Brazil is confronted by slowdowns in its major export markets together with a home grown credit mess. It is doubtful that it can save itself, much less the rest of the world In February 2011, I wrote a piece about what I thought was a credit bubble in Brazil. I thought that the problem...

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Barclays' senior management and multiple traders were involved in manipulating Libor and Euribor rates and the bank was slapped a 290 million pounds fine by the US and UK authorities   London: Barclays Plc on Tuesday said its chief executive officer Bob Diamond has resigned with...

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Despite European leaders agreeing to recapitalise banks directly instead of bailing them out vis-a-vis loans, Barclays believes that the Euro currency will be weak and will fall   Barclays, a leading British financial institution, believes that the market is expected to remain subdued...

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The best solution to the problem of tax evasion is to simplify both the tax and the regulatory environment   Periodically for the past two years we have been bombarded with stories about the Greek financial mess. The Greeks and several other countries in the Eurozone have very large...

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In a country where information is tightly controlled, the size and extent of the underground economy can only be guessed. When this part of the economy goes bust, the landing will be very hard indeed The Chinese economy, like the economies of the rest of the BRICs, is slowing. Despite...

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A crisis in European banking system can choke trade, finance and economic growth not just in the Euro Zone but in the world at large   Bangalore: India on Friday said a crisis in the European banking system can choke trade and finance and in the process global economic growth, and...

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As per a deal reached between Goldman and Gupta before the trial, the latter would have to reimburse the bank for the legal fees advanced to him if found guilty   New York: Financial services firm Goldman Sachs has paid a large chunk of the nearly $30 million legal fees for its former...

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China will contribute $43 billion, while India, Brazil and Russia would contribute $10 billion each with South Africa giving $2 billion to the Euro zone bailout fund created by the IMF   Los Cabos: India and four other countries of the five-nation BRICS bloc on Tuesday gave a big...

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While India accounted for only 0.14% of total foreign money in Swiss banks, the UK accounted for the largest share of little over 20%, followed closely by the US with about 18%   New Delhi: Indians' money in Swiss banks may have risen for the first time in five years, but they account...

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With a weakening global economy European markets will no doubt test those lows. When they do, the worst place to invest might just become the best Over the past few weeks an army of financial professionals have been frightening the markets about the potential meltdown in Europe. They...

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Nationalization may be passé, but confiscation is not. Foreign corporations are no longer considered necessary to economic growth in emerging markets and are not welcome When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s we had third world countries. Many of these countries had just won their...

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Governments are enamoured with manipulating the market. The irony is now the market is manipulating them. So the reality is that China’s slowdown is inevitable and it matters little what Wen says Recently markets have been concerned about slowing growth in China. According to the data...

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While investors around the world wait breathlessly for the next stimulus from governments, the reality is that government policy options are quite limited. The paradox is that the one policy that politicians will not follow is the one policy that would actually work; the path of true reform

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In emerging markets both the banks and the regulators are often subject to the whims of the state. So the size of the credit problems that actually lurk on their balance sheets may eventually make Europe’s problems look quite small It’s all about Europe. Every day we read and hear in a...

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Despite local demand, Chinese and other emerging market firms have not established their own brands. Instead they have often tried a short cut, purchasing western brands. The main problem for the emerging markets is learning the art of protecting their local brands   The growth of...

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The recipe for stagflation requires permitting excessive growth of the money supply with excessive regulation of markets. Both of which exist in China. This is the second part of the article on the slowing Chinese GDP China’s GDP (gross domestic product) numbers last week confirmed...

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The main reason why the Chinese slowdown does not scare pundits more is that they expect China to repeat its past actions by loosening its monetary policy and stimulating its economy as it did in 2009 China is slowing. Its (gross domestic product) GDP growth rate has fallen to 8.1%.  Not...

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The Chinese official PMI climbed to 53.1 in March, reaching its best level in 12 months. In contrast, a report from HSBC/Markit put the index at 48.3 for March, the fifth straight month of decline. To control information from the microbloggers Chinese authorities have warned 3117 websites,...

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In their attempt to change the world, central bankers and governments have not only distorted the economic fundamentals, they have done something far worse. They have distorted the way investors invest Investors used to like numbers. To determine where they would invest, they would...

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There are questions whether creditors especially banks and bond holders are ever going to get paid back. This is a serious problem not only in Europe, but also in China. The only real way that these places can grow is through structural reform, which in far more improbable than most of the...

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