City of London’s Post-Brexit Outlook Dimmed by Political Spat

London’s dominance as European financial center threatened by post-Brexit politics and political wrangling. Source: Bloomberg via GARP (Bloomberg) — Talks on the post-Brexit future of European capital markets have largely avoided the toxic haggling of the broader negotiations — until now. U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid and chief European Union negotiator Michel Barnier…

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Rush to Green Sparks Concern of Bubble in ESG Assets

What looks on the surface like a “bubble” in the so-called “Green” ESG trade may well become the new normal. Source: Bloomberg via GARP (Bloomberg) — The overall market may be held in sway by developments in the coronavirus outbreak, but demand has been buoyant for stocks based on environmental, social and governance factors. So…

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Central-bank easing triggers record corporate bond issuance

Companies have taken advantage of low borrowing costs and high demand to sell more debt, allowing themselves to drop down the credit-ratings spectrum. Source: Financial Times Companies across the globe took advantage of lower borrowing costs to sell a record amount of bonds in 2019, prompting renewed concerns among policymakers about soaring levels of debt….

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