Volatility in Chinese Stock Values: Potentially Much More Dangerous than a Greek Tragedy?

The problems facing the global economy in the event of a Greek exit from the euro zone could be dwarfed into insignificance by downward movements on the Chinese Stock Markets. In 1989, Margaret Thatcher  famously declared:  “You can’t buck the

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Rachida Dati: Brawn and Brains French Style

Daring stiletto heels and perfectly-fitting leather trousers: Rachida Dati does not lack self-confidence. In fact, her composure is faultless. A daughter not of landed nobility, but of an impoverished bricklayer from Morocco, Rachida Dati was the second-born in a family

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At High-Level Forum, UN Official Calls for Final Push Towards New Sustainability Agenda

The international community stands on the cusp of eradicating extreme poverty and reaching the world’s most vulnerable people with “a chance to live a life of dignity,” the Vice-President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) declared today,

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All Eyes on Greece: Is the IMF Asking for More than PM Tsipras Can Deliver?

Financial markets around the world slipped today on growing fears that Greece may be unable to reach an agreement with her international creditors and thereby default on a $1.6 billion loan repayment due this month. Failure to repay could result

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The Proposals from Greece: Prospects for a Deal Improve Dramatically

New economic proposals submitted by Greece on Monday have been welcomed by euro zone leaders and financial markets around the world. The expectation is for a deal to be announced within days. Although in all likelihood the country will need

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Playing with Fire: Greek Tragedy Reaches Climax

As the Greek tragedy nears its climax – now scheduled for next Thursday – European stock and bond markets took a hit with investors scurrying for safety and protagonists hurling verbal abuse across the stage. In Athens, Prime-Minister Alexis Tsipras

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The Time Is Now: Paradigm Shift Signals Opportunity

Few people realise that in 2013 a turning point was reached. In that year, emerging economies displaced developed markets as the main engines of global economic growth. This was not a one-off event or an oddity: it signalled no less

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Quantitative Easing: Another Shot for the Caffeine Junkie

Early in March, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced its intention to flood the market with about €1.1 trillion in quantitative easing (QE) monies over the course of 18 months by buying debt instruments – mostly government bonds – on

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Luisa Nenci, CEO of SustainValues: A Capital Market Union or a Sustainable Financial Market?

In his political guidelines for the next European Commission, President Jean-Claude Juncker pushed for the establishment of a capital market union. Such a union should develop and integrate capital markets in order to cut the cost of raising capital. This

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Russia – Moving Borders Politely

Vladimir Putin’s index finger is hovering over the, presumably red, button that activates nuclear Armageddon. The president of Russia threatened to bring the finger down should NATO further reinforce its defence of the Baltic States or make any attempt, covert

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