The OMFIF Podcast

Synopsis: A critical Federal Reserve quandary, the future of Chinese growth, and the ECB under Christine Lagarde

In this episode of Synopsis, OMFIF’s weekly roundup of news and analysis, Senior Editor Julian Frazer looks back over the most recent articles published on the OMFIF website, including those on a critical policy-making quandary at the Federal Reserve, the future of Chinese growth, and what to expect from the European Central Bank under President Christine Lagarde. To receive our newsletters, visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Fed’s enduring target rate debacle
2. Five ways to advance on climate change
3. Volcker and Nölling: Benevolently independent
4. Ahead of the ECB

Music: Hey Mercy by Pierce Murphy is licensed under an Attribution License.

Ahead of the ECB: Forecasting Lagarde’s direction

Frederik Ducrozet, strategist, at Pictet Wealth Management, joins Danae Kyriakopoulou, chief economist and director of research at OMFIF, to discuss what to expect from the European Central Bank’s next monetary policy meeting and Lagarde’s direction for the ECB. They cover stylistic changes in communication with the public and markets, internal changes to decision making, as well as the timing of the strategic review and what may come of it.

 

Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Synopsis: European green policy, cutting the ECB inflation target, and signs pointing to a global recession

In this episode of Synopsis, OMFIF’s weekly roundup of news and analysis, Senior Editor Julian Frazer looks back over the most recent articles published on the OMFIF website, including those on the possibility of a green policy realignment in Europe after the UK general election, why the European Central Bank should not cut its inflation target, and the various signs that point to an impending global recession. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Europe reset on climate change
2. Cutting ECB inflation target ill-advised
3. Signs point to global recession
4. Kenneth Clarke speaks with David Marsh about Brexit and the UK general election

Music: Hey Mercy by Pierce Murphy is licensed under an Attribution License.

Listen on iTunes or Spotify.

Synopsis: Federal Reserve communications, UK party manifestos, Trump's troubled relationship with the dollar

In this episode of Synopsis, OMFIF’s weekly roundup of news and analysis, Senior Editor Julian Frazer looks back over the most recent articles published on the OMFIF website, including those on the virtues and shortcomings of the Federal Reserve's financial stability reports, the manifestos presented by Britain's biggest political parties in the run up to the 12 December general election, and Donald Trump's vexed relationship with his currency. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. New Fed reports fall short on risks
2. Statism v. 'safety first' in UK election
3. Mighty dollar maddens Trump
4. What is driving increased gold demand?
5. Paris roundtable on making Europe competitive
6. London seminar on central bank supervisory technology
7. New York meeting on Asia's economic priorities for 2020

Music: Hey Mercy by Pierce Murphy is licensed under an Attribution License.

Listen on iTunes or Spotify.

Kenneth Clarke on the UK general election

Kenneth Clarke, a Conservative member of parliament for 49 years and the UK’s chancellor of the exchequer between 1993-97, speaks with OMFIF Chairman David Marsh in the run-up to the 12 December general election. They discuss the surreal circumstances that have changed the face of British politics since the Brexit referendum in June 2016, Jeremy Corbyn’s tenure as leader of the Labour party, and how Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson might conduct future negotiations with the European Union.

 

 

Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

The gold market: What is driving increased demand?

Juan Carlos Artigas, director of investment research at the World Gold Council, joins Pierre Ortlieb, economist at OMFIF, to discuss recent developments in the gold market, as well as its future outlook. They pore over whether gold is becoming more pro-cyclical, the nature of central bank gold demand, and tools available to properly analyse the market.

 

Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Synopsis: India hands reins to China, Boris Johnson on the campaign trail, and the future of the euro area

In this episode of Synopsis, OMFIF's weekly roundup of news and analysis, Senior Editor Julian Frazer looks back over the most recent articles published on the OMFIF website, including those on India's rejection of the RCEP, Boris Johnson on the UK campaign trail, and quelling German excess saving. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. India hands economic reins to China
2. Awkward truths on UK campaign trail
3. Quelling German excess saving
4. Project financing for infrastructure development
5. OMFIF-Banca d'Italia seminar in Rome

Music: Hey Mercy by Pierce Murphy is licensed under an Attribution License.

Project financing for infrastructure development

Infrastructure is vital for a country's economic and population growth. With increasing demand, especially in emerging economies, infrastructure spending in Asia is expected to grow faster than countries' funding capacity. Pablo Kang, senior executive at Australia's department of foreign affairs and trade's office of the Pacific, joins OMFIF's Angelia Lee to discuss the main objectives of the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific and the key infrastructure development issues that countries in the region face. They also talk about what  actions are needed to tackle these challenges and how the AIFFP can promote sustainability through its investment activities.

 

Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Synopsis: Plaza 2, Italian surrealism, and Trump's unmet economic promises

In this episode of Synopsis, OMFIF's weekly roundup of news and analysis, Senior Editor Julian Frazer looks back over the most recent articles published on the OMFIF website, including those on the possibility of a second Plaza accord, Italy's surreal political crisis, and Donald Trump's unmet economic promises. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Scepticism on second Plaza accord
2. Italy a picture of political surrealism
3. Trump's unmet economic promises
4. Reflections on Lagarde, Germany and the future of the ECB
5. The future of the euro area: Capital market integration
6. Investment opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa

Music: Hey Mercy by Pierce Murphy is licensed under an Attribution License.

Reflections on Lagarde, Germany and the future of the ECB

In her first week as president of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde presented former German finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble with an award from the association of German magazine publishers. During this engagement she did not speak of monetary policy but rather called for Europe to have ‘strength, resolve and courage’.

In a discussion with Ellie Groves, OMFIF Chairman David Marsh and his US counterpart Mark Sobel offer differing views on how Lagarde will best achieve the ECB mandate of ensuring price stability. Sobel argues that the continuation of loose monetary policy is required, whereas Marsh focuses on Germany’s wish for policy normalisation. Both agree that ECB policies should be pan-European and the central bank's new chief has a great strength in her convivial leadership style.

 

Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music