Market Insights

China’s securities market: Structure, roles and features

China’s capital markets rank among the largest and most consequential globally. They comprise multiple stock exchanges in the Mainland (Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing) alongside the Hong Kong Exchange, and a wide-ranging bond market that includes sovereign, financial, corporate, green and asset-backed issuance.

The slow erosion of the US dollar’s real value

Despite the endless doom-and-gloom headlines, the U.S. dollar isn’t collapsing—it’s evolving. What many call “debasement” is largely the natural effect of inflation in a growing economy, not the destruction of value. While fiscal deficits, money printing, and inflation are real challenges, global confidence in the dollar remains unshaken. It’s still the backbone of global finance because no viable alternative exists.

Dollar bounce catches short sellers off guard across markets

The dollar’s rebound to two-month highs is upending one of this year’s most popular trades: betting against the greenback. Despite the U.S. government shutdown and expectations of multiple Fed rate cuts, the dollar has strengthened as global peers weakened, Treasury yields stayed firm, and investors sought safety.

The inverted yield curve and what it reveals about US markets

This article analyses, from a general perspective, the phenomenon of the inverted yield curve in US bond markets. It also examines the relationship between yield-curve inversions and labour-market outcomes. To reach the conclusions described, a historical framework is assessed with the aim of contrasting past episodes with the current economic situation of the United States.

China’s gold strategy targets foreign reserves to expand influence and redefine global finance

China is positioning itself as a custodian for foreign sovereign gold reserves through the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE). By encouraging partner nations to buy and store gold inside its borders, Beijing aims to expand its role in global finance, reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar, and strengthen its monetary influence. The strategy comes amid record central bank gold buying, geopolitical tensions, and gold’s surge above $3,700 an ounce.

Markets uneasy as long-term yields rise despite Fed cut

The Federal Reserve’s latest rate cut pushed the effective federal funds rate lower, but long-term Treasury yields and mortgage rates moved sharply higher. The steepening yield curve shows bond investors are more focused on inflation risks and heavy supply than on short-term policy guidance.

How do inflation-protected bonds work?

Latin America’s role in the new global economic context

As geopolitics escalate and U.S. trade policy becomes increasingly protectionist, Latin America's combination of macroeconomic resilience, strong market performance, and deep commodity resources makes the region both a stabilizing influence and a beneficiary, although with significant policy and diplomatic implications.

Fundamental review of U.S. stocks post-Q2 results

U.S. corporates posted broadly solid Q2 2025 results, with widespread beats on earnings and revenue. Yet elevated multiples and heavy market-cap concentration point to stretched valuations, even as U.S. equities have lagged several global benchmarks year to date.

The Fed's inflation battle: Are rate cuts next?

The Fed stands on the brink of a potential rate cut.