Category Archives: Politics

Irish Funds: Where Are The Risks?

Last week the Central Bank of Ireland published a report on the key risks and trends shaping the financial sector. The Regulatory & Supervisory Outlook (RSO) report gives the Bank’s view on these risks and what they see as the key priorities to address them in the next two years.  From this we get aContinue reading “Irish Funds: Where Are The Risks?”

China: More Risk than Return?

It used to be Top of Mind for investors.  China was an economic power house driving global markets and commodities. Posting annual growth rates of 10% and more in the early 2000’s, the health of the Chinese economy was a critical box to tick in building a positive case for financial investors. Not any more.Continue reading “China: More Risk than Return?”

Back to School! What Irish Fund Managers are saying today

2024 has been a good year so far for investors. But now, as we put away the buckets and spades and head into the home straight for the year, how do Irish investment managers see market prospects? Well, all in all, they seem to be a reasonably positive bunch. Not too concerned about recessions, expectingContinue reading “Back to School! What Irish Fund Managers are saying today”

For investors, does China matter anymore?

The South China Morning Post is worried about a recession in China.  Fortune magazine speaks of a dead-end for the Chinese economy.  And Bloomberg talks of China’s economic miracle fading.  Chinese consumers lack confidence and the property sector’s problems seem to be intractable. It seems a far cry from the years when China was growingContinue reading “For investors, does China matter anymore?”

Understanding China

Last week, two of the world’s most powerful leaders met in San Francisco. One representing a resilient economy with continuing impressive growth in numbers of people working. The other heading up an underperforming economy with huge issues in key sectors such as property – but China still matters. For many investors, China is just aContinue reading “Understanding China”

Beyond the Taverna

Just over 10 years ago, it’s major cities were on fire.  Bank buildings were burnt and foreign owned stores set alight and looted. Mass demonstrations were violent and fatal and met with riot police and tear gas. The political system was on the verge of collapse. Today, Greece is one of the fastest growing economiesContinue reading “Beyond the Taverna”

Could there be a Chinese Credit Suisse?

The Great Wall of China dates from the 7th century BC and is over 20,000 km in length. It has had a profound military, economic and political impact on China. But at times of global financial crisis, China also seems to have had a financial “great wall” protecting it from contagion. China’s economy in the 80’s.Continue reading “Could there be a Chinese Credit Suisse?”

Pension Funds and the Big Question

Three Facts This year, 830 million people will go hungry. We waste 40% of food globally. Pension Funds can help. After steadily declining for a decade, world hunger is on the rise, affecting nearly 10% of people globally. Of the 830 million going hungry, 50 million are facing absolute famine. This set-back is driven largelyContinue reading “Pension Funds and the Big Question”

Should Investors just forget about Emerging Markets?

It is one of the key tenets in investment. If you take on more risk, you expect more reward. It underlies why we invest in start-up businesses, new technologies, illiquid assets and much, much more. And it explains why individuals and institutions have ploughed vast sums into Emerging Markets.Emerging Markets, now taken as a givenContinue reading “Should Investors just forget about Emerging Markets?”

Irish Pension Funds and the War in Ukraine

As a world event, the Ukraine War is seismic, and has edged out most topics from the financial news cycle since February. The human horror and loss is evident and growing daily. It is also having a wide impact on global politics and finance. Given its role in financial markets,  it is worth seeing what hasContinue reading “Irish Pension Funds and the War in Ukraine”

Emerging Markets – is it over?

Emerging Markets have long played a role In investment portfolios whether pension funds or retail investors. Investing in sometimes more “exotic” markets has been seen to be a way of tapping into higher returns while diversifying away risk. Investors could have exposure to Coca-Cola bottlers in Argentina, software companies in India through to supermarkets inContinue reading “Emerging Markets – is it over?”

Markets, Media and Money Trees

Every day in stock markets seems to be a tug of war between the medical facts and their implications for further lock-downs, and the sheer scale of fiscal and monetary action being announced, or in the course of being implemented. We have had the juggernaut move from mid-March when global equity markets bounced by aboutContinue reading “Markets, Media and Money Trees”

When that Investment Long Term becomes just a little bit more Short Term….

  Investors need to find a balance between short term and long term factors in making decisions. Focusing purely on short term factors will likely lead to over-trading, higher costs and leave fundamental investors at the mercy of high frequency strategies. All of which will ultimately haemorrhage returns. At the same time, investors do needContinue reading “When that Investment Long Term becomes just a little bit more Short Term….”

Travelling and Arriving. Brexit Collateral Damage

The Brexit debate seems mired in dates and deadlines. Progress and attention span  is incremental with every week seeming to be all important and then fading into memory. Red lines do little more than lose their colour. In Ireland it is never far from centre stage but even now fatigue and an October deadline haveContinue reading “Travelling and Arriving. Brexit Collateral Damage”