The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Brazil decided to raise the interest rate by a full percentage point in its January meeting, and again by a similar magnitude on 19 March to bring the key rate to 14.25 per cent, marking five consecutive increases. Former Governor Roberto Campos ended 2024 with a full percentage point rate hike,...

The Labour Party has vowed to “rebuild Britain” as it regained control of the UK Parliament in late 2024, but it comes at a steep price to be paid for by its people. New Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Treasury chief Rachel Reeves got started by introducing a reform budget that carries a GBP 40 billion (USD 50.8 billion)...

Europe’s largest economy, Germany, is back in the limelight. In between the parliamentary election and the new government, the EUR 500 billion (USD 540 billion) infrastructure economic package got approved. At the same time, a defence investment package of probably the same size was also approved. The amount is impressive and will naturally generate economic growth in Germany. However, we...

In September 2024, the much-awaited report called “The Future of European Competitiveness” was released. The work is led by the former head of the European Central Bank (ECB) Mario Draghi – not a Mister Nobody but a respectable and insightful authority in the field. The report is 400 pages long and includes a list of 170 recommendations, underlining what needs...

India, touted as the fastest-growing major economy in the world, wants to return to high gear after a disappointing 2024. The country’s economy expanded by 6.4 per cent that year, easing from 7.2 per cent the previous year – a pace that seems unreachable for European and North American countries, but softer than what Indians are used to seeing. A...

Dear Reader, We present our latest Global Quarterly magazine from Lundgreen’s Investor Insights, where we look at emerging developments concerning the world’s biggest economies that collectively account for two-thirds of global GDP. This magazine puts together the expertise of our on-the-ground contributors who help us identify market trends that warrant our close attention. In turn, we use these insights to...

The pre- and post-election periods in the US are often of interest to investors as global markets react to emerging developments. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has raised concerns over his protectionist policies, including tax cuts and higher tariffs, which could have significant implications for global trade. Similarly, his win during the 2016 election also created uncertainty...

The People's Bank of China (PBC) has committed to a “moderately loose” monetary policy this 2025 to sustain the economic lift from the suite of fiscal stimulus programs which the government unleashed last year. This entails lower interest rates and increased money supply to stimulate heightened domestic activity. For instance, the PBC pumped RMB 1.7 trillion (USD 233 billion) into...

During President Donald Trump’s previous presidency, tax cuts and deregulation boosted US economic growth but also led to higher fiscal deficits and sharper market swings. If similar policies make a comeback, these will increase market uncertainty that would cloud the outlook for the next four years of his term and beyond. Already, Trump’s first month has triggered increased volatility with...

Southeast Asia has been leading global growth in recent years, providing an alternative investment destination for market players in search for long-term competitive gains. Upbeat economic expansion within the region has encouraged more entrepreneurs to start new business ventures with the goal of reaching “unicorn” status, meaning privately held companies valued above USD 1 billion. Eqvista, an equity management software...