DWS | The USA is a divided nation. This idea has been repeated for some time in reference to American politics and society. However, since the end of the financial crisis, this division is increasingly palpable also in the economic sphere.
Ana Fuentes | The inequality trap lies in the fact that, thanks to globalization and the market economy, inequality between countries has been reduced in recent decades, but nevertheless it has increased internally in most of them. For Thomas Piketty, one of the most respected economists by the European left, the first thing is to recognize that inequality is not economic or technological, but essentially political. There is much talk of meritocracy and equal opportunities, but the gap does not stop growing and comes from public policies. And he sets his own country as an example.
Morgan Stanley | Global refinery margins have fallen sharply this year and we think we are going to see a rebound in 2020 for a host of reasons: the price of HSFO has fallen to a level where it already competes in power generation, which limits its fall from these levels.
Nicola Mai and Peder Beck-Friis (Pimco) | We believe that negative policy rates could do more harm than good to economies and markets, due to their impact on banks, insurance companies and pension funds, and also a possible adverse effect on consumption. Below, we discuss potential implications for investors.
Germany’s Ifo Institute has called for a replacement solution to be found quickly for the Appellate Body at the World Trade Organization (WTO). This body will soon cease to be operational, since the terms of office of two of its remaining three members end today, leaving the body unable to make decisions. The US has for some years now been blocking the appointments of new judges to replace outgoing ones.
E-Toro | Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco will be listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) later this week on December 11th. Furthermore, the oil company is expected to price its initial public offering Thursday at the high end of the targeted range to give the oil giant a total value of $1.7 Tr. This would be the world’s biggest-ever IPO. These are the pros and cons we found about the firm.
Alphavalue | The pressure on the oil industry to paint itself in green appears to be growing by the day and its strategic corner even more acute. It is remarkable and probably unique for such a powerful sector (nearly €700bn in market cap) to find itself under such powerful negative lime-lights in such a short period of time
A&G Banca | With a exports still in contraction, although perhaps less than a few months ago, it is the American consumer who has sustained the global cycle.
Tensions between France and the United States due to the so-called Google Tax worry the OECD. Washington is moving forward with retaliation tariffs that could be as high as 100% on French goods. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development asked all countries to accelerate the implementation of a global tax.
VV. AA. (The Conversation) | Online misinformation has significant real-life consequences, such as measles outbreaks and encouraging racist mass murderers. Online misinformation can have political consequences as well. The problem of disinformation and propaganda misleading social media users was serious in 2016, continued unabated in 2018 and is expected to be even more severe in the coming 2020 election cycle in the U.S.