The EU decided last month not to open membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia just yet and a broader discussion on the future of the EU is ongoing. But there is positive economic momentum in the Western Balkans, with more foreign investment coming in, and it needs to be
Invest/Finance
Financial crisis: 10 years later
The financial crisis began with the collapse of Lehman Brothers, starting a worldwide chain reaction. The EU economy contracted for five consecutive quarters, with growth returning only in the second half of 2009. Stimulatory and fiscal actions by national governments and the EU, and the Eurosystem’s loose monetary policy, helped
South Eastern Europe Economy in Focus
When leaders of the EU’s current 28 members gathered last month to discuss membership applications from Albania and North Macedonia, there was optimism that the accession process would be given a green light. But a small group of countries, led by France, objected to starting detailed talks with the Western
EU-Tunisia: EU approves Macro-Financial Assistance to Tunisia
The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, has approved today the disbursement of a €150 million loan to Tunisia. This is the third and final disbursement under the second Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) programme to Tunisia, and follows the completion of an important set of policy measures intended to support the
Quantamental Investing
The world is awash in data like never before. From a person’s morning Uber ride and favorite coffee spot, to the emails sent from their office—all these activities create massive amounts of data, but also behavioral and investment insights. Warren Buffett’s investment style exemplifies the fundamental approach: “Which companies offer the
Moodys: Montenegro affirms B1 credit rating
Moody's credit rating agency has affirmed the B1 credit rating for Montenegro, while retaining "positive" outlook. The credit rating is the result of high GDP per capita, optimistic prospects for EU accession, and a strong investment trend with a focus on foreign direct investment. The latest Moody's report welcomes significant
EU Package of measures for sustainable finance and benchmarks
EU Package of measures for sustainable finance and benchmarks EU Package of measures for sustainable finance and benchmarks Low-Carbon Benchmarks Positive-Carbon-Impact Benchmarks Back in 2018, the European Commission presented a package of measures on the financing of sustainable growth. The package includes three proposals aimed at
ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria for the sustainable development
These are the best bank brands
When most people think about brands, they often picture iconic consumer marks like Coca-Cola or Apple. But in the realm of financial services, the importance of having a strong consumer brand is also rapidly growing. After all, with hundreds of new fintech entrants positioning themselves to be the “banks” of
ECB announces euro short-term rate ( €STR )
he European Central Bank (ECB) will start publishing the €STR as of 2 October 2019, reflecting the trading activity of 1 October 2019. Additionally, the ECB is ready to further support private sector efforts in the transition away from the euro overnight index average EONIA and will provide the computation
World’s Largest Economies 2020-2030
By 2030, the complexion of the global economy could look very different than it does today. According to recent projections from Standard Chartered, a multinational bank headquartered in London, the next decade will see emerging markets like India and Turkey ascending the global economic ladder to become tomorrow’s powerhouses. Visualizing the Boom
Statistical dossier of the European banking sector
The digital age has brought the financial sector kicking and screaming into the modern era. Although technology and customer participation were slow to catch on, things may finally be making headway. In December 2017, the London based NeoBank, Revolut, reportedly broke even, making it the first of its kind since