Search
US Expands ‘Unprecedented Global Sanctions’ on Russia With Over 300 New Targets
20.5.2023
The U.S. has imposed new sanctions on Russia “in coordination with the G7 and other international partners.” Among the targets are “the channels Russia uses to acquire critical technology, its future energy extraction capabilities, and Russia’s financial services sector.”...
Russia and Iran Phasing Out US Dollar in Bilateral Trade Settlements
19.5.2023
The governments of Russia and Iran are starting to phase out the usage of the U.S. dollar to conduct bilateral trade settlements. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that 80% of Russia-Iran trade transactions are settled using national currencies and that they are considering also...
Venezuela’s President Declares Inevitable Shift Away From US Dollar in De-Dollarization Push
19.5.2023
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced that Venezuela will shift away from using U.S. dollars in trade, emphasizing that the de-dollarization process is “inevitable.” He described: “This is the path of Venezuela and the path of a free economy where currencies are not used...
Rate Hikes Affecting Housing Markets in Eurozone, United States, ECB Study Shows
19.5.2023
Interest rate hikes in the euro area are already causing a decline in housing investment, the zone’s central bank revealed in a study. While smaller than in the United States, the impact of the monetary policy tightening on the Old Continent is likely to grow further, the regulator expects. Housing...
Brazilian President Lula Ends Fuel Price Peg to the US Dollar, Announces Wholesale Discounts
18.5.2023
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio ‘Lula’ da Silva has announced that state oil company Petrobras will not be using US dollar-based international prices to set its internal fuel pricing structure. The “Brazilianization” of the industry determines discounts for distributors...
Investors Seek Refuge in Cash as Recession Fears Mount, BOFA Survey Reveals
18.5.2023
Investors, plagued by mounting pessimism, have sought refuge in cash, according to a recent survey conducted by Bank of America. The survey highlights a notable 5.6% increase in cash reserves during May, as apprehensive investors brace themselves for a potential credit crunch and a recession....
BRICS to Strengthen Economic Cooperation — Sherpa Calls for Increased Trade in National Currencies
18.5.2023
South Africa’s BRICS Sherpa says one of the priorities at the upcoming BRICS summit is “to strengthen economic cooperation.” He added: “We need a stable global financial architecture, a global financial arena. That is why we say that we need to trade in our own currencies.” He also believes that...
146 Top Executives Urge Biden to Prevent US Default — Warns of ‘Disastrous Consequences’
18.5.2023
Top executives from 146 major companies in the U.S. — including Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Nasdaq, and Pfizer — have urged President Joe Biden and congressional leaders to act swiftly to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its debt, which could occur as early as June 1. They warned...
Indonesia Introducing New National Payment System to Protect Against ‘Geopolitical Consequences’
17.5.2023
Indonesia is introducing a new national payment system as the country furthers its de-dollarization efforts and protection against “possible geopolitical consequences.” The new payment system will replace Visa and Mastercard in state-owned institutions and companies, a top central bank...
BRICS Nations Discuss Expansion Plan as Membership Interest Grows
17.5.2023
The BRICS countries are developing guidelines in response to increasing demand from countries seeking to join, according to South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor. “BRICS is attracting a lot of interest from a number of countries, and our sherpas are working on...
US Dollar’s Importance Declining in International Transactions and as Reserve Currency, Economist Says
17.5.2023
A Canadian economist and professor at the University of British Columbia says the role of the U.S. dollar in international trade and as a reserve currency has been declining. “Other currencies have been getting more important in international transactions and as reserve currencies,” he stressed....
Bangladesh and India to Trade in National Currencies Due to US Dollar Liquidity Issues
16.5.2023
Bangladesh and India have decided to conduct trade settlements in their own currencies, bypassing the dominance of the U.S. dollar. According to sources from the Bangladesh Bank, the decision was made due to the issues of liquidity in foreign currency that Bangladesh faces, which are disrupting...
Iraq Issues Ban on US Dollar Transactions to Bolster Usage of Iraqi Dinar
16.5.2023
The government of Iraq issued a ban on using the U.S. dollar for conducting business transactions on May 14. The ban, which is already in effect, is designed to bolster the usage of the Iraqi dinar, the fiat currency of the country, and to reduce the influence of the dollar and its exploitation...
Economist Peter Schiff Warns About a New, Incoming Great Depression Crisis, Criticizes Misleading Inflation Numbers
16.5.2023
Peter Schiff, best-selling author and chief economist of Europac, has warned about the coming of a new great depression period in America. In an interview, Schiff stated that official Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers were designed to mislead the public and that the country was going to face...
De-Risking or Decoupling? China- US Bilateral Trade Falls More Than 10% This Year
15.5.2023
Analysts have criticized the new ‘de-risking’ strategy that the U.S. is currently using against China, explained by U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in April, clarifying that national security was over economic costs. These de-risking policies might affect bilateral trade...
China, France to Deepen Ties Following Meeting of French President Macron and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping
15.5.2023
Chinese and French foreign ministers have expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation and pursue a “close and enduring comprehensive strategic partnership,” according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This followed a “successful” meeting between French...
Harvard Economics Professor: US Default Could Spark Global Financial Crisis
15.5.2023
Harvard economics professor Kenneth Rogoff, who previously served as the chief economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has warned that the U.S. defaulting on its debt obligations could spark a global financial crisis. “It’s a very perilous situation and we are in unknown waters,”...
Biden Appoints New Fed Vice Chair as Fedwatch Tool Shows Slim Chance of Rate Hike at June Meeting
14.5.2023
Investors believe it is highly likely that the target rate will remain unchanged at the June 14 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to increase the federal funds rate by 25 basis points on May 3. As the battle against inflation in...
10 Southeast Asian Nations Challenge Dollar Dominance With Push for Local Currencies
14.5.2023
The leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have agreed to “encourage the use of local currencies for economic and financial transactions.” The group comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar...
US Government Faces ‘Significant Risk’ of Default in June, Congressional Budget Office Warns
14.5.2023
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has stressed that “there is a significant risk that the Treasury will run out of funds at some point in the first two weeks of June” if the debt ceiling is not raised or suspended. The CBO’s projection is in line with the estimate by the Treasury Department...