The OMFIF Podcast

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

Synopsis: Marsh on Germany, Moeller on trade, and Kleiman on 2019's investment shakeup

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, the shift in Germany's fiscal state, the latest ordeals in the US-China trade war, and the investment shakeup that markets face in the back half of 2019. To receive our newsletters, visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Something shifting in German fiscal state
2. Trade war exacerbates domestic woes
3. Markets face investment shakeup
4. Role of ratings agencies in ESG investing
5. New York seminar on monetary policy implementation frameworks
6. Mario Marcel discusses Chile's strong economic performance
7. Brexit's impact on Japan-UK relations

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

S&P Global: The role of ratings agencies in environmental, social and governance investing

Richard Mattison, chief executive officer of Trucost, part of S&P Global, and Michael Wilkins, head of sustainable finance at S&P Global, join OMFIF's Danae Kryriakopoulou to discuss sustainable finance in capital markets. They look at how environmental, social and governance criteria is being integrated in the investment community, and the crucial role of rating agencies. They outline how S&P is supporting this integration through its inclusion of ESG factors in credit analysis. They also present S&P's ‘ESG evaluation’ tool, which examines broader performance and preparedness.

 

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

 

 

Synopsis: Italy's latest crisis, Macri's election calamity, and the G7 in Biarritz

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, featuring pieces on the collapse of Italy's governing coalition, the defeat suffered by Mauricio Macri in Argentina's primary presidential elections, and the G7 summit in sunny Biarritz. To receive our newsletters, visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Italy's latest crisis just beginning
2. Macri defeat prompts crisis fears
3. Deteriorating economy to dominate G7
4. Part II of the 'Private debt: Too big to ignore' podcast series
5. Roundtable with Grant Spencer, former acting governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand
6. New York seminar on monetary policy implementation frameworks

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

Private Debt: Too big to ignore (part 2)

Antonella Napolitano, head of investor relations at Deerpath Capital, and Gabriella Kindert, member of the supervisory board at Mizuho Europe, join OMFIF’s Julia Demidova. They continue their discussion on the blossoming private debt market and assess the current macroeconomic outlook.

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

Synopsis: Boris and Brexit, sterling's freefall, and future Chinese growth

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, featuring pieces on sterling weakness, why a no-deal Brexit is not inevitable, and how China must rethink its growth model. To receive our newsletters, visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Johnson repeating Churchill's 1925 error
2. No-deal Brexit not inevitable
3. China must rethink growth model
4. Part I of the 'Private debt: Too big to ignore' podcast series
5. OMFIF-DZ BANK conference in Frankfurt

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

Private debt: Too big to ignore (part 1)

Antonella Napolitano, head of investor relations at Deerpath Capital, and Gabriella Kindert, member of the supervisory board at Mizuho Europe, join OMFIF’s Julia Demidova. They discuss the growing investor appetite for private debt, as well as the increasing importance of environmental, social and governance principles.

 

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

Synopsis: Renminbi slides, foolhardy US Treasury, and radical EMU reform

In this episode of Synopsis, OMFIF's weekly roundup of news and analysis, Senior Editor Julian Frazer looks back over the most recent crop of articles published on the OMFIF website, featuring pieces on the fall of the renminbi past Rmb7 per dollar, the US Treasury's 'foolhardy' accusations against China of currency manipulation, and how the time is ripe for radical reform to European economic and monetary union. To receive our newsletters, visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles referenced:

• https://www.omfif.org/analysis/commentary/2019/august/renminbi-slides-past-rmb7-per-dollar/
• https://www.omfif.org/analysis/commentary/2019/august/foolhardy-to-cry-manipulation/
• https://www.omfif.org/analysis/commentary/2019/august/time-is-ripe-for-radical-emu-reform/

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

Fed Talk: Were the Federal Reserve rate cuts justified?

On 31 July, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time since 2008. Stephen Cecchetti, Rosen family chair in international finance at the Brandeis International Business School, joins Mark Sobel, OMFIF’s US chairman, to discuss the decision. They assess the monetary policy implications of President Donald Trump’s latest announcements on China tariffs and accusation that Beijing is manipulating the renminbi. They also discuss the importance of Fed communication strategies.

 

Stephen Cecchetti’s Money and Banking blog can be found here.

 

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