Affinitas Consulting

12/07/2017

Four reasons to question the hype around blockchain

There is a hint of bubble-like behaviour in the claims swirling around these new technologies

26/06/2017

Trump, Modi seek rapport despite friction on trade, immigration

U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold their first face-to-face meeting in Washington on Monday, seeking to boost U.S.-Indian relations despite differences over trade, the Paris climate accord and immigration.

25/06/2017

As per consolidated practice: good assets sold cheaply to a large bank: Intesa San Paolo, and toxic assets bailed by the government (public).

Italy could pay as much as 17 billion euros to wind down Veneto banks: minister

Italy began winding up two stricken Veneto-based banks on Sunday in a deal that will see their good assets transferred to Intesa Sanpaolo (ISP.MI) and could cost the state up to 17 billion euros ($19 billion).

24/05/2017

Moody's downgrades China, warns of fading financial strength as debt mounts

Moody's Investors Service downgraded China's credit ratings on Wednesday for the first time in nearly 30 years, saying it expects the financial strength of the economy will erode in coming years as growth slows and debt continues to rise.

21/05/2017

U.S. and Pacific Rim countries at odds in heated trade meeting
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apec-vietnam-idUSKCN18H02B

Japan and other members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreed on Sunday to pursue their trade deal without the United States as the Trump administration's “America First” policy created tension at a meeting of Asia-Pacific countries.

17/05/2017

U.S. share futures and the dollar tumbled on Wednesday on worries about more U.S. political turmoil after media reports said President Donald Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to end a probe into Trump's former national security advisor.

18/04/2017

New foreign workers regulations for Australia

Australia will abolish a temporary work visa popular with foreigners and replace it with a visa requiring better English-language and work skills, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Tuesday.

07/04/2017

Latest from the US employment data.

(AP) — U.S. employers added just 98,000 jobs last month, the fewest in a year, though the unemployment rate fell to a nearly seven-year low of 4.5 percent.

30/03/2017

So much for deceiving customers and polluting the environment... as usual the big boys get away with murder....Volkswagen settles 10 U.S. state diesel claims for $157 million
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-emissions-idUSKBN17123C

Volkswagen AG said on Thursday it has agreed to pay $157.45 million to settle environmental claims from 10 U.S. states over its excess diesel emissions, as the world's largest automaker looks to move past the scandal.

29/03/2017

'No turning back': PM May triggers 'historic' Brexit
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-idUSKBN16Z22G

Prime Minister Theresa May formally began Britain's divorce from the European Union on Wednesday, declaring there was no turning back and ushering in a tortuous exit process that will test the bloc's cohesion and pitch her country into the unknown.

21/03/2017

A marathon television debate marks the real start to France’s presidential campaign - The Economist
https://apple.news/ALiqgHgO1Sp2is5P0ZtJDlg

VOTERS in France are growing used to seeing would-be presidents spar aggressively on television. In recent months the Republican and Socialist parties each held a series of broadcast debates on prime-time television, in their respective primary campaigns.

15/02/2017

Most of the news channels seem to be concentrated on Trump an ignoring the real elephant in the room: Europe.

Elections are looming in France, Italy is heading towards elections as well sometimes at the end of Spring or early Summer, German elections towards the end of the year with Merkel's rating in free fall.

Marine Le Pen as a realistic candidate to the Elisee leads the way of the rising anti euro parties across Europe: in Italy M5S movement, in Germany AfD, in Austria.... in Holland...

Just add that: Greece is in need of the 6th bailout in yet another clear example of why austerity measures don't work for Greeks but are rather only a device of submission AND the U.K. is soon bound to invoke its Article 50 to negotiate its exit from the EU.

Anybody bullish about the global economy yet?
Euro below parity by June.

Brexit fuels a sense of EU crisis - but reforms are likely to be slow, Kevin Connolly reports.