Korn Ferry: In Germany, New Lessons on Succession

In a move that rocked the political sphere, Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel has recently announced she’d step down in three years. Sure, that’s a ways off, but Merkel has held the position for more than decade and been a clear if not stable fixture that will be hard to replace. And for now, few experts see any obvious replacements. 

Succession plans in the political world are, of course, different than those at a company. “There’s no assurance that the up-and-comer politician might not get impatient and challenge the leader to an election,” says Alan Guarino, Vice Chairman in our CEO and Board Services practice for Korn Ferry in New York. “It’s not like corporate America.” Still, a growing number of firms are waking up to the often-ignored importance building high-level pipelines far in advance.  Read more here.

WSJ: What Is the Real Effective Exchange Rate?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

In reports explaining why some currencies plunged this year, analysts may have mentioned the Real Effective Exchange Rate, or REER.

The REER provides a broader assessment of a currency’s value than simply comparing the value of one country’s currency against another country’s currency. Read more here.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Barron's: How Electric Vehicles Should Give a Jolt to Copper Miners

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Copper prices have dropped 18% in recent weeks, creating a long-term opportunity to get in on some cheap copper-mining giants with generous dividend payouts. Their prospects will depend on a major technological transition: the move from gasoline-powered to electric vehicles.

“If you’re bullish on global growth over the next 18 to 24 months, you have to own copper-related assets, especially since current prices aren’t high enough to fund new-mine development,” says Adam Johnson, founder and author of the Bullseye Brief financial newsletter. Read more here.

Forbes: More Upside In Gold Prices

By SIMON CONSTABLE

This month's rally in gold prices may not be over.

That's because investors are still heavily betting on a decline in the value of the precious metal. When speculators overwhelmingly bet in one direction then a move in the opposite way is often the result. Read more here.

Forbes: Gold Outperformed Bitcoin In October

By SIMON CONSTABLE

When investing in alternative assets gold remains the king.

The yellow metal performed far better than the world's best-known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, during October's market volatility. Read more here.

John Batchelor Radio Show: What Does Brexit Do For Scotland?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Mid East Eye: Saudi Economy May Pay High Price for Khashoggi Killing

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Saudi Arabia’s economy will likely pay a high price over the recent killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a sordid affair that sparked global outrage and which may prompt some action by the United States and other governments.

However, the longer-term issue is that investors will likely shun Saudi Arabia because the killing highlights the kingdom’s political instability, and that shakiness is something from which investors tend to shy away or exact a high price. Read more here.