Throughout the last decade, demographers have predicted that Millennials would become the generation that was not interested in owning or driving vehicles.  This rationale was based on the rise of car share programs, increased interest in developing public transit, and the explosion of e-bikes. These consumer trends were considered to be the hallmarks of Millennial…

According to technology trend spotters, serverless computing will become the next big thing in 2022.  Experts believe that the growth of serverless computing will be linked to its ability to allow developers to build applications faster and more cost-efficiently by eliminating the need for these same workers to manage infrastructure.  What is Serverless Computing? Serverless…

According to Investopedia (www.investopedia.com) short selling is an investment strategy that is speculative in nature.  Inasmuch as a stock or security price might drop in value, experienced traders sometimes use a “short” position to speculate that the stock or security will drop in value. Experienced investors understand that short selling is highly speculative and carries…

China’s Local Government Financing Vehicles (LGFV) Estimates from Goldman Sachs (www.goldmansachs.com) show that outstanding levels of debt are piling up for China’s local government financing vehicles (LGFV).  This is significant as it is estimated that China’s LGFVs reportedly account for 54% of China’s GDP.  Leverage Overload Beginning in 2013 China began using a system of…

According to the US Department of Labor (www.dol.gov) 4.4 million Americans accounting for 3% of all employees in America quit their jobs in September 2021.  This quitting trend marked the second month in a row that saw record numbers of Americans leaving their jobs. The Numbers The 4.4 million workers who quit in September comes…

Direct-to-Consumer Everyone watched direct-to-consumer businesses cash in during the pandemic.  No longer limited to local food delivery, the new direct-to-consumer market has caught fire with corporate biggies such as Home Depot (www.homedepot.com) and Walmart (www.walmart.com) that are now playing big in this market. Instant Gratification During the pandemic apps including Door Dash (www.doordash.com) and Grubhub…

As supply chain woes drag on into the Christmas season, there are many ways you can give those on your Christmas list great presents without worrying that the items you want to buy are in stock.  Below are some ideas on how you can avoid supply chain issues this Christmas. Buy Services from Local Businesses…

During the first half of 2021, Wall Street investment banks recorded a growth in profits.  This profitability could be attributed to the enduring low-interest rates that fuelled business and investment activity. But experts warn there are some dark clouds on the horizon that should not be ignored. Interest Rates There’s little debate among analysts about…

The term financial contagion refers to the spread of disrupted markets, that carries from one jurisdiction to another, with mostly deleterious effects.  These disrupted markets are observed through co-motion in exchange rates, capital flows, and stock prices.  Financial contagions are a potential risk for countries that are looking to integrate their financial systems with international…