Bert Foster

In a major speech scheduled for Monday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will declare that the country is at a “crossroads” and needs innovative solutions as he aims to reinvigorate dwindling support for his Conservative Party before a general election, reportedly due later this year. The address, which Sunak has long wanted to give,…

In response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine against the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin has carried out a significant reshuffle of his defense and security team. Putin has appointed former economy aide and First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov, 65, as Russia’s new defense minister, replacing Sergei Shoigu, who has served in the…

On Monday, Japanese equities finished lower due to investor caution ahead of upcoming earnings reports. The Nikkei index declined 0.13% to end at 38,179.46 points, dipping below the 38,000 mark for the first time since May 2 during intraday trade. The broader Topix index also decreased 0.15% to 2,724.08 points. Analysts suggested that many…

The article reports on a significant government reshuffle in Russia, with Sergei Shoigu, a long-time ally of President Vladimir Putin, being moved from his position as defense minister to the country’s powerful Security Council. Shoigu, who had overseen Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since 2012, will now be replaced as defense minister by Andrei Belousov,…

Japanese government bond yields surged to multi-year highs on Monday following the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) decision to offer less in its regular bond purchasing operation. The two-year yield increased by one basis point (bp) to reach 0.325%, marking its highest level since June 2013. The five-year yield also rose by 2.5 bps, reaching…

According to data from Hazeltree, the number of funds shorting European banks has been increasing, with 21 investors currently shorting Amsterdam-listed ING, up from just seven at the beginning of the year. This trend also applies to British bank NatWest Group, whose short bets have nearly doubled from 16 to 31 since January 2.…

Based on the latest economic data and expert analysis, several factors will determine interest rates in the long term. These include: 1. High government borrowing due to investment needs, such as climate spending or military expenses, leading to rising interest costs. This could cause higher deficits, resulting in a premium demanded by bondholders and…

Asian stocks opened lower on Monday, following a positive week for Wall Street. The release of weak Chinese lending data and news of potential increased tariffs on US imports from China contributed to the negative sentiment. Japan’s Nikkei 225 decreased by 0.4%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose slightly, buoyed by tech stock…

Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Andrei Belousov, a former deputy prime minister and economic advisor, as the new defense minister in a major shake-up aimed at gearing Russia’s economy towards winning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Belousov, who specializes in economics, replaces Sergei Shoigu, a long-term ally of Putin, who will take over Shoigu’s…

According to a recent Bloomberg Markets Live Pulse survey, while gold is still considered the best hedge against inflation by 46% of respondents, nearly a third believe that tech giants such as Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta Platforms (formerly known as Facebook) provide a better safeguard against inflation risks. This shift in perception can be…