The upcoming year is poised for a global interest-rate cut, which will reverse the previous aggressive tightening seen in 2022 and 2023. Central banks around the world should begin easing monetary policy as inflation continues to retreat, led by the US Federal Reserve, which plans to reduce interest rates by 75 basis points by the end of 2024, according to Bloomberg.  The federal funds rate is expected to be at 4.25% at the end of 2024 and the European Central Bank...

Read more

Mid-caps, i.e. firms with between 250 and 3 000 employees, represent a significant part of the European economy, contributing substantially to turnover, employment and value creation across the continent. Their commitment to workforce development is remarkable, with a significant majority of mid-caps investing in training and skills development, higher than for most other firms. The lack of a consistent definition and statistical clarity surrounding mid-caps hinders their analysis and the formulation of targeted policies, as well as their success. The...

Read more

Nadia Calviño took over as president of the European Investment Bank on 1 January, replacing Werner Hoyer. The eighth president of the EU bank, Calviño is the first woman to lead the institution. She is also the first Spaniard to head the Bank. President Calviño was previously first vice-president of the government of Spain and minister of economy, trade and enterprise. In the past, Calviño has also held various positions at the European Commission, where she was deputy director general with a special...

Read more

Overview: The dollar continues to consolidate broadly after the dramatic price swings at the end of last week. For the most part, the greenback remains inside yesterday's ranges, which were inside last Friday's. The G10 currencies are a little heavier today, except the Japanese yen and Norwegian krone, which are posting small gains. Indeed, the greenback is near session highs against most of the major currencies as we go to print. Emerging market currencies are more mixed. Central European...

Read more

A look back at business failures often reveals blind spots that either concealed a dysfunctional culture or led to a lack of understanding, strategic error or missed opportunities. Is the board aware of the organization’s blind spots, and is it addressing them? We’ve all heard the adage that what we don’t know can be more damaging to reputation, brand image, market standing and competitive position than what we do know. This adage gets to the heart of the nature of...

Read more

The following is an update on the current situation at the Panama Canal. We are sharing this information because importers should be aware that ships navigating the canal continue to face substantial delays and potential fees. You may already know that the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has been restricting vessel traffic for several months as severe drought has limited the water needed to operate its lock system. Presently, only 22 daily transits are authorized, which is down from the 35...

Read more

On 30 November 2023, Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 of 22 November 2023 on European Green Bonds and optional disclosures for bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable and for sustainability-linked bonds (EuGBs Regulation) was published in the Official Journal of the EU. The EuGBs Regulation will apply from 21 December 2024, but the market is expected to take it into account sooner. Notably, the recitals highlight that the European Investment Bank will gradually align its green bond programme with the European Green Bond...

Read more

Sika has significantly expanded its research and development capacities in the Asia/Pacific region and opened a new, state-of-the-art Technology Center in Suzhou, China. The primary focus of this center is the development of sustainable and high-performance technologies with which Sika makes a significant contribution to the transformation of the construction and automotive industries. The new center of excellence will play a key role in tapping market potential throughout the Asia/Pacific region. The investment volume is in the double-digit millions...

Read more

Several employment-related provisions have been introduced by the Act of 5 November 2023, one of which is to strengthen the presence of a person of trust ("vertrouwenspersoon" / "personne de confiance") within the company as a preventive and supportive measure to deal with psychosocial risks at work. From 1 December 2023:  For employers with 50 or more employees, the appointment of a person of trust is mandatory. For employers with less than 50 employees the appointment of a person of trust is...

Read more