The economy of a nation is the engine that drives prosperity and creates wealth for that country and its citizens. A nation's utilization of its available resources and manpower has a great influence upon its overall economic prowess. Factors such as governmental structure, access to valuable commodities, size and sophistication of the labor force, and relations with trade partners are all key components of achieving economic stability.
Governmental politics play a crucial role in the resolution of many issues facing a nation. The potential impact upon international markets of U.S. President-elect Trump's economic policies, tensions between Russia and NATO, and Scottish independence from the United Kingdom may be substantial. In addition, the fluctuating market price of commodities, such as crude oil, often has vast implications on the overall economic health of many nations and their currencies.
Economies come in all shapes and sizes, earning designations ranging from superpower to emerging. To place each into the proper context, specific indicators are used to quantify the current economic health of a nation and the extent of its growth. A nation's gross domestic product (GDP) is the most referenced indicator pertaining to economic strength.
The value of the United States dollar (USD), British pound (GBP), Canadian dollar (CAD) and other major global currencies rely upon the domestic economic health of the nation itself. In the event that the sustainability of growth and other basic fundamentals come into question, currency valuations often experience periods of enhanced volatility.
What Is Ant Group? Ant Group is a large Chinese financial services and technology company that is closely affiliated with Alibaba, the giant Chinese ecommerce site. Ant was founded in…
Over the past several decades, China's international financial influence has expanded multifold. Featuring massive domestic consumption of US$6 trillion for 2020, a renowned export sector and dynamic "dual-circulation" strategy, China…
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic brought the world a collection of unprecedented humanitarian and economic challenges. From the virus's initial onslaught in late-February to a November surge in infection rates, COVID-19…
A U.S. administration headed by former Vice President Joe Biden is likely to take a different turn from the outgoing President Donald Trump administration when it comes to financial and…
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of 2020 proved to be a challenging period for the global economy. Unprecedented regional lockdowns, travel restrictions and mass quarantines prompted a historic downturn. Although…
What Is Wirecard? Wirecard is a defunct German payments company that failed in June 2020 following a scandal in which it is accused of defrauding investors by claiming revenue and…
How has Japan responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that swept across the globe starting in early 2020? Let's explore the Bank of Japan and the government's tactics to help out…
Like so many other countries around the world, South Africa was faced with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's how both the government and the reserve bank reacted. South African…
Following the early 2020 onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the global population eagerly awaited a vaccine capable of combating the virus. Although developing such products typically takes years, policymakers…
Throughout the U.S. electoral cycle of 2020, a collection of unique events drove a spirited race for the White House. Dubbed by political pundits as "the most important election of…
The government and the Reserve Bank of Australia, like their counterparts in other major countries, have enacted several measures to protect and stimulate their economies in the wake of the…
Risk Warning: Our service includes products that are traded on margin and carry a risk of losses in excess of your deposited funds. The products may not be suitable for all investors. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.
Any opinions, news, research, analyses, prices, other information, or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an "as-is" basis, as general market commentary and do not constitute investment advice. The market commentary has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research, and it is therefore not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of dissemination. Although this commentary is not produced by an independent source, FXCM takes all sufficient steps to eliminate or prevent any conflicts of interests arising out of the production and dissemination of this communication. The employees of FXCM commit to acting in the clients' best interests and represent their views without misleading, deceiving, or otherwise impairing the clients' ability to make informed investment decisions. For more information about the FXCM's internal organizational and administrative arrangements for the prevention of conflicts, please refer to the Firms' Managing Conflicts Policy. Please ensure that you read and understand our Full Disclaimer and Liability provision concerning the foregoing Information, which can be accessed here.