Finance

The commodities market bucked the trend of most markets in 2022, registering solid gains. The Ukraine conflict curtailed the supply of energy and food commodities, and prices soared. Will that pace diminish in 2023 as recessionary conditions dampen consumer confidence? Or will the uptake in demand from a reviving China keep prices high?

As the cost of living continues to rise, many of us are scrutinising our spending and trying to find ways to budget more effectively. Here, we explore why cash is proving key – and how merchants can offer payments options that better meet consumers’ needs and drive inclusivity. There’s no disputing that times are tough. With the price of everything from gas and electricity to baked beans and toothpaste going up

Africa is home to the fastest growing, and youngest, population on the planet, the world’s largest free trade area and a significant amount of natural resources including 65% of Earth’s arable land. While birth rates are falling, especially in the developed world, the United Nations expects Africa’s population to confound this decline and double by 2050 if growth rates on the continent continue the current trajectory.

Zambia’s tumultuous few years culminated in a financial crisis and debt-repayment default in 2020. Debt restructuring could significantly alleviate its immediate woes, but creditor nations have stalled negotiations. The only option may be for creditors to cancel a hefty portion of Zambia’s debt to help the country get back on its feet.

The emergence of short-term financing on Gen Z’s favourite retailers has made Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) seem like a cutting-edge credit concept. In reality, BNPL is simply a digital spin on old ideas around instalment plans. What is different, however, is its smooth integration into the online shopping experience.

The ongoing economic-power shift from the West to the East continues to gain steam, with the BRICS bloc of emerging economies at the center of the transition. In the coming year, the five BRICS countries will likely be joined by other dynamic resource-rich countries, creating an impactful alliance that may aggravate geopolitical tensions.

Speakers at the recent World Consumer Credit Reporting Conference in Barcelona were unanimous in their views that the world’s consumers are under extreme pressure, with inflation rates soaring to double digits in developed countries and emerging markets not far behind. It’s in pressured economic times like these that the most vulnerable consumers struggle to access financing to help them through the challenges ahead.

Sticking with the tried and true isn’t the best recipe for economic growth, as Saudi Arabia has proven through its “organized disruption” philosophy at the heart of Vision 2030. The Kingdom is set to outperform other G20 economies. Why is the nation’s growth formula so successful, and what can other leaders learn from the Saudi experience?

In an economic environment characterised by uncertainty and volatility, how can investors prepare for the inevitable recovery and diversify their portfolios to capitalise on the opportunities that will bring long-term gains? Technology, healthcare, infrastructure, China and climate change are five investment drivers to consider.

If the SDGs are to be achieved, climate finance will have to expand and reach the regions where it is needed most, especially to developing countries in Asia and the Pacific. Capital markets can act as effective conduits, channelling capital toward climate-transition projects. What five actions would better align capital markets to meet climate-finance shortfalls?