There is an almost direct correlation between international freight rates and goods inflation. When shipping costs go up, inflation follows months later.
The latest release of data for the UK consumer price index showed an annual increase of 10.1% in January. It is down from a peak of 11.1% in October, not least because direct effects from energy prices have eased. But also, core inflation, which excludes the most volatile components of the consumer price index, fell more than expected to 5.8% in January.
U.S. stocks were unable to hold onto gains after inflation expectations unexpectedly rose for the first time in seven months.
Wall Street worries about how high the Fed will have to take rates
Given the long transaction lead times – the impact of food inflationary pressures on deal activity is yet to be seen in M&A activity – current processes are likely to be subject to greater scrutiny of the ability of sellers’ businesses to pass on cost increases. Overseas buyers accounted for 25.0% of deal transactions, down from around one third for 2021.
There is a danger that Binance, and other cryptoexchanges, are selling crypto as the solution to all the world’s ills – in the case of Africa, the nightmare of persistently high inflation, poor wages, and in some cases, poverty. The glamour of elite football is making such products all the more appealing, and helping cover over many of the risks.
Indonesia has already embraced new, innovative technologies related to FinTech and digital assets and is spearheading the digitalisation push in South-East Asia. Yet, at the same time, millions of adults in the country are not formally banked and have little access to lending. In many ways, it is a highly advanced economy that nonetheless has many of the characteristics of a third-world country.
Given all the problems emerging market traders are facing this year, it would hardly be surprising if many saw "the South Korea cheat" as the solution.
As Christmas and the New Year approaches, pour yourself a glass of Bailey’s (or perhaps something more expensive if you’re one of this year’s crypto winners) and look back at some of the winners and losers of 2021.
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