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A Drop of 17% in Five Years - London Stock Exchange Experiences Decline in the Number of Companies Trading Judging by the number of companies which are currently trading on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), by all accounts the trading platform appears to be losing its appeal. In 2020 the number of companies trading on the LSE declined to an all-time low. Even though the platform is a powerful player…
The early 2020 onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic posed a collection of unique financial and societal challenges. Extreme pricing volatility struck nearly every asset class including currencies, commodities and equities. Travel restrictions and prolonged quarantines made conducting business-as-usual impossible. For a majority of the world's citizens, everyday life was altered in ways unimaginable only a few months earlier. This included one of the world's time-honoured traditions, the 2020 Summer…
Since the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) became a global pandemic, it has had a significant impact on both the economy and financial markets. Some have likened the fallout to the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. However, there are some important differences between the two, which we'll explore in this article. 1. The 2008 Financial Crisis Caused Great Confusion When the Global Financial Crisis took place, many people had little understanding of…
The early 2020 onset of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic brought chaos to the financial markets. From its initial detection in Wuhan, China to the outbreak's late-February global explosion, the virus unhinged markets worldwide. No asset class was spared from COVID-19's wrath, beit equities, commodities, bonds or currencies. In an attempt to mitigate the negative economic implications of the coronavirus, central banking authorities turned to aggressive monetary policies. Led by…
The dawn of the 21st century posed a collection of unique challenges to the world of finance. The dot-com crash of 2000 and the 11 September 2001 World Trade Center attacks (9/11) illustrated the fragility of the capital markets. Although the nature of each event was very different, both proved to be economic game changers. In many ways, the dot-com meltdown and 9/11 served as underpinnings for one of the…
In 2016, Republican U.S. Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump built a campaign on a central theme of American prosperity through rebalancing foreign trade. To accomplish this goal, Trump proposed a complete overhaul of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and an intense review of U.S. policy toward China. Upon winning the presidency in November 2016, Trump's agenda was one step closer to becoming a reality. Throughout the Trump administration's…
As soon as "leave" became the outcome of the 2016 U.K. Brexit Referendum, the future of trade between South Africa (SA), the United Kingdom (U.K.) and the European Union (EU) was thrown into flux. Upon the 31 December 2020 Brexit transition deadline passing, a new set of parameters will govern the multi-faceted commercial dynamic. South Africa's Trade Relations With The U.K. And EU South Africa's trade relationship with the EU…
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…
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…
President Trump's use of Twitter is the subject of voracious debate. Short term market volatility has been attributed to Trump's tweets. Learn more here.
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