A spicy commentary published by the Lowy Institute—a prominent Sydney-based think tank—recalibrates the relationship between Australia and Southeast Asia. “Shared prosperity” and “deepening engagement” may mean something quite different in Canberra, than Hanoi or Kuala Lumpur. Bilateral grievances center on immigration policies and business standards. The author argues that Australia runs the risk of becoming […]
Americans are going bonkers over gold, both on the supply and demand side. Many are digging deep into their family vaults to sell heirloom pieces as scrap, while others are hoarding gold over anxiety and fear. The net impact is a frenzy of activity in the retail market that has not been seen since the […]
Mark Bristow, the CEO of Barrick Gold, may know a thing or two about political volatility. While the mining company is based in Toronto, he is South African by heritage. “Very clearly the market is telling you there is only one reserve currency in this world, and that is the one politicians can’t print—and that […]
Some investors celebrated the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate hike on July 26 with the view that it may be the last increase for this cycle. We are not so sure; the US is a complex economy. California may be backpedaling because of restructuring in Silicon Valley and a massive union strike in Hollywood. On the other […]
Artificial intelligence is not a person. Or so claims America’s top patent court. The argument is important because of the potential impact on intellectual-property protection. If an AI does the heavy lifting for an invention, then there are material questions about whether a discovery is sufficiently unique to even warrant a patent. Unless you are […]
The Sicilian capital of Palermo came to a standstill in early June, when hackers shut down the municipal computer network in a ransomware attack. Aside from reporting the incident, local officials have offered scant details. They now suggest that it may be three months before online tax and traffic functions return to normal. This Italian […]
Our approach to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has been modelled over the years to align with our stance on frontier stock markets, such as Morocco and Kazakhstan. These assets may afford opportunity for some, but they require specialist knowledge that may be a bridge too far for most global investors. We never felt a need […]
We are responsive to the view that a pandemic ends when people say that it ends. Despite the more casual attitude toward Covid-19 in diverse geographies, statistics remain sobering, at least here in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control, some 120,000 people died directly from Covid-19 in the first three months […]
Peter Paul Rubens is one of the masters of seventeenth century painting. Known for fluid depictions of religious and mythological characters, Rubens is an essential part of the collection at the Prado and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among other cornerstone museums. We were intrigued when one of his notable works, “Portrait of a Lady” […]
China has a healthcare-infrastructure problem. Its workforce of doctors and nurses, as well as its network of clinics and hospitals, are woefully inadequate for a population of 1.4 billion. The state aims to avoid the upheaval associated with a rampant, nationwide Covid-19 outbreak, whether sparked by Omicron or a now-unknown variant. Its ongoing zero-Covid policy […]
Our work is research-based, reflecting our heritage in the investment-banking industry. We benefit from the wisdom of others and their disparate voices.
