Last week, global equity investors got a much-needed reprieve from volatile, loss-inflicting markets. But rather than signaling the start of a calmer market phase, this may well prove a prelude to renewed volatility in the weeks ahead. After ending the last trading session of the previous week with a gain, global stocks got off to a good start last Monday. …

China’s overseas investment has long worried Western observers. From the constant updates on the soon-to-be operational Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), to the rather more nebulous One Belt One Road initiative, China’s trade and economic influence is spreading on multiple fronts. This has fed into broader anxieties in the West, who feel that important allies and opportunities are slipping into …

Hong Kong / AFP Asian shares swept higher on Monday, with Shanghai leading the charge after China replaced its securities regulator, while a rise in oil prices cheered investors across the region. Equities extended last week’s sharp rally, notching gains almost across the board after news that Russia and Saudi Arabia may freeze production sent crude higher. Chinese shares closed …