Korn Ferry: In Spain, Italy-- Surviving a Void

By SIMON CONSTABLE

It isn’t something one would expect to see, two major European nations without leaders at the same time. But that’s where Italy and Spain found themselves last week—and where a surprising number of companies find themselves as well. 

For those who missed the headlines, Italy went three months without a majority government, until two major parties finally agreed last Friday on a new prime minister. Meanwhile, a few hundred miles west, Spain’s government collapsed after the prime minister was unseated in a no-confidence vote, and experts wonder how long the new government will last. But as unnerving as this can be, leadership vacuums are of course not limited to politics. Indeed, from abrupt CEO departures to boardroom succession battles, such voids are becoming more common and troubling. Read more here.

John Batchelor Show: Jeremy Corbyn Preaches

By SIMON CONSTABLE

P.J. Media: Numbers Don't Bear Out Corbyn's Claims on 'Soaring Inequality'

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Has Britain’s Jeremy Corbyn become king of the political fibbers? Maybe so.

The ultra-leftist leader of the country’s Labour Party won’t let up from pushing the idea that the divide between those on high incomes and the rest of the population is only getting worse.

The problem is that the pontificating politician hasn’t checked the facts. Worse still, he fails to mention how much better off even the poorest have become these past few decades. Read more here.

Parliament

Photo by Massimiliano Morosinotto on Unsplash

WSJ: What Is CCAR?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Over the next few weeks, the abbreviation CCAR, which stands for Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review, is likely to crop up in news articles and online posts. It matters for anyone who follows the U.S. banking industry. Read more here.

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

WSJ: Emerging Markets Have a Dollar Problem

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Emerging-markets stocks have been pummeled lately, and the strength of the dollar gets much of the blame.

“The dollar remains the single most important consideration for EM [emerging-markets] finances,” says a report from debt-ratings company Fitch. In general, a stronger dollar tends to mean lower stock prices in emerging markets. Read more here.

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash

Barrons: Tariffs Won’t Dent Steelmakers

By SIMON CONSTABLE

In boxing it’s considered unsporting to kick your opponent when he’s down. Apparently, not so in international trade.

Soon after last week’s Italian-inspired market wobbles, President Trump decided to pile on. As of Friday, imports of European-made steel and aluminum are subject to tariffs of 25% and 10% respectively. Read more here.

Steel tubing

Photo by Christophe Dion on Unsplash

Middle East Eye: Good as gold -- Turkey uses bullion to stabilise its economy

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Turkey’s economy has been in a tailspin with an inflationary currency, but the country is using something rare to help stabilise itself: gold.

In late 2011, Turkey started to allow commercial banks to use gold instead of the Turkish lira for their required deposits at the central bank. These deposits are known as reserve requirements and help ensure that the banks are capitalised. Read more here.

Photo by Zlaťáky.cz on Unsplash