Asia: Are Countries Taking Sides?

18 April 2024 Since the Global Financial Crisis, globalisation appears to have slowed. Indeed, despite the enormous benefits experienced in the post-WWII era, international trade and financial flows may have gone into reverse (Chart above). In addition, following disruptions caused by the Covid pandemic, some manufacturers have shifted supply chains to domestic producers, or at [...]

Japan: Now For the Hard Part

28 March 2024 In the past week, two important things happened in Japan. First of all, the Nikkei stock market index hit an all-time high; finally, eclipsing the previous record established 35 years ago. Following decades of underperformance, Japanese equities have left US stocks in the dust during the past two years. Meanwhile, the Bank [...]

Can Europe Surprise? Only With Reforms

Is Europe in secular decline? If so, can it be halted? Since as recently as 1990, the region's share of global GDP has declined from 24% to 14%. Even compared to other advanced economies, Europe has lost ground. Indeed, since 2005 European GDP growth has trailed the USA by 0.7% annually (the gap is less [...]

Emerging Markets: Has the Time Come?

28 January 2024 At last year's BRICS Summit in South Africa, national leaders were all smiles; ushering in what they believe will be a more influential era for the Global South. Emerging market investors, on the other hand, have had little to celebrate, as EM markets have dramatically underperformed during the past 15 years -- [...]