Economic conditions
Thailand and Australia have signed a significant free trade agreement (FTA) that is expected to strengthen economic ties between the two nations. The agreement, which was signed by Prime Ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and John Howard, also covers agreements on environment, heritage, education, and training. The FTA is a major milestone
Economic conditions
The Financial Stability Forum, a major global watchdog on financial risks, is set to undertake a review of hedge funds due to growing concerns about their influence in world markets. The review comes as hedge funds and funds of hedge funds attract increased investment, leading to a surge in leverage
Economic conditions
Central bank governors and regulatory heads from the G10 nations have approved the new Basel II framework, aiming to strengthen the global financial industry's stability and promote economic growth. The rules, five years in the making, will make the world's banking system more stable and efficient
Economic conditions
As Japan pulls out of deflation, it faces significant risks from higher interest rates and rising public debt that could jeopardize its chances of a smooth recovery. Takahira Ogawa, head of Asia-Pacific sovereign ratings at Standard and Poor's, has warned that the economy is in a precarious position,
Economic conditions
European Central Bank policymakers yesterday cautioned against generating inflationary pressures in the eurozone by driving up wage settlements on the back of higher oil prices. The warnings, led by Bundesbank president Axel Weber, suggested that the ECB may raise interest rates if the temporary rise in inflation feeds through into
Economic conditions
Financial markets have seen an increase in the trading of complex derivatives, including speculative securities that offer high returns but also come with significant risks. Procter & Gamble's purchase of a portfolio of these securities from Bankers' Trust in the early 1990s and the Scottish Life international
Economic conditions
The Socialist government in Spain has taken office during a critical period in the country's economic history. As Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero acknowledges, Spain's economy has been fueled by cheap credit and a construction boom for over a decade, creating 4.5 million jobs
Economic conditions
Wall Street and European markets rallied yesterday in the face of worrying US economic data, with investors looking beyond the numbers to positive news from Corporate America. Despite a surprise rise in US jobless claims and higher import prices fueled by surging oil costs, major indices closed higher, driven by
Economic conditions
As the government's austerity programme begins to take hold, the Portuguese economy is slowly recovering from the deepest recession in Europe. Following a decision by the European Commission to remove Portugal from the blacklist of countries facing disciplinary action for breaching the European Union's growth and
Economic conditions
The European Central Bank, led by President Jean-Claude Trichet, has sounded the alarm on rising inflationary pressures in the eurozone, driven by surging oil prices. Despite keeping interest rates steady at 2% for the twelfth month running, the ECB has urged oil producers to act responsibly and warned of the
Economic conditions
Rising oil prices have the world's economy watching with concern, particularly in light of the significant increase in demand forecast by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Despite output seemingly rising faster, the IEA's report suggests demand growth will be the highest in 16 years, with China
Economic conditions
Chile's economy is showing signs of robust growth, driven by a surge in copper prices and a revival in domestic business and consumer confidence. The central bank reported a 4.8% year-on-year increase in gross domestic product (GDP) for the first three months, marking the country's
