Over Q1 2020, COVID-19 has developed from an emerging threat to a transformational reality with potentially long-lasting effects on economic growth. All optimism for commodity markets at the start of the year was quickly extinguished as the coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China. Prices have been dragged down further by dire market fundamentals which were a result of government-imposed lockdowns in the major global economies. Both supply and demand have been lowered across the board, but demand has been harder hit and will be slower to make a recovery. Most commodities have further to fall from here. There has been a profound human cost to the pandemic and the economic fallout of governments’ responses is just starting to be counted. Read more
Tag Archives: Economics
Can AI use Japan bank chief’s face to predict the future?
Artificial intelligence researchers in Japan say they’ve found a way to predict major policy shifts from the country’s central bank by analyzing split-second changes in the facial expression of its governor, Haruhiko Kuroda. Julian Satterthwaite reports. Continue reading
‘Nudge’ theorist Richard Thaler wins Nobel economics prize
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (OCTOBER 9, 2017) (REUTERS) – U.S. academic Richard Thaler, who helped popularise the idea of “nudging” people towards doing what was best for them, won the 2017 Nobel Economics Prize on Monday (October 9) for his work on how human nature affects supposedly rational markets. Continue reading
Inflation almost completely gnaws away the growth in pay of British workers during the three months to February
Inflation gnaws at the growth in pay of British workers during the three months to February, evidence that households are feeling the strain of rising prices as Brexit negotiations begin.
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Washington can now help relieve ‘only game in town’ Fed – Fischer
The Federal Reserve’s second-in-command, vice chairman Stanley Fischer, warns against “inviting further trouble” by eliminating some of the so-called Dodd-Frank financial regulations. Jeanne Yurman reports. Continue reading
Asia markets hit by worries over health of European banks
Asian shares take a battering as mounting worries about the health of European banks further threatened a global economic outlook already under strain from falling oil prices and slowdowns in China and other emerging markets.
A review of how African economies performed in the second half of 2015
African growth was at its weakest in six years and analysts warned that things could get worse if the global economy continues to struggle. The IMF reported that the continent was likely to grow 3.75 percent this year and 4.25 percent next, a big drop from the years before and after the 2008/2009 financial crisis. China’s investment slowdown, and low commodity prices affected support to growth.
Angus Deaton wins 2015 Nobel Prize for Economics
British economist Angus Deaton wins the 2015 Nobel Economics Prize.
African Data platform launched to challenge Global development community for accuracy of Data
“The African continent deserves better and more accurate data”
London August 2015 (ACCUR8DATA) – A group of prominent African leaders in the field of data and innovation from Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Rwanda and Senegal announced the launch of the Accur8Africa platform to improve the accuracy of data in the continent before the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in New York this coming September at the 70th United Nation General Assembly.
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China stocks plunge, suffer biggest one-day loss since Feb 2007
China stocks plunge more than 8 percent, their biggest one-day drop in more than eight years, as a government-triggered rebound peters out amid profit-taking, concerns over economic health and fears of an end to Beijing’s inclination toward looser monetary policies.