September
- Opinion
- Governance
The stakeholder doctrine is flourishing despite attacks on ESG
Under pressure from both the ESG and anti-ESG lobbies, corporate leaders realise they still can’t ignore the social and political context in which they operate
August
- Opinion
- Quantitative easing
Market gyrations reflect fears about the unwinding of QE
Bountiful free money is not a “normal” state of affairs, and the sooner investors realise this the better. And that includes central bankers.
March
- Opinion
- Commercial property finance
It’s time to be honest about America’s commercial real estate hangover
Commercial real estate has tumbled into a debilitating pattern of “extend and pretend”: lenders have essentially rolled over troubled loans, hoping for a miraculous future Fed rescue.
September 2023
- Opinion
- Nuclear energy
Why the tech bros are turning to nuclear
The enormous energy demands of AI are one reason why rich technology entrepreneurs are drawn to factory-built modular nukes.
July 2023
- Opinion
- World elections
Is the US sleepwalking into a new Trump nightmare?
One dinner party guest predicted Trump would be ‘hell-bent’ on taking revenge on anyone who had challenged him.
- Opinion
- Office
Why halting an office real estate crash needs creative ideas
New York’s stranded legacy office space could be converted into accommodation if harsh zoning rules can be waived.
March 2023
- Opinion
- Investment banking
Investors in limbo as trust in market values wavers
Investors are unsure if market laws still apply after Swiss authorities allowed the Credit Suisse takeover to wipeout the ailing bank’s bonds.
January 2023
- Opinion
- Globalisation
The world is in a new age – but what do we call it?
We are exiting the Age of Markets. It is not clear what the new destination is, only that states will be back in charge.
- Opinion
- Global economy
Executives ill-equipped to deal with 2023’s big risks
Business leaders are contending with a baffling world that most do not have the experience to analyse.
November 2022
- Opinion
- Cryptocurrencies
Blockchain may have a green future regardless of crypto
Scandals like FTX should not detract from the experiments going on with the technology elsewhere.
July 2022
How a former Uber exec is helping Ukraine push back against Russia
At the start of the war, the world waited for Russia to shut down Ukraine’s internet. But Silicon Valley-trained engineers and global digital networks are giving the smaller country an edge.
- Opinion
- Working from home
Why CEOs are so WTF about WFH
One hot topic is guaranteed to press the buttons of US bosses: working from home.
January 2022
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Get ready for a new jolt: liquidity holes
The Fed’s pledge to shrink its balance sheet as well as raising rates means something rare might be about to happen in markets: a shortage of buyers for some assets relative to supply.
- Opinion
- Cryptocurrencies
You’ve invested in crypto. How dirty is your money?
A tricky question for mainstream investors in 2022: can you dabble in digital gold without getting your hands grubby?
November 2021
The US and China are already at war. But which kind?
The fact that war can be fought in so many ways in the 21st century might reduce the need for actual military conflict.
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
The US Treasuries market is a dangerous place to dream
When markets awake and reprice Treasuries, there is every chance we will see another nasty jolt.
October 2021
- Opinion
- Nuclear energy
Nuclear power can help fill the gaps in a tricky energy transition
An attempt to make nuclear reactors part of an ESG pitch is a striking sign of the climate times – and one that should be welcomed.
September 2021
- Opinion
- Credit crunch
Look to Japan for lessons on Evergrande
The Evergrande crisis is less ‘Lehman moment’ and more domestic property and bank asset bubble, like the one which dogged the Japanese economy for decades.
- Updated
August 2021
- Opinion
- Cryptocurrencies
How the Fed’s digital currency could displace crypto
The Boston Fed and MIT are building a central bank digital currency that aims to usurp existing tokens.
April 2021
- Opinion
- Climate policy
For real progress on climate change, invite the developing world
Next time Joe Biden holds a climate summit, he should not just invite the biggest countries to participate but include those such as Pakistan too.