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Sapia.ai raises $17 million Series A funding round led by Macquarie Capital & W23 – part of the Woolworths Group.

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News provided by

Sapia.ai

Nov 22, 2022, 19:00 ET

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Building on the continuing success of its AI solution in delivering diversity and inclusion in hiring, Sapia.ai today announced a $17 million Series A raise led by Macquarie Capital and Woolworths Group’s W23 venture capital arm.

Dan Phillips, co-founder of Macquarie Capital’s Venture Capital business, said that his team was impressed and excited by the technology solution that Sapai.ai has created and how it is using AI to provide a better way for companies to approach and solve for diversity and inclusion.

“We’ve all been talking about the value of diversity for some time, but many companies are still not equipped to bring about real change.  This is primarily because we fail to acknowledge our human biases,” Phillips said.

“Sapia’s Smart Chat Interviewer has redefined what a fair recruitment process can be.  It is blind, it is efficient, and it is backed by valid, peer-reviewed science.”

Woolworths Group has been using Sapia.ai for 12 months and is providing funding through its investment arm, W23.

Ingrid Maes, Managing Director of W23, said the program had helped reshape the Group’s hiring process and improved the experience of candidates applying for roles.

“Woolworths Group is always recruiting and we see tens of thousands of applications processed annually in our supermarket business. This new technology positively impacts bias during the recruitment process,” Ms Maes said.

“Not only does it provide a flexible platform for our recruitment teams, we’re really pleased with the experience our applicants have in the process ultimately delivering the hiring and equality outcomes we strive for across the Group.

Sapia’s AI powered automation platform is centered around a blind, untimed and asynchronous chat interview transforming the speed and quality of hire whilst removing bias from the hiring process.

Barb Hyman, Sapia.ai founder and CEO, describes the mission of Sapia “to make equity in the workplace a reality”.

“Our customers are seeing extraordinary results – and seeing them fast.” Hyman said.

“We give them data and insights that let them track fairness and bias in their decisions across the employment journey.

“I’m excited to have Macquarie and Woolworths investing in our technology – it’s an incredible validation for my team who have been committed to our mission from the get go and we can’t wait to open our technology to new markets.”

For the Australian-founded company, the investment comes at a time of huge growth, with customer numbers more than doubling over the last year.  Funds from the raise will be used for continued overseas expansion, including making the product available in multiple languages.

About Sapia

Sapia is focused on helping companies unlock and engage talent at scale. With its blind, automated chat interview and comprehensive DEI analytics platform, Sapia’s technology is the first solution of its kind to disrupt biases that affect traditional recruitment processes, delivering fair outcomes for candidates and companies.

Media Contacts

Barb Hyman barb@sapia.ai

SOURCE Sapia.ai

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sapiaai-raises-17-million-series-a-funding-round-led-by-macquarie-capital–w23—part-of-the-woolworths-group-301684953.html

TZP Group Partners with Soccer Post

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News provided by

TZP Group

Nov 21, 2022, 19:31 ET

Alex Morgan joins Soccer Post as an investor and Brand Ambassador

NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — TZP Group (“TZP”), a multi-strategy private equity firm, announced today its investment in Soccer Post Holdings, LLC (“Soccer Post” or the “Company”), the largest local-market-focused omni-channel soccer specialty retailer in the United States. Soccer Post’s mission is to provide an authentic soccer retail experience to local soccer families in every market it serves. TZP’s partnership will help Soccer Post accelerate expansion into new markets and communities.

Soccer Post has been offering soccer apparel, footwear, and gear to enthusiasts, clubs, athletes, and families across the United States for over three decades. The Company has established itself as the go to destination for soccer families and one of the leading national omni-channel specialty retailers across e-commerce, physical stores, and institutional channels.

“We have experienced significant growth and have unprecedented opportunities to scale the business nationally through multiple channels. We needed to find a partner with expertise in omni-channel retailing and the capital to support our anticipated growth” said Sarah Jett, Chief Brand Officer of Soccer Post. “We selected TZP for their track record with omni-channel retailers, portfolio of authentic brands, and their confidence in our team and our vision for the future of soccer specialty retail.”

“Our goal was to find an investment partner that understood and valued how special our business model is to soccer families and brought expertise to help Soccer Post’s national expansion strategy. TZP has a long track-record as a management-focused partner with insight and resources to support management teams in executing ambitious growth plans for their businesses. Their experience in activewear and lifestyle companies, their operating expertise with disruptive business models, and their commitment to our shared vision made TZP a perfect fit for Soccer Post” said Blake Sonnek-Schmelz, Chief Executive Officer of Soccer Post.

“When we met Blake, we knew that he and his team had built something truly special,” said Rodney Eshelman, TZP Partner. “Soccer Post is a well-known, national brand and its reach across channels is compelling. What is most compelling is the authenticity that the Soccer Post brand brings to the soccer communities it serves. We look forward to adding our resources and support to help Blake and his team scale the business.”

Alongside TZP, Soccer Post announced that Alex Morgan has become an investor and Brand Ambassador. Mr. Sonnek-Schmelz said, “As a leader both on and off the field, Alex Morgan represents everything we look to bring to our Soccer Post community. We are thrilled to have her join the team and continue to elevate our plans for community interaction across the nation.” Alex Morgan, Soccer Post investor and future Soccer Post store owner added “Growing up, I loved visits to local soccer shops. I’m excited to share my passions for the beautiful game and advancing women’s soccer with the leading authentic omni-channel soccer specialty retail company in the United States. Together with Soccer Post, I will support the next generation of soccer families and communities.”

About Soccer Post

Acquired in 2011 by Blake Sonnek-Schmelz (CEO) and headquartered in Eatontown, NJ, Soccer Post is the largest local-market-focused omni-channel soccer specialty retailer with over 30 store locations in the United States. Soccer Post has been offering soccer apparel, footwear and gear to enthusiasts, clubs, athletes, and families across the United States for over three decades. Soccer Post’s mission is to provide an authentic soccer retail experience to local soccer players in every market it serves. The Company has established itself as the go to destination for soccer families and one of the leading national omnichannel specialty retailers across e-commerce, physical stores, and institutional channels. For more information, please visit www.soccerpost.com.

About TZP Group

TZP Group, a multi-strategy private equity firm managing approximately ~$2 billion across its family of funds, is focused on control, growth equity, and structured capital investments in technology, business services, and consumer companies. Founded in 2007, TZP targets companies with solid historical performance and sustainable value propositions and aims to be a “Partner of Choice” for business owners and management teams. TZP seeks to invest primarily in closely held, private companies in which the owners desire to retain a significant stake and partner with an investor with complementary operating and financial skills to accelerate company growth, increase profitability, and maximize the value of their retained stake. TZP leverages its investment professionals’ operating and investment experience to provide strategic and operational guidance and is dedicated to long-term value creation. For more information, please visit www.tzpgroup.com.

For more media inquiries please contact:

Dan Gaspar, Partner, TZP Group | dgaspar@tzpgroup.com

Disclosures:

Certain statements about TZP made by portfolio company executives herein are intended to illustrate TZP’s business relationship with such persons, including with respect to TZP’s facilities as a business partner, rather than TZP’s capabilities or expertise with respect to investment advisory services. Portfolio company executives were not compensated in connection with their participation, although they generally receive compensation and investment opportunities in connection with their portfolio company roles, and in certain cases are also owners of portfolio company securities and/or investors in TZP-sponsored vehicles. Such compensation and investments subject participants to potential conflicts of interest in making the statements herein. TZP does not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completements of the information contained herein and it should not be assumed that investments made in the future will be comparable in quality of performance to the investments described herein.

SOURCE TZP Group

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tzp-group-partners-with-soccer-post-301684487.html

The American Carbon Registry (ACR) has partnered with AirCarbon Exchange (ACX) to offer ERT on the Exchange

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News provided by

AirCarbon Exchange

Nov 21, 2022, 20:35 ET

ABU DHABI, UAE, LONDON and SINGAPORE, Nov. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — AirCarbon Exchange (ACX), the global exchange revolutionizing the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), is pleased to announce a partnership with the American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International and a leading carbon offset registry program, to offer Emission Reduction Tons (ERTs) on the ACX Platform.

Through this partnership, ACR Account Holders can offer ERTs on ACX’s Auctions platform and also facilitate back-to-back Over-the-Counter (OTC) transactions through ACX. The partnership allows for ACX Members who do not have ACR Account to access ERTs for their carbon asset management. At the same time, this partnership offers ACR Account Holders more opportunities to reach new clients and routes to sell ERTs through the direct link to ACX’s international member list of over 150 members.

Lauren Nichols, ACR Managing Director said, “ACR is excited to link with ACX to expand market access to ERTs as voluntary carbon market demand continues to grow. We are pleased to facilitate the opportunity for ACR Account Holders to offer and transact their credits with a wider range of market participants via the ACX platform.”

William Pazos, Managing Director and Co-Founder of ACX said, “We are pleased to announce the partnership with ACR and create a direct connection between ACR Account Holders and ACX Members. We look forward to working closely with the ACR team to broaden the carbon offerings available to ACR and ACX members in the future to enable broader carbon market participation.”

To learn more about ACX, please visit www.aircarbon.co or follow us on LinkedIn.

About AirCarbon Exchange (ACX):

AirCarbon Exchange (“ACX”) is a global exchange revolutionizing the voluntary carbon market. The Exchange’s client base comprises corporate entities, financial traders, carbon project developers and other industry stakeholders. ACX provides its participants with an efficient and transparent trading platform which is easy to use, frictionless and with the lowest transaction fees available on the market. Its underlying distributed ledger technology will allow the carbon market to scale efficiently to meet global ambitions of Net Zero.

ACX was recognized as the Best Carbon Exchange globally in Environmental Finance’s prestigious Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings, the largest and most closely watched survey of the world’s Voluntary Carbon Market, for two consecutive years (2021, 2022). ACX was also named as the ‘Best Solution in Energy Trading’ by Wired UK and Publicis Sapient at their Global EnergyTech Awards, which spotlighted the companies that are ‘Winning the Race to Reinvent Energy’.

For more information or to trade carbon, please reach out to info@AirCarbon.co or visit www.aircarbon.co

SOURCE AirCarbon Exchange

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-american-carbon-registry-acr-has-partnered-with-aircarbon-exchange-acx-to-offer-ert-on-the-exchange-301684455.html

ESR’s ARA announces milestone partnership with the Export-Import Bank of China for US$1 billion infrastructure fund

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News provided by

ESR Group Limited

Nov 21, 2022, 02:22 ET

  • China ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund II is the largest ASEAN-focused private infrastructure fund and this represents ESR Group‘s first infrastructure fund
  • Fund will invest in infrastructure, energy resources including renewables, and information and communications (“ICT”) sub-sectors, with a strong focus on sustainability and ESG standards

SINGAPORE and HONG KONG, Nov. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — ESR Group Limited (“ESR” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries as the “Group”; SEHK Stock Code: 1821), Asia-Pacific (“APAC”)’s largest real asset manager powered by the New Economy, today announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, ARA, has entered into a milestone partnership with the Export–Import Bank of China for the closing of a US$1 billion infrastructure fund – China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund[1] II (“CAF II”). ARA Private Fund’s infrastructure arm, ARA Infrastructure, has also been appointed as investment adviser by the Export–Import Bank of China, the main anchor sponsor of the fund. This follows Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s speech at the 25th China-ASEAN Summit highlighting the support of major infrastructure and energy projects in ASEAN.[2]

The Export-Import Bank of China, Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment Corporation, China Road & Bridge Corporation and ARA have together committed US$1 billion to CAF II. The fund will invest in ASEAN countries across various infrastructure, energy resources including renewables, and ICT sub-sectors, with a strong focus on sustainability and ESG standards.

Jeffrey Shen and Stuart Gibson, ESR Co-founders and Co-CEOs, said: “We are very proud of our ARA Infrastructure team for setting up the largest ASEAN-focused private infrastructure fund. We thank our partners and investors for their support and recognition of our Group’s sterling fund management expertise and track record as APAC’s largest real asset manager. Our move into the infrastructure and renewables business further strengthens our competitive edge as a fully integrated one-stop solution for our capital partners and customers. We are confident that the infrastructure fund is well-positioned to benefit from robust long-term macroeconomic trends in ASEAN including rising incomes, rapid urbanisation and favourable demographics. Alongside the focus on post-COVID economic recovery and growth, and various government investor-friendly policies to encourage infrastructure investment, the fund will contribute significantly to economic expansion and job creation across the region.”

Chen Bin, Vice President of the Export-Import Bank of China, said, “I’m very glad to see that with the strong support of government departments and the joint efforts of respective LPs, CAF II is now set up. Dedicated to supporting the foreign trade sector, the Export-Import Bank of China takes ASEAN countries as key areas for business development. We have established business ties with ASEAN countries for more than 20 years and financed more than 200 projects in such sectors as power, transportation, water conservancy and industrial production. We hope CAF II can help enhance connectivity, trade and investment cooperation between China and ASEAN countries, so as to contribute to the economic cooperation and trade in the region.”

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), developing Asia will require more than US$26 trillion of investments between 2016 to 2030 (US$1.7 trillion per year) in infrastructure to support economic growth, raise living standards and mitigate climate change impacts[3]. Of these funds, USD$14.7 trillion (56% of the total) will be needed for the transition of the energy sector to more renewable and efficient sources. However, there remains a funding gap of US$459 billion per year in the region.

Moses Song, ARA CEO, said: “We are excited to have expanded into a new asset class and we have established a specialist infrastructure and renewables team, leveraging the resources across the Group, to steer the business as we continue to accelerate our growth in size, scale and offerings. With the fund’s focus on essential infrastructure and renewable assets, we are delighted to play a part in helping to build connectivity, economic, trade and investment cooperation in ASEAN, and to bridge any funding gap. In line with our focus on ESG, the fund will also adopt best-in-class sustainability practices and ESG standards to support the region’s energy transition and climate action.”

The resilience of infrastructure assets during times of economic downturn has greatly raised the attractiveness of the asset class among investors. According to a 2021 Preqin survey, 47% of global investors intend to increase their long-term allocation to the asset class[4]. Assets under management (AUM) for the sector is projected to grow at a rate of 16.6% CAGR from US$86 billion to US$1.87 trillion between 2021 to 2026, overtaking real estate to become the largest real asset class.

[1] Mainly sponsored by the Export-Import Bank of China, CAF I invested in such sectors as infrastructure, energy resources and ICT, and provided capital support for outstanding enterprises in China and ASEAN countries.

[2] Speech by H.E. Li Keqiang Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China at the 25th China-ASEAN Summit, 11 November 2022 (https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/202211/t20221112_10973135.html)

[3] Meeting Asia’s Infrastructure Needs, ADB, 2017

[4] Global Infrastructure Report, Preqin, 2022

About ESR

ESR is APAC‘s largest real asset manager powered by the New Economy and the third largest listed real estate investment manager globally. With over US$140 billion in total assets under management (AUM), our fully integrated development and investment management platform extends across key APAC markets, including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, India, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, representing over 95% of GDP in APAC, and also includes an expanding presence in Europe and the U.S. We provide a diverse range of real asset investment solutions and New Economy real estate development opportunities across our private funds business, which allows capital partners and customers to capitalise on the most significant secular trends in APAC. ESR is the largest sponsor and manager of REITs in APAC with a total AUM of US$45 billion. Our purpose – Space and Investment Solutions for a Sustainable Future – drives us to manage sustainably and impactfully and we consider the environment and the communities in which we operate as key stakeholders of our business. Listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, ESR is a constituent of the FTSE Global Equity Index Series (Large Cap), Hang Seng Composite Index and MSCI Hong Kong Index.

For more information on ESR, please visit www.esr.com.

About the Export–Import Bank of China

Founded in 1994, the Export-Import Bank of China (hereinafter referred to as the Bank) is a state-funded and state-owned policy bank with the status of an independent legal entity. It is a bank under the direct leadership of the State Council and dedicated to supporting China’s foreign trade, investment and international economic cooperation. Its financial support mainly goes to foreign trade, cross-border investment, the Belt and Road Initiative, international industrial capacity and equipment manufacturing cooperation, the “going global” endeavors of science and technology, cultural industries as well as SMEs, and the building of an open economy.

For more information on the Export-Import Bank of China, please visit www.eximbank.gov.cn/.

SOURCE ESR Group Limited

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/esrs-ara-announces-milestone-partnership-with-the-exportimport-bank-of-china-for-us1-billion-infrastructure-fund-301683604.html

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. Fell in May Again

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News provided by

The Conference Board

Jun 17, 2022, 10:00 ET

NEW YORK, June 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. decreased by 0.4 percent in May 2022 to 118.3 (2016 = 100), following a 0.4 percent decline in April 2022. The LEI is now down 0.4 percent over the six-month period from November 2021 to May 2022.

“The US LEI fell again in May, fueled by tumbling stock prices, a slowdown in housing construction, and gloomier consumer expectations,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Senior Director of Economic Research at The Conference Board. “The index is still near a historic high, but the US LEI suggests weaker economic activity is likely in the near term—and tighter monetary policy is poised to dampen economic growth even further.”

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for the U.S. increased by 0.2 percent in May 2022 to 108.8 (2016 = 100), following a 0.5 percent increase in April 2022. The CEI is up 1.3 percent over the six-month period from November 2021 to May 2022.

The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index® (LAG) for the U.S. increased by 0.8 percent in May 2022 to 112.9 (2016 = 100), following a 0.4 percent increase in April 2022. The LAG is up 3.7 percent over the six-month period from November 2021 to May 2022.

Summary Table of Composite Economic Indexes

2022

6-month

Mar

Apr

May

Nov to
May

Leading Index

119.3

r

118.8

r

118.3

p

  Percent Change

-0.1

r

-0.4

r

-0.4

p

-0.4

  Diffusion

50

20

55

40

Coincident Index

108.1

r

108.6

r

108.8

p

  Percent Change

0.0

r

0.5

r

0.2

p

1.3

  Diffusion

50

100

75

75

Lagging Index

111.6

r

112.0

r

112.9

p

  Percent Change

1.0

r

0.4

0.8

p

3.7

  Diffusion

86

57.1

71.4

85.7

p  Preliminary     r  Revised

Indexes equal 100 in 2016

Source:  The Conference Board

The next release is scheduled for Thursday, July 21, 2022, at 10 A.M. ET.

About The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S.: The composite economic indexes are the key elements in an analytic system designed to signal peaks and troughs in the business cycle. The indexes are constructed to summarize and reveal common turning points in the economy in a clearer and more convincing manner than any individual component. The CEI is highly correlated with real GDP. The LEI is a predictive variable that anticipates (or “leads”) turning points in the business cycle by around 7 months. Shaded areas denote recession periods or economic contractions. The dates above the shaded areas show the chronology of peaks and troughs in the business cycle.

The ten components of The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® for the U.S. include: Average weekly hours in manufacturing; Average weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance; Manufacturers’ new orders for consumer goods and materials; ISM® Index of New Orders; Manufacturers’ new orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft orders; Building permits for new private housing units; S&P 500® Index of Stock Prices; Leading Credit Index™; Interest rate spread (10-year Treasury bonds less federal funds rate); Average consumer expectations for business conditions.

To access data, please visit: https://data-central.conference-board.org/

About The Conference Board 
The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers trusted insights for what’s ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org • Learn more about our mission and becoming a member

SOURCE The Conference Board

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-conference-board-leading-economic-index-lei-for-the-us-fell-again-in-may-301570356.html

Interest rates hit 8-year high while Mortgage applications drop to 4-year low

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According to the data released from the Mortgage Bankers Association Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 2, 2018, the mortgage applications reduced 4.0 percent from a previous week.

The Market Composite Index, which is a gauge of mortgage loan application volume, reduced 4.0 percent on a seasonally regulated basis from one week earlier to the lowest point since December 2014. When checked on a basis not adjusted, the Index diminished two percent in comparison with the last week. On the other hand, the Refinance Index declined three percent from the preceding week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index reduced five percent from one week previously to the lowest point since November 2016. Based on a comparison with the previous week, the unadjusted Purchase Index cut one percent and was 0.2 percent lesser than the same week last year.

According to Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasts, he said there was a slight increase of rates in the previous week, as several job market indicators revealed a quickening in wage growth and leap in job gains in October. He also confirmed that the MBA’s survey 30-year fixed rate placed at 5.15 percent was the peak since April 2010. The application activity dwindled over the week for the refinance and purchase applications, as the entire market index came down to its lowest point since November 2016, but lingered only somewhat beneath the same week a year ago. There is no doubt that the housing inventory shortages have continuously had its effects on the potential homebuyers this fall.

On the other hand, the activity of the refinance mortgage share has reduced to 39.1 percent of the entire applications from 39.4 percent the last week. The share of activity of the adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) boosted to 7.8 percent of overall applications.

In the previous week, the FHA share of the overall applications diminished to 10.1 percent from 10.3 percent. However, the VA share of the entire applications improved from 9.8 percent to 10.1 percent in the previous week while the USDA share of the total applications maintained its position at 0.7 percent in the last week.

There is an increase in the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with compliant loan balances of ($453,100 or less) from 5.11 percent to 5.15 percent, with an increment of points from 0.50 to 0.51, (not excluding the origination charges) for the 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. There is an increase in the effective rate from the previous week.

There is an increase in the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with more significant loan balances ranging above $453,100 from 4.94 percent to 4.97 percent, as there is a reduction in the points from 0.28 to 0.27 (in addition to the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. There is an increment of the effective rate from the preceding week.

On the other hand, the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages supported by the FHA was boosted from 5.08 percent to 5.15 percent, as points rose from 0.62 to 0.64 (plus with the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. It is on record that the effective rate grew from the previous week.

However, the average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages remained stable at 4.55 percent, as well as the points at 0.51 (in addition to the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. Like other factors, the effective rate also swelled from the preceding week.

There is an increase of the average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs from 4.33 percent to 4.36 percent, and the points reducing from 0.42 to 0.35 plus the origination fee for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) loans. The effective rate has not been altered from the previous week.

For comments and feedback: editor@bestratedirect.com

Australia’s key rate held at 1.50 percent as the economy has faster growth and less jobless

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The economy of Australia is performing incredibly well according to statements by Reserve Bank of Australia Philip Lowe, Governor Monetary Policy Decision.  The Gross Domestic Product has been increased by 3.4 per cent while the unemployment rate has reduced to 5 per cent over the past year; this is the lowest point in six years. However, it is important to note that the forecasts for economic growth in 2018 and 2019 have been modified. The central outline is for the growth of GDP to be at an average of 3½ per cent over these two years before it reduces in 2020 as a result of the slower growth in the exports of resources.

The continuous expansion of the global economy coupled with the fact that most advanced economies are increasing at an above-trend rate and having low unemployment rates. The pace of growth in China has diminished a little, as the government is introducing favorable policies and observing the hazards in the financial sector. The inflation is still low across the globe, though its rate has increased because of the higher oil prices and an improvement in the growth of wages. There is an expected rise in inflation rate due to the stiffening labor markets, in the United States, and the considerable fiscal stimulus. One continuous doubt concerning the global outlook is as a result of the international trade policy direction in the United States.

There has been an expansion in the financial conditions in the advanced economies, but this has been stiffened in recent times. The equity prices have reduced while returns on government bonds in some economies have improved, though remain low. The United States dollar has considerably appreciated this year. On the other hand, the money-market interest rates have reduced in recent times in Australia despite recording an increase during the year. The standard variable mortgage rates are somewhat higher than a few months ago, while the rates charged to individuals borrowing for the first time for housing are considerably lower than for those with unpaid loans.

There is an aura of positivity surrounding business conditions, and there is an expectation of increase for the non-mining business investment. The increased levels of public infrastructure investment are also offering support for the economy, as well as the improvement in resource exports. However, a significant source of doubt is the household consumption outlook. The household income has remained low with stunted growth, coupled with higher debt levels and the prices of some assets have reduced drastically. This has resulted in severe conditions in various facets of the farm sector.

The terms of trade of Australia has improved over the last few years, and have remained stronger than anticipated. There is no doubt that it has helped in the advancement of the national income. Though there is an expectation that the terms of trade will decrease as time goes by, there is a probability that the terms of trade in Australia will remain at a high level for some time. The Australian dollar is still within the range it has maintained in the last two years on a trade-weighted basis, though the Australian dollar is presently in the lower region of the scale.

The labour market’s outlook remains optimistic as the economic growth is above the trend; an additional reduction in the unemployment rate is predicted to be around 4¾ per cent in 2020. On the other hand, the vacancy rate remains high, and there are accounts of skills shortages in some places. Despite picking up a little, the growth of the wages remains low. There is an expectation that economic improvement should result in an extra lift in wages growth over time; it is anticipated to be a slow process.

The inflation rate has remained steady and low. CPI inflation was 1.9 per cent and, in basic terms, the inflation rate was 1¾ per cent over the past year. These consequences tally with the expectations of the Bank and were grossly manipulated by declines in some administered prices as a result of the altercations in the government policies. There is anticipation for inflation to pick up over the next few years, and the rise is likely to be slow and steady. The central situation is for the inflation rate to be 2¼ per cent in 2019 and a bit greater in the coming year.

The conditions in the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets have continuously enjoyed peace, and the national measures of rent inflation have remained low. The growth in credit stretched to the owner-occupiers has alleviated but maintained its robust nature, while the demand by investors has reduced significantly as the housing market dynamics have changed. There have been stricter credit conditions in recent times, despite the low status of the mortgage rates, and in the face of intense competition for borrowers of high credit quality.

The low level of interest rates continuously supports the Australian economy. Moreover, there is an expectation of the further progress in unemployment reduction and getting the inflation return to target, though it is considered to be a slow process. Fortified with the available data, the Board concluded that leaving the monetary policy stance stable at this meeting would agree with the viable growth in the economy and aim to achieve the inflation target over time.

For comments and feedback: editor@bestratedirect.com

Bank of Canada Keeps Benchmark Rate Unchanged

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The interest rate was maintained at 1.5% by the Central Bank, an indication that the NAFTA talks could influence the pace of increases in the future. On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada kept its standard interest rate stable at 1.5% as there is a possibility that the North American Free Trade Agreement could have a significant impact on the increases of future rates.

In a short policy statement, the central bank opined that higher interest rates would be required to ensure inflation is kept close to its 2% target. The central bank also confirmed that it would continue to engage a systematic style to increase rates, backed with incoming data and the reaction of the economy to higher rates.

In its policy statement, the bank also confirmed that it is also ensuring the monitoring of the NAFTA discussions and other trade policy expansions, as well as their influence on the outlook of the inflation. However, the central bank of Canada fixes interest rates to maintain and achieve 2% inflation over the long term.

In the words of Josh Nye, an economist with the Royal Bank, he said that the statement strengthened the expectations of analyst that the Bank of Canada will increase the key interest by a quarter-percentage point at a policy declaration in the latter part of October. He also said that in the case of an unforeseen weakening in business reaction or the disbanding of NAFTA, the increase in the rate by October remains unchanged.

However, the interest-rate decision was released on Wednesday, the same day that United States and Canada negotiators were supposed to discuss the NAFTA negotiations in Washington after they avoided a deadline imposed by the United States on Friday. During the early part of the week, Mexico and the United States of America agreed on their trilateral deal, and this has placed Canada under severe pressure to conform to the conditions given by the United States or be eliminated from the accord.

According to a study by the Bank for International Settlements, NAFTA is considered to be important for Canada, as a significant part of its exports are shipped to the United States, Canada will be the biggest loser if the deal is suspended. According to the data offered by Statistics Canada on Wednesday, the exports of Canada increased in July thereby reducing the trade deficit of the nation with the other countries of the world.

In a statement released by the central bank on Wednesday, the Bank of Canada has expressed concerns about the aftermath of the trade deal’s future for more than twelve months. It has been trying to increase interest rates after maintaining them at super-low levels in a bid to ensure the recovery of the economy from the financial disaster and the 2014 reduction in the prices of the global commodity. The business investment in Canada has been affected by the doubt surrounding the trade policy. The central bank also confirmed that increased trade tensions have posed a threat to the global outlook and playing a role in the reduction of some commodity prices when the economy of the United States is performing excellently.

The Bank of Canada asserted that the headline inflation at a rate higher than the anticipated rate at 3% in response to the maintaining the key rate on hold. The central bank suggested that there is an expectation of the inflation moving to its 2% target in the early part of 2019, as the impact of previous increases in the prices of gas disappears. It has also been observed that the instruments of fundamental and core inflation are unchanged around 2%.

According to the Central Bank Governor, Stephen Poloz, he confirmed that the economy of Canada is progressing according to the new prediction which was released in July. Nevertheless, the economic growth is expected to experience slowness in the next few months on additional variations in exports and energy production. The deputy governor of the central bank, Carolyn Wilkins is expected to deliver a speech on Thursday which is anticipated to grow on the outlook of Canada.

The Bank of Canada said the business investment and exports have been increasing for some segments irrespective of the risks involved in trade policy. It is noteworthy that the housing activity is stable after the introduction of strict mortgage-financing regulations and increased interest rates.

According to a Wall Street Journal survey of economists, the Bank of Canada was expected to keep interest rates on hold, as they opined that the doubt surrounding NAFTA and the belief that rate increases should be taken slowly would ensure the shelving of the central bank until October. However, the next arranged decision will be provided on October 24.

Since the mid-2017, the interest rates have been increased four times by the Bank of Canada, with the most recent one in July.

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Turkey’s Lira: words not sufficient to Raise Interest Rates

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The Turkish lira may become viable after the central bank gave signs higher interest rates were underway, but some investors are concerned that any effective relief will require an extreme hike that it is sure to deliver.

Further, it is on record that even after 700 basis points of monetary pull back since December; consumer-price growth has increased for five months, reducing the inflation adjusted policy rate to about 1 percent. If this situation is to be the same in June, the central bank would have to raise costs to borrowers by another 400 basis points to stabilize the lira.

Around the world, Central banks have been forced into action by emerging-market instabilities. A significant example is Argentina hiking rates by 1,500 basis points last week; second is Turkey’s 10-year government bonds yield which has fallen for a second day, dropping to 20.91 percent and continuing its decline this week to 85 basis points.

Nomura International Plc has proffered a solution requiring Turkey to raise the one-week repo rate by at least 575 basis points to 23.5 percent; however, the company is unsure policymakers will be prepared to deliver such aggressive tightening.

Just as Guillaume Tresca, a strategist at Credit Agricole SA in Paris fears that increased rates are very imminent as he tips the lira lesser to 8.30 per dollar in December. He says: “Market expectations are now running high for a bold rate hike. In our view, they can only disappoint markets, very well the lira is weakening to 8.30 per dollar by December.” Guillaume lastly noted that the current stance by the central bank to this turmoil shows they are running out of ammunition.

Recently the lira slipped 0.3 percent to 6.6578 per dollar as of 10:29 a.m. in Istanbul on Tuesday. The currency went down as much as 2.6 percent on Monday before reducing the decline to a loss of 1.5 percent. Based on relevant speculations that hikes are looming, the central bank is to hold its next policy meeting on Sept. 13 to decide necessary actions to support price stability.

Further, It can be rightly inferred that with the amount of pressure on Recep Tayyip Erdogan the President to keep the growth moving along, it is not a surprise that investor skepticism over the acceptability of any policy action is running high. By allowing inflation go into the double digits for most of the past two years and relying on controlling liquidity management instead of immediate hikes the central bank has remained firmly in deficit.

Inan Demir, an economist at Nomura, says he is unsure of what to expect however he has subjected fate to Monday’s statement, he say: “I’m not very confident, to say the least, If Monday’s statement is a signal of unconventional policies, the market will be underwhelmed by the policy response.”

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“The time for rates hike not right,” Bullard to Federal Reserve Bank.

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The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard admonished management members to halt raising rates again, however, Bullard appeared resolved that a move higher this month is pretty much a done deal.

The bank president while speaking in an interview on Fox Business Network on Tuesday complimented the economy saying: “we’ve got a pretty good policy right now and we should stay where we are and see how the data come in.”

Furthermore, the interest-rate setting Federal Open Market Committee is expected to sit later this month to increase the current rate to their target rate, whose current threshold is 1.75% and 2%. However, Mr. Bullard can do only little, as he is currently not a voting member of the committee.

Also, the president while speaking with Fox Business Network reiterated his view on rate increases; unluckily, his colleagues share a dissenting view about the looming September rate rise, in Bullard’s own words he says: “markets are putting a high probability on it. And if you talk to my co-workers, most of them seem to be speculating a high probability as well.”

The president of the Federal Reserve Bank also noted that the bond market is currently in good shape because the difference between short and long term dated yields has diminished considerably. Thus the favorable condition in the bond market is unsupported by raising rates at the moment. That is because more rate hikes could cause that relationship to turn negative, and if it did, that is a strong signal a recession may follow.

Putting in Bullard’s own words, he says: “We’re in good shape, and I think what we could do is take the signs from financial markets that are telling us that we’re almost where we need to be right now, for instance the yield curve, is very flat. I’d rather not see an inverted yield curve in the U.S. That’s usually a signal of a slowdown ahead.”

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