Global Markets

Over the course of U.S. President Donald Trump's first term, reducing the U.S. foreign trade deficit became a priority of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Headed by Robert E. Lighthizer, the USTR spearheaded a campaign of commercial pressures upon numerous international trade partners during 2018 and 2019. China and the European Union (EU) were among the largest targets. Subsequently, the prolonged escalation of tariffs regularly brought the…

Backed by the robust nature of the U.S. economy, the U.S. dollar is the global reserve currency. The U.S. dollar (USD), or "greenback," is the most widely accepted currency in the world, as it accounts for more than 60% of all known foreign exchange reserves held by central banks. The euro is the next-largest global currency and it accounts for 20% of these reserves, making it a distant second to…

Headquartered at 1 Exchange Square in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is a premier destination for individuals seeking exposure to the African continent. Whether targeting derivative, debt, or equity products, investors frequently engage the JSE with the goal of capitalising upon the growth potential of broader Africa. Licensed and governed by the Financial Markets Act of 2012, the JSE provides an avenue by which corporations can raise…

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is the largest stock exchange in Africa and ranks among the world's top 20 largest exchanges by market capitalisation. The exchange's mission is to help local and international investors and companies gain exposure to capital markets in Africa. In 2003, the JSE launched AltX, an alternative exchange for small and mid-sized listings, also known as the Growth Board. In July 2013, it adopted the Millennium…

Since Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. General Election of 2016, the sitting President of the United States (POTUS) has been a polarising and controversial figure. From alleged Russian collusion to unprecedented Twitter practices, constant criticism has been a central theme among political adversaries. While critique and open discourse are staples of U.S. politics, an actual removal from office or impeachment of a POTUS is rare. On 24 September 2019,…

What Are Tariffs? Tariffs are a tax or duty imposed on imported foreign goods. They're paid by the company importing the product, although the foreign company exporting the product may thereby find its products too expensive to sell in foreign markets depending on how high the tariffs are. The importing company paying the tariff may absorb the cost or pass it along to consumers, or a combination of the two.…

What Is The Lehman Brothers Collapse? The collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008 was the largest instance of corporate bankruptcy in American history. The firm's failure is generally regarded as the seminal event of the global financial crisis, which triggered the Great Recession that followed. The effects are still being felt today in the form of weak economic growth and unprecedented central bank intervention in the global economy and…

In the aftermath of the June 2016 vote for Brexit, several issues became points of contention regarding the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union. Monetary settlements, immigration policies and the future of trade relations spearheaded negotiations during an extended transition period. In addition to these concerns was the Irish border, what it was to become and how it was going to impact the U.K.-EU relationship moving forward. Throughout the…

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is the largest issuer of bonds in the world. It issues debt securities in order to fund the activities of the U.S. government, which generally runs high budget deficits. As of 31 December 2018, the U.S. federal debt totaled slightly below US$22 trillion. Of that amount, $16.1 trillion was held by the public and $5.9 trillion was held by other entities of the federal…

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is an official provider of energy-related data and analytics. Initially created by the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, the EIA specializes in the collection, analysis and dissemination of energy industry data at the federal level. Producers, traders and government officials view the EIA as a leading authority on the current state of global energy. Mission And Products Dating back to the oil crises…

The U.S. government shutdown of 2018-19 was the longest in history, illustrating a growing division in American politics. The product of a budgetary impasse, issues such as immigration reform and federal spending spurred the closure.