The OMFIF Podcast

Synopsis: Draghi helps Lagarde, trouble in US repo markets, and bugs in the system

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 European Central Bank, trouble in US repo markets, and a digital special drawing right. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Draghi helps Lagarde gain her footing
2. Trouble in US repo markets
3. Digital SDR to enhance payment systems
4. OMFIF's autumn cybersecurity Bulletin
5. A divided committee at the Federal Reserve
6. Impact investing with the IFC
    

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

Fed Talk: a divided committee and mixed economic outlook

The Federal Reserve cut the fed funds rate by 25 basis points following intense discussion between divided Federal Open Market Committee members. The outlook for the US economy is mixed –unemployment is low and consumption solid, though concerns remain about a slowdown in manufacturing and the negative effects on investment of trade tensions. Mark Sobel, US chairman of OMFIF, is joined by Don Kohn, member of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee and member of the Fed board of governors between 2002-10, and Bill Papadakis, macro strategist at Banque Lombard Odier & Sie, to discuss the Fed decision and the outlook for the US economy and monetary policy.

 

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

Synopsis: Christine Lagarde, RBI independence, and Cummings' clout

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 Christine Lagarde as she prepares to take up the European Central Bank presidency, troubles at the Reserve Bank of India, and Boris Johnson's special adviser Dominic Cummings. All that, and more besides, coming up next. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Lagarde's challenge over ECB revolt
2. RBI's waning independence
3. A Spad with influence
4. Brian McMahon on public pensions
5. Scaling up sustainable infrastructure, Singapore
6. Peter Praet on ECB policy in New York
7. Fighting climate change-related risks with the ADBI in Tokyo
8. Lori Rennison of the Bank of Canada in London

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

Public pensions: The shift into private markets

Brian McMahon, BNY Mellon’s senior alternative investment services business development executive in Luxembourg, joins OMFIF Economist Pierre Ortlieb to discuss the shifting nature of public pensions, their changing asset allocations and potential of private markets. The broad-based ‘retailisation’ of private asset classes remains a firm, albeit elusive, goal. The returns they promise are appealing to pension investors across the globe, but costs and valuation issues, among other things, remain significant obstacles.

 

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

Synopsis: UK-EU co-operation after Brexit, conflicting opinions at the Federal Reserve, and the governorship of the Bank of England

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, covering such issues as UK-EU co-operation on financial regulation after Brexit, conflicting forces of opinion at the Federal Reserve, and Gerard Lyons’ candidacy for governor of the Bank of England. All that, and more besides, coming up next. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Capital markets look beyond EU
2. What Lyons could bring to the Bank
3. Fed divided ahead of key meeting
4. In Conversation with Willem Buiter
5. Oslo asset and risk management seminar
6. London digital finance forum

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

In conversation with Willem Buiter

Willem Buiter, special economic adviser at Citi, joins OMFIF’s Ellie Groves to discuss challenges facing the euro area. They assess the implications of a euro area slowdown at a time of high public debt, the role of the US-China trade conflict and the probability of a global recession for advanced economies. They also discuss the European Central Bank's monetary policy announcement, whether monetary policy tools have run their course, and the politics of fiscal stimulus. 

Synopsis: The Fed v. President Trump, DeLisle Worrell on the IMF, and the dollar's reserve currency role

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, covering such issues as the Fed being urged to block President Trump's re-election, the difficult relationship between the IMF and Caribbean economies, and the dollar's reserve currency role. All that, and more besides, coming up next. To receive our newsletters, visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Fed urged to block Trump re-election
2. DeLisle Worrell on the International Monetary Fund
3. Currency wars and the dollar's reserve role
4. Climate resilient infrastructure in Asia
5. Europe's financial regulatory landscape after Brexit
6. 'Japanification' of Europe

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

Ahead of the ECB: Is quantitative easing back?

In the latest episode of our ‘Ahead of the ECB’ series, Marcin Stepan, Head of Programming at OMFIF, is joined by Marcel Fratzscher president of the Berlin-based economic research institute DIW Berlin and Silvia Dall'Angelo, senior economist at Hermes Investment Management. They discuss the economic outlook for Europe, the tools at the disposal of the ECB to counter a downturn and the prospects of restarting quantitative easing. They preview the main political developments in Europe over the coming months as well as implications of global trade tensions on markets and the wider economy.

Synopsis: AfD on the rise, the weird world of Westminster, and big tech's encroachment on finance

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, covering such issues as the Alternative for Germany party's electoral surge, whatever in the world is happening in Westminster, and big tech's encroachment on finance. To receive our newsletters, visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. AfD surge brings fresh ECB hurdles
2. Johnson's suspension ploy backfires
3. Big tech gaining trust over governments
4. Podcast on Italy's political crisis

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

Italy's political crisis

Amidst growing financial fragility, Italy’s government has come apart, creating a renewed period of crisis and uncertainty. Domenico Fanizza, executive director for Italy, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Albania and San Marino at the International Monetary Fund, and Erik Jones, professor of European studies at Johns Hopkins University, join OMFIF’s Sofia Melis for a discussion on Italy’s political crisis. They assess the political and programmatic synergies that could bring together the Five Star Movement and the Democratic Party, and the possible market reaction to failed coalition talks. Further topics include different budget scenarios, as well as the implications of France and Germany’s changed fiscal stances on Italy's 2020 budget.

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