In The News

Negative Interest Rates in Europe: DW

Uwe Hessler October 5, 2019
Low and negative interest rates keep loans flowing. Europe tries to stimulate its economies with low rates, and some banks charge customers who keep large amounts in their accounts. Governments or individuals can take out an individual €1000 loan and repay only €995, while savers receive no interest at all, explains Uwe Hessler for Deutsche Welle. “A negative deposit rate is intended to encourage...

Argentina on Its Own: Buenos Aires Times

Marcel J. Garcia October 1, 2019
Argentina is experiencing political and economic turmoil, with high debt and inflation, and Argentinians remove savings from banks and avoid the peso. The International Monetary Fund indicates weariness with Argentina’s problems, suggests Marcel J. Garcia for Buenos Aires Times. Argentina represents nearly 60 percent of the IMF portfolio and global credit ratings agencies suggest the country is...

Not Disclosing ESG Data: Wall Street Journal

Maitane Sardon September 29, 2019
Investors prefer hearing about environmental, social and governance impacts from companies rather than surprise announcements from the media or government investigations. The term ESG investments was coined in 2005. “[W}hile companies that don’t disclose environmental and social data may not always lose investors, they are more often being passed over by new investors, in favor of firms with...

Chubb Will No Longer Invest in Coal: Truthout

Elana Sulakshana September 24, 2019
Insurance industries provide coverage against disaster to all types of industries, complex equipment and operations. Swiss insurance company Chubb has announced that it will no longer underwrite risks related to construction and operation of new coal-fired plants. Chubb “will not underwrite new risks for companies that generate more than 30% of revenues from thermal coal mining … [and] will phase...

Asia and Aramco Attack: Wall Street Journal

Stephanie Yang and Benoit Faucon September 22, 2019
Drone and missile strikes at the oil infrastructure of Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich eastern province put oil-thirsty Asian countries under pressure. These strikes on Sept 14 reduced the global oil output by almost 6 percent and increased the global oil price by 15 percent two days later. The United States has placed sanctions upon Iran and Venezuela in recent years, and Asian countries, including...

Climate Strike Spans Continents: Financial Times

Sarah Provan, Philip Georgiadis, Camilla Hodgson, Myles McCormick, Adam Samson September 20, 2019
Millions of students and their supporters are protesting to demand immediate action from political leaders on climate change, ending the reliance on coal and other fossil fuels. Protests are scheduled in about 3,000 cities and more than 160 nations. Many businesses lend their support, with one group ringing fire alarms, responding to an early call of activist Greta Thunberg’s: “I want you to act...

Urgency for Alternative Energies Is Here: IOL

September 18, 2019
Nations that rely on oil imports are closely monitoring global supply after attacks on a Saudi Aramco facility cut half that country’s production capability, representing about 5 percent of the world’s supply. Crude and refined petroleum lead South Africa’s imports, most from Saudi Arabia. “South Africa’s top two oil suppliers – Saudi Arabia and Nigeria – are in regions that could, at best, be...