China’s gaze shifts to southeast Asia
When China’s president Xi Jinping floated the idea of a New Silk Road in 2013, eyes turned to the original route that had linked imperial China with India, central Asia and the Mediterranean Sea. Later, Pakistan became the focal point...
SocGen and Absa mull CIB tie-up
Absa chief executive Maria Ramos Société Générale and Absa, formerly Barclays Africa, are discussing setting up a corporate and investment banking (CIB) partnership in Africa, Euromoney understands. The idea for a new wholesale banking partnership comes as Absa seeks to...
Country risk: FYR Macedonia faces a fork in the road
Passions run high, with the nation’s future – and investment prospects – at stake On September 30, citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will be given the opportunity to vote in a referendum on issues of national importance....
Chargebacks hitting merchants hard — but they don’t have to
A Javelin Research & Strategy study commissioned by Verifi found that cardholder disputes and chargebacks generated $31 billion in financial losses in 2017, of which $19 billion was borne by merchants. The study also noted that for every dollar in...
CLOs underlie loan market’s pile into corporates
Aggressive roll-up M&A strategy? Check. Unfavourable reporting announcement? Check. Margin loan written against chief executive’s shares in the company? Check. Some questionable financial arithmetic? Check. Share price collapse? Check. The recent history of UK flooring firm Victoria Carpets may bear...
Reforms and improved security bolster Egypt’s risk rating
Guarding the guardian: Egypt’s tourist numbers are on the rise, thanks in part to tighter security In January, Euromoney Country Risk (ECR) flagged up Egypt as a higher-risk option with improving fortunes, offering an alternative to safer prospects Morocco and...
Regulation: Court ruling offers Spanish banks brief respite
Pablo Iglesias, secretary-general of Podemos Spain’s Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that customers, not banks, should continue to pay taxes for taking out a mortgage is only a short-term respite in the general assault on Spanish banks and their image....
Cryptocurrencies: Israel enters into crypto partnership with Switzerland
Israel and Switzerland have agreed to collaborate on issues including financial technology regulation, cryptocurrencies, market access and the fight against money laundering and terrorism finance. It is a move that should bring two of the world’s most sophisticated fintech markets...
CSR: Success and social impact bonds
Momentum for pay-for-success and social impact bonds (Sibs) seems to be growing. In September, at least four were announced, including a veterans programme that provides job development and post-traumatic stress disorder support to US veterans, two education bonds in South...
India banking: The power of the micro
September brought a sign of progress in India’s ambitions to transform its debt-addled state-owned banking sector. We are a long way from the endgame of six state banks prime minister Narendra Modi once mentioned – there are still more than...