Engaged minds

Brief Event Notes: The 10th Asset ASEAN Bond Markets Summit 2015, Singapore  http://www.theasset.com/event/bond-asean Global environment ·          Embrace the new normal, global growth rate of 3% pa. Global slowdown to continues coupled with an normalised China and declining commodity prices ·         Continuing volatility and uncertainty       ·          Fundamentals continue to deteriorate across EMEA and showing signs of continuing in 2016 ·         Divergence in monetary policies of EM and DM; US interest rate hikes will require EM and EU to stimulate local economies by reducing rates ·         Most Asian (and emerging) market economies will have to restructure and open up ·         Companies will have to review functional currency think of CNY as their function...

·         Everyone in pointing 1 finger at China and 4 at themselves while status quo on restructuring economies continues. As we experience a new economic normal situation, deleveraging and lower GDP growth continues. Commodity prices remain sober, and financial markets remains volatile. ·         Rating agencies are on the edge and ready to downgrade when pin drops and breaks the silence (unfortunate but true). Credit concerns and rating actions will keep bond yields higher and base rates (Libor) inches up - difficult and expensive to borrow.  ·         Accelerated corporate action to pare debt and costs, manage risks, create customised solutions, unprofitable investments or investments with lower ROA % (10%) are being hived off - Corporates are restructuring to manage resources (and cash) efficiently, enhance returns and defend ratings and balance sheet size and debt. ·         Infosy...

This passport issued 1928 by the British Empire in India is a testament of a proud generation of merchants and bankers (shroff) that upheld and encouraged strong ethics and values, learnt multiple languages, including English of the British Empire, understood and blended with multiple cultures and customs, travelled widely and adapted to a changing world. These classical generation lived a normal life yet fought for democratic values, liberty and a better world for future generations. Thinking of these good old days; still wonder on how they travelled, where they stayed, and how they built relationships and interacted, how they explored, trusted, and exchanged goods, services and money all of it without technology but strong social network. I can imagine and value the power of social networks and physical contacts, mutual trust and respect for humans as powerful and long lasting.  Mr Amthalal Shivlal is the father of Mr Navnitlal Shah and is also Sachin my brother, our cousins and ...

FT-Deutsche Bank partnership Global Treasury Leadership Retreat Singapore | 11 - 12 November 2015 https://live.ft.com/Events/2015/Global-Treasury-Leadership-Retreat 12 November 2015 - 11.10   Debate: The Real Impact of Regulation Regulatory requirements intended to create a stronger, more resilient financial system have become a necessary burden for all sectors, but has the full impact of these requirements on the real economy been accounted for?  The overall impact of the complex and multi-country financial regulations is currently difficult to quantify on the economy, customers and the financial sector.  • We will have to accept that regulatory requirements are complex and has reduced the agility of doing business. The need to understand, internalise and implement regulations has created risk averseness and reduced the turnaround time for origination and execution.  • Banks are taking longer time to approve new clients or renew limit...

Maximising Business Opportunities in South-South Trade [ 2nd article with an EM theme] 11 Nov 15 | Author Gopul Shah | Asia Pacific Economy Trade Finance https://www.gtnews.com/articles/maximising-business-opportunities-in-south-south-trade/ After the initial success back in the 1990s in moving manufacturing from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to Asia’s Tiger economies, the shift of manufacturing to China and of back office and software development to India has created complex supply chains for resources acquisition. The countries impacted include Australia, Indonesia, Peru, Brazil, Russia, and Africa. World Trade Organisation (WTO) initiatives, free trade agreements (FTAs) and trade cooperation have meanwhile continued to strengthen the exchange of trade and services. Highly competitive labour forces and consumerism in emerging markets, steady reductions in the cost of trade financing, risk mitigation, logistics, packaging, insurance and communicatio...

Bloomberg celebrating 25 years of doing business in Singapore.   Published September, 2015 http://youtu.be/l2U9yWUfJ7w

Institutionalising and  Internationalisation of  treasury, trade and structured finance practices and management while balancing growth, seizing opportunities and risk management.   Commodity Trading in Emerging Markets: Balancing Risks and Opportunities Volatile commodity prices, depreciating local currencies, evolving regulations and higher  financing costs in emerging markets are presenting both challenges and opportunities for  treasurers. Against this backdrop, how are Asia’s leading companies balancing their risk  management and growth objectives? Working Capital Hurdles The commodity trading industry is experiencing  margin compression due to volatile prices,  increasing number of players, price transparency  and capital requirements. At the same time,  supply chains continue to evolve and globalize,  creating a significant degree of complexity and  risk. The longer and more interc...