The surprise for investors during the Middle East flare-ups

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In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel during the Jewish religious festival of Yom Kippur. The swift arrival of arms from the US helped Israel repel

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The euro’s political weak spot

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While the plan to unify Europe after World War II began with two Italians,[1] the French pounced on the idea. The first concrete step occurred in 1950 when the French government

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Why the US gilded age is poised to last

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Some may be surprised that US stocks took just over 5 ½ years to regain previous highs after the so-called Great Recession compared with the 25 years it took the

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Global threats are mounting

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The hazards confronting the world economy are mounting. The US economy is recovering at an unspectacular pace of about 2%[1] and a sub-par labour market, sluggish wages growth, renewed doubts about

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The third arrow of Abenomics takes shape

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Japan’s parliament in June began debating legislation that would allow for the country’s first casinos. Whatever the merits casinos are as tourist attractions as the bill’s backers claim versus the

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Australia’s latest economic problem?

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Australia’s economy pleasantly surprised most analysts when it grew at its fastest pace in two years over the March quarter, to sustain an expansion that dates to the last quarter

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The yuan’s rise to reserve-currency status

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Amid all the threats and counter-threats between Russia and the west over recent events in Ukraine was a warning by Kremlin aide Sergei Glazyev that Moscow might orchestrate the end

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The latest threat to the euro?

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Search around Europe and encouraging signs emerge amid the immense unemployment and political agitation. The eurozone economy expanded 0.3% in the three months to December, to mark three straight quarters

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US stocks will rise for a fair while yet

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It has been a solid start for US equities after a strong 2013. Their resilience has been particularly impressive given investors had ample opportunity to take fright. Despite much uncertainty

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EU elections are set to rattle Europe

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Imagine if fringe political parties of the left and right were gaining sufficient support in different Australian states to win enough seats at a federal election to destabilise the House

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