

An escalation of sanctions on Russia stemming from its actions in Ukraine could pressure Russia’s overall economic growth. Some companies, particularly those perceived to have close ties to president Vladimir Putin and his inner circle, may have difficulties tapping the international capital markets for funding.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

EUROPEAN CORPORATE CREDIT QUALITY IS ON THE RISE

Corporate credit-rating upgrades in the first quarter of 2014 outnumbered downgrades in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the first time since 2008, according to Moody’s Investors Service. The rating agency says positive credit trends in the EMEA region are likely to continue through 2014, despite potential negative events in Russia and Ukraine.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

EUROZONE EYES QUANTITATIVE EASING

Inflation in the eurozone slipped to 0.5% at an annual rate in March, its lowest level since 2009. The persistence of low inflation prompted policymakers to discuss quantitative easing (QE) and a negative deposit rate, putting some downward pressure on the euro.

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

GLOBAL IPO PROCEEDS RISE, BUT WILL IT LAST?

Led by the Asia-Pacific region, global proceeds from initial public offerings totaled more than $34 billion in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 77% from the same period a year earlier, according to Renaissance Capital

Capital Raising & Corporate Finance

IRAN: FERTILE LANDSCAPE FOR INVESTMENT?

With good demographics and potential opportunities for FDI in a range of sectors, Iran is poised to make the most of further relaxing of economic sanctions.