Combatting COVID-19: How Central Banks Are Responding To The Crisis Global central banks – namely the US Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) – have responded with unprecedented intensity to the economic crisis that has followed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. They have rapidly
Winners And Losers As Market Volatility Returns In the years following the global financial crisis (GFC), market volatility remained relatively muted, generally moving within a narrow band. Supported by modest but steady economic growth and accommodative monetary policy, global stock markets experienced few pronounced ups and downs for most of the last decade. Then, in
Which Companies Will Pass the Coronavirus ESG Test? As the coronavirus ravages economies worldwide, companies are struggling to pay workers and keep the lights on. Declining economic activity has sent carbon emissions plummeting and unemployment soaring, and many businesses are now reliant on the government for working capital. Against this backdrop, many are questioning companies’
Coronavirus Downturn vs. Global Financial Crisis When the coronavirus crisis first hit, many optimistically predicted a rapid economic rebound in the second half of the year. The outlook has since darkened, with rising fears of widespread bankruptcies, sovereign defaults, long-term unemployment, and a slow and painful recovery. In many ways, what started as a
Banks Are Holding Up Amidst Coronavirus Chaos – So Far In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, governments around the world made a concerted effort to enhance the stability and security of the global financial system. Through global regulatory frameworks such as Basel III and domestic regulatory efforts such as the US Dodd-Frank Act,
Coronavirus Set To Crush Emerging Markets In Worst-Ever Crisis As some European and North American coronavirus hotspots start to see light at the end of the tunnel, many emerging markets are bracing for the worst of the impact. More and more developing countries are imposing lockdowns to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, even
How Pension Funds Can Lead The Way In Responsible Investing Globally, pension funds hold an estimated $20 trillion in assets, making them the single largest asset pool in the world. Given their size – and the fact that they are long-term investors – many have looked to pension funds for leadership in the field of
Coronavirus May Infect Derivatives Markets, Sending Counterparties Crashing As the novel coronavirus spreads rapidly around the world, financial markets are becoming increasingly volatile. Equities have plunged into bear market territory, upending a decade-long expansion, and corporate credit markets are facing the possibility of widespread downgrades and defaults. Against this backdrop, derivatives markets are seeing activity spike.
