IBT News Blog

This article discusses the interesting topic of attempts to structure bond markets which are acceptable under Islamic law. See http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d0a19922-d50f-11dc-9af1-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1

This article discusses the very controversial Rio Tanto buy-in bids and the concerns which this incident has raised over the consolidation of such industries and assets as mining. What are the impacts of these concerns on globalization overall? See http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/business/7230358.stm .

India has announced that it expects a lower rate of growth than it has recently experienced. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/business/7233135.stm

This article was interesting after our discussions and readings relating to freezing of foreign state assets, the act of state doctrine (although this particular case was brought in the UK). If this case had been brought in the US, how might the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act be used by a court?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/business/7233964.stm .

This article presents the economic costs of the recent Kenyan violence and its impact on Kenya. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/africa/7230441.stm

This article discusses the impact of increased inflation in Europe on cost of living expenses and also on consumer confidence, with attendant governmental reaction. See http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/07/europe/voices.php

The US Senate has just approved an economic stimulus package which is expected to be signed by the President. Although this is an attempt to fix inherently domestic problems, there are many implications which such an attempt to start new growth in the US economy could have for the global market. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/business/7233984.stm .

This article discusses the current tension between Russia and the Ukraine regarding supplies of gas from Russia to the Ukraine and Europe at large. See http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/07/business/ukraine.php .

The US has recently imposed new anti-dumping measures against various Chinese manufactured products, such as nails and tires. Essentially, anti-dumping measures are national taxing or other measures taken against foreign products which are, in the nation's views, being dumped into its market for too low prices. See http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/07/business/07trade~218673.php .

This article presents very interesting polling data on the ways in which citizens of developed and developing states view globalization. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/business/7230202.stm

The European Central Bank has decided to leave its interest rates unchanged in the face of recent market issues, while the Bank of England has decided to lower its interest rates. See http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/07/business/boe.php

The United Nations Convention Against Corruption was adopted in 2003 (and not in 2005, as stated in the following article) and came into force in 2005. It provides international economic operators with a more comprehensive and global scheme than the one designed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development did. This article, published in the Financial Times (British newspaper), gives a overview of those two conventions by comparing their scope in general terms. Along with that, it discusses the advantages and downsides for international businesses to comply with this recent but already widely ratified conventional instrument:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fb9d52e6-d34e-11dc-b861-0000779fd2ac.html

And here is the text of the UN Convention:

http://www.unodc.org/pdf/crime/convention_corruption/signing/Convention-e.pdf

Tina Wetchy