Monopolies and markets
One frequently reads or hears about the need for the structural transformation of the economy by means of which the institutions or people advocating such reforms usually emphasise changes in…
Call for independent financial reporting body
The Audit Oversight Board (AOB) established under the SECP Act, 1997 to regulate audit profession in the country and the Accounting Standards Board (ASB) recently formed under the control of…
Despite virus rout on markets, hygiene firms clean up
This week’s virus-related markets slump has hammered companies worldwide but some winners have emerged as an anxious public clamours for face masks, hand sanitizers and cleaning products. Thermal imaging cameras…
Some thoughts on improving global financial governance
Globalization has recently come under attack for having given rise to excessive nationalism and protectionism. Excessive nationalism and protectionism carry the potential to hamper global economic recovery. For this reason,…
Tide about to turn for markets as easy-money decade ends
Swept along by super-easy money, investors have debated for years how world markets will react when this central bank largesse inevitably ends. Now the liquidity tide is about to turn,…
Unlocking the financial safe havens
One does not know the exact amount that has been siphoned-off to foreign safe havens by our corrupt lot. The very clandestine nature of the activity renders it impossible to…
Crisis-hardened markets have learned to look past military flare-ups
Iran’s missile attack on US army bases in Iraq overnight sent gold blasting above $1,600 an ounce, boosted the Japanese yen by almost 1% and oil by $3 a barrel.…
Putting brokerage houses under financial strain
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has issued a notification recently for the change of Brokerage Regime for Capital Markets. Under the proposed regime SECP intends to increase…
Democratic deficit in global financial system
The government believes that Pakistani nationals having more than 152,500 offshore bank accounts could have stashed away a hefty sum of $11 billion, half of which is presumed to have…
Palestinians in financial crisis after Israel, US moves
The Palestinian Authority faces a suffocating financial crisis after deep US aid cuts and an Israeli move to withhold tax transfers, sparking fears for the stability of the West Bank.…
