Africa’s financial landscape is experiencing a quiet revolution as countries across the continent roll out local currency payment systems that bypass the U.S. dollar. Spurred by soaring transaction costs, currency risks and shifting geopolitical currents, African leaders and regional institutions...

Investor anxiety has surged in recent weeks as a string of unexpected policy moves and external shocks throw long‑standing monetary roadmaps into disarray. From surprise rate cuts in Europe to sudden spikes in geopolitical tension, central bankers find themselves reacting in real time to events...

President Donald Trump’s grand declaration at his January inauguration—that “the golden age of America begins right now”—has met a sobering dose of central-bank pragmatism this week. With policymakers at the Federal Reserve opting to hold interest rates steady rather than deliver the deep cuts Mr....

In a decision long anticipated by markets, the Federal Reserve opted to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 4.25–4.50 percent, even as its updated policy projections penciled in two quarter‑point cuts by the end of 2025. Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that the Fed’s path remains...

Escalating trade barriers are at the heart of a worrying pullback in foreign direct investment (FDI) worldwide, as companies grapple with unpredictable tariff environments and reassess long‑term projects. After two consecutive years of declining FDI—culminating in an 11 percent drop in...

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee opted on June 19 to keep the Bank Rate on hold at 4.25%, reflecting a delicate balancing act between persistent inflationary pressures, signs of slowing wage growth and elevated global risks. In a split 6–3 vote, the majority favoured maintaining...

The U.S. Federal Reserve System (Fed) increased its inflation projection (PCE index) in the United States for 2025 to 3% from the 2.7% anticipated in March, for 2026 - from 2.2% to 2.4%, and for 2027 - from 2% to 2.1%, stated the Fed. Simultaneously, the Fed has downgraded its projection for US GDP...

Global household wealth increased by 4.6% in dollar values in 2024. This is mentioned in the yearly Global Wealth Report by the Swiss bank UBS. Twelve months prior, the growth rate stood at 4.2%. Switzerland continues to have the wealthiest residents ($687.2 thousand on average), the United...

Global wealth continues its steady ascent, but the real story emerging from recent data is the meteoric rise of the “everyday millionaire” segment—individuals with investible assets between $15 million and $5 million. Once considered the exclusive turf of ultra‑high‑net‑worth individuals, this...