Author: Charlotte

Australia’s unfinished economic reform goal should be to make Australian capitalism work better by directing capital towards productive enterprise and away from dependence on asset inflation.With the 2020s being seen as Australia’s weakest decade for living standards since Federation have come familiar calls for higher productivity. Economists debate tax reform, deregulation, competition policy and workplace flexibility. Governments promise another productivity agenda. Yet productivity is better understood as the symptom than the disease.The deeper question is whether Australia ever completed the economic transformation that began in the 1980s.The Hawke and Keating governments deserve credit for recognising that the old protectionist settlement…

Charles Wakiwaka, Jennifer Kafcas and Alvino van Schalkwyk Katten Muchin Rosenman UK LLP has expanded its London Structured Products and Derivatives practice with the addition of Partner Charles Wakiwaka, further strengthening the firm’s transatlantic finance capabilities. Wakiwaka joins Katten from Crowell & Moring LLP, following the recent arrivals of Partners Jennifer Kafcas and Alvino van Schalkwyk. The Structured Products and Derivatives practice, led by Kafcas, launched in June as part of the firm’s broader investment in its global finance platform. “Adding Charles to the newly launched practice in London reflects our strategic commitment to deepen our Transatlantic bench strength in…

The first half of 2026 saw volatile financial markets. Investors had to contend with higher oil prices from the Iran conflict, uncertainty over AI spending sustainability, and evolving views on the Federal Reserve’s next moves. The S&P 500 climbed 9.6% through June, after falling for five consecutive weeks in February and March, then rebounding to fresh highs. More recently, the rally expanded beyond the largest technology names. Many computer-driven quantitative strategies took a hit in late June. According to a memo from Goldman Sachs’ prime brokerage unit, from June 23 through the following Monday, systematic long-short strategies experienced their worst…

Stablecoin advocates have argued that blockchain networks can and will solve problems traditional banking never could. Payments would settle in seconds instead of days. Businesses would no longer wait for banks to reopen after weekends or holidays. Cross-border transfers would rely less on correspondent banking relationships that add cost, delay and operational complexity. European policymakers have sought the same objectives without abandoning the banking system. Instead, they rewrote the rules governing it. Mastercard’s review of its ownership of Vocalink arrives just as Europe is completing one of the largest payment infrastructure projects since the launch of the Single Euro Payments…

WAM Alternative Assets Limited has released its investment update for June 2026, highlighting a robust performance driven by its private equity investments. The company has strategically exited some legacy assets while gaining exposure to new opportunities. This update provides insights into the company’s asset allocation and dividend strategy, which are crucial for investors monitoring alternative asset classes. Key Points WAM Alternative Assets Limited (ASX: WMA) Investment portfolio performance driven by private equity Net Tangible Assets (NTA) per share before tax at 119.01 cents Investors should watch for new private equity opportunities and dividend yields Private Equity Drives Portfolio Performance WAM…

Recognising student success: Warwick Economics prize winners 2025 Thursday 31 Jul 2025 The Department of Economics is proud to celebrate the achievements of our graduates – Class of 2025. The awards and prizes recognise not only academic excellence but also outstanding contributions to the wider student experience and community. Outstanding Student Contribution Awards (OSCA) 2025 Three students were honoured with the OSCA for their leadership, service, and innovation: Gunisha Aggarwal (BSc Economics) – For her transformative work in student inclusion, international outreach, and global education initiatives, including her leadership in Enactus Warwick and the HELP Chennai project. Libby Bach (BSc…

Trump urges Senate to pass industry-friendly crypto bill ‘in honor of’ Graham The Washington Post Source link

Alternative Investment Trust has released its unaudited Net Tangible Asset (NTA) backing as of 30 June 2026. This update provides investors with insight into the trust’s valuation metrics, including an adjusted NTA calculated by its investment manager, Warana Capital. The figures are crucial for investors assessing the trust’s current financial standing and future prospects. Key Points Alternative Investment Trust (AIQ) Released unaudited NTA backing as of 30 June 2026 NTA per unit: $1.5212; Adjusted NTA per unit: $1.43111 Investors should monitor potential impacts on valuation and market conditions Understanding the NTA and Adjusted NTA Figures The Alternative Investment Trust (AIQ)…

Designed to provide broad exposure to the Mid Cap Blend segment of the US equity market, the Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Index Fund ETF Shares (IVOO) is a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on September 9, 2010. The fund is sponsored by Vanguard. It has amassed assets over $3.73 billion, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the Mid Cap Blend segment of the US equity market. Why Mid Cap Blend With market capitalization between $2 billion and $10 billion, mid cap companies usually contain higher growth prospects than large cap companies, and are considered…

For a long time, Indian portfolios were built on two familiar pillars: equities for growth and bonds for stability. That framework still matters but it is no longer enough. As India’s wealth ecosystem matures, alternative investments are moving from the margins to a meaningful third pillar, helped by a rising pool of HNIs and UHNIs, a generational handoff of wealth and a rapidly expanding wealth-advisory ecosystem.    The numbers confirm the shift. As of December 2025, commitments to Alternative Investment Funds stood at about Rs.15.74 lakh crore, with net investments of roughly Rs.6.45 lakh crore. SEBI’s March 2026 data show…