September, 2016

• 4 September

  A new era of labour scarcity in US?

  

    Forget the “gig economy” — at least for now. On Labour Day 2016, we are in the midst of a historic transformation of the American job market. Popular attention focuses on Uber and similar internet-based networks that unite buyers and sellers. “TaskRabbit,” for example, creates a platform for people who need something done (grocery shopping, plumbing) and those willing, ...

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• 4 September

  Nafta didn’t help Mexico more than the US

  

    The North American Free Trade Agreement, Donald Trump said on Wednesday, “has been a far greater benefit to Mexico” than the U.S. Just minutes before, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, standing by Trump’s side in Mexico City, said Nafta had done both countries “a lot of good.” Trump disagrees over which country benefited the most, but he didn’t disavow ...

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• 4 September

  US should help China help out on North Korea

    Barack Obama and Xi Jinping have obvious disagreements over how to handle North Korea’s illicit weapons program. China is angry about U.S. plans to deploy advanced missile defenses in South Korea to counter the threat, while Obama faces pressure to sanction Chinese banks and companies that help sustain Kim Jong Un’s nuclear ambitions. But the two presidents still have ...

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• 4 September

  Paris pact has challenges galore

    After the US and China ratified the Paris climate accord, there is growing optimism that the agreement can take effect by the end of the year. It has to be signed by 55 countries responsible for 55% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. And ratification by the two economic giants — who emit 38% of the climate-harming GHSs — is ...

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• 4 September

  Central banks should lead the way on digital currency

  

    In recent years, digital currencies have shown considerable promise. Research by the People’s Bank of China suggests that the best way to take advantage of these innovations is for central banks to take the lead, both in supervising private digital currencies and in developing digital legal tender of their own. At the PBOC, this effort is underway. In approaching ...

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• 4 September

  Want a free market? Abolish cash currency

  If you believe that government meddling in financial markets was responsible for the last recession and the lackluster recovery, you might be right. But probably not in the way you think. Imagine what would happen in a free market if everyone suddenly decided that future economic growth would be very slow. The price of safe assets such as U.S. government ...

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• 4 September

  How Apple calculates and pays its taxes

  

  Apple’s legal defense against European Commission charges of improper tax avoidance is yet to be heard. But even based on the company’s own reporting, Apple’s claim that it has always paid all the taxes it owed is disingenuous. The recent ruling — forcing Ireland to hit the iPhone maker with 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in back taxes — throws ...

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• 4 September

  Saudi stocks climb most in Gulf

  

    Bloomberg Saudi Arabian stocks led advances across most Gulf markets as investors speculated companies in the kingdom stand to benefit if oil-producing nations agree an output freeze. The Tadawul All Share Index added 1.3 percent to 6,099.03 on Sunday in Riyadh, with Al Rajhi Bank contributing the most to the gain. Bloomberg’s index of the largest and most liquid ...

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• 4 September

  Emerging markets climb as USA jobs data eases Fed-rate anxiety

    Bloomberg Emerging-market currencies rose from the lowest levels in a month and stocks rallied as data showing slower-than-forecast U.S. employment growth reduced the odds that the Federal Reserve will move quickly to raise interest rates, propping up demand for riskier assets. An MSCI Inc. index of developing-nation exchange rates rose 0.3 percent, ending a four-day losing streak. The equity ...

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• 4 September

  Saudi raises pricing for Oct crude to Asia on demand

  

    Bloomberg Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude exporter, raised pricing for October oil sales to Asia and the U.S. in a sign of strengthening demand. State-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Co., known as Aramco, increased its official selling price for Arab Light crude to Asia by 90 cents a barrel, to 20 cents below the regional benchmark, it said Sunday ...

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