By Océane Girard, Associate, Banking & Financial Services | Arendt & Medernach On 31 May 2018, the law on markets in financial instruments (the “2018 Law”) as well as the grand-ducal regulation relating to safeguarding of financial instruments and funds belonging to clients, product governance obligations and the rules applicable to the provision or reception of fees, commissions or any monetary or non-monetary benefits (the “Grand- Ducal Regulation”) were published in the Luxembourg official gazette. Such texts aim at implementing into Luxembourg law...

By TMF Group Italy is the third largest economy in the Eurozone and although its Economic growth (GDP per head) has picked up since 2014, in comparison to other European economies this pace appears weak and its debt to GDP remains at over 130%. Italy’s unemployment rate is currently 11%, down from a peak of 13.1% in 2014, but double the 2007 low of 5.8%. At the time of writing this article, law professor Giuseppe Conte is prime minister of what is referred to as “Government...

  EY just released  the 2018 European Attractiveness Report - the 17th edition as part of the EY Attractiveness Program.   This latest report explores foreign direct investment (FDI) in Europe and reveals an inflexion in the pace and shape of growth. The evaluation of FDI in Europe is based on an IBM analysis, as well as a survey of 500 international decision makers.   This report is published at a critical time for the future of Europe, and provides important assessments and insights...

By William R. Rhodes | 05/31/2018 Thank you Paul for your introduction.  Your outstanding career in Public Service, both at the US Treasury and as chairman of the Federal Reserve System is an example for many young people who are planning their future careers.  I would also like to thank the Foreign Policy Association for awarding me their Foreign Policy Association medal in their centennial year.  As a longtime member of the FPA, and a board member, it is a special...

  By  Urs S. Weber | Executive Director, Wealth Management Advisor |VONTOBEL  Investment Review: At the beginning of May, we decided to reduce the equity weighting in all discretionary mandates to slightly underweight. This move has been based on geopolitical events and increasing trade tensions. Economy: While investors from time to time might be frightened by the outlook of higher rates, a spiraling out of yields is not, in our view, in the cards for the time being. Equities: Our constructive stance on the global economy...

By William Carmody | +353 1 614 5097 | wcarmodymhc.ie |MASON HAYES & CURRAN Derivatives are contracts whose financial value is derived by reference to an underlying asset, rate, index or instrument. They are a valuable tool used in financial transactions to hedge against risks such as foreign exchange risks where a change in currency could adversely affect the transaction, among others. The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) is an influential trade association for participants in the over-the-counter or "OTC" derivatives market....

Regulatory complexity is having a significant impact on widespread blockchain adoption, according to an EY poll of senior professionals who attended the EY Global Blockchain Summit in New York. Sixty one percent see regulatory complexity as the biggest barrier to widespread adoption, followed by integration with legacy technology (51%) and a lack of general understanding of blockchain’s capabilities (49%). Despite regulatory complexity, respondents cite changes to regulation as the primary driver for the integration of blockchain technology into the broader...

By Totis Kotsonis , Partner | Eversheds Sutherland On 1 June the UK applied officially to join the WTO’s Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). This voluntary plurilateral agreement, within the WTO framework, commits signatory parties to open their public procurement markets to each other’s suppliers on a “no less favourable than domestic suppliers” basis and to comply with a set of rules that promote fairness and transparency in public procurement. GPA parties include, the EU, the United States, Canada, Japan and South Korea....