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• Investigation Into Flash-Crash Continues - 23 August 2010

While the cause of the so-called Wall Street "flash crash" on May 6 this year has not yet been confirmed by regulators charged with investigating the incident, it is likely to lead to a tougher stance on controlling who has access to high-frequency trading on markets. The investigation includes scrutinizing brokers suspected of failing to thoroughly check high-frequency traders before allowing them market access, which raises a whole host of concerns, especially in light of the fact that around 60 percent of US trading volumes take place electronically. With brokers being in the position to grant traders direct access to run algorithms, the responsibility rests with brokers to ensure that they know exactly who they are granting access to, and those found to be negligent in this regard face the very real possibility of hefty fines.

• GM Moves Ahead With IPO Plans - 19 August 2010

It was thirteen months ago that the U.S. government rescued General Motors from bankruptcy and landed up owning around 61 percent of the company in return for financial assistance to the tune of $50 billion. And now, despite the weak IPO market and a less than inspiring track record, GM is set to offer shares to the public once again in an effort to pay off their debt and reclaim full ownership of a company that was once part of the portfolio of many serious investors. But opinion is divided as to whether they will be able to rise to those prominent levels again, with the most obvious question being whether investors will give the automaker another chance.

• US Small-Caps Take Strain in Current Economy - 16 August 2010

As concerns regarding the pace of economic recovery in the US persist, it has become apparent that small-cap businesses have been hardest hit by investor gloom. Despite fairly upbeat data on retail sales and consumer sentiment, Friday saw the Russell 2000 index of small-capitalization stocks fall by 1.21 percent, being 7.49 points. The total decline for the week was 6.33 percent, going on record as the second consecutive week down. The Standard & Poor's Small Cap 600 fared no better, dropping 1.31 percent, being 4.35 points, and ending the week down 6.04 percent. This turn of events from when small-caps were challenging blue-chip stocks a while ago, highlights the depth of risk aversion being experienced in current markets, primarily as a result of the Fed’s current outlook on economic recovery.

• US Markets Slide Amidst Global Gloom - 12 August 2010

Stock market investing is surely not for the faint-hearted, especially in these times where every new day seems to bring a new, and often unprecedented, challenge. Following the announcement by the U.S. Federal Reserve that it would begin buying government bonds in an effort to stimulate the persistently sluggish economy, stocks and interest rates plummeted on Wednesday, reflecting the trepidation of investors with regard to economic recovery. Other factors that impacted negatively on markets included the news from the U.S. Commerce Department that, primarily due to the fall in exports, the trade deficit for June widened to reach its highest level in 20 months. It follows that a decline in exports will lead to a slow-down in U.S. manufacturing, which is particularly disappointing, given that the manufacturing sector had shown the most promising signs of recovery earlier this year.

• A Brief History of Trade – Part 3 - 9 August 2010

(Cont.from Part 2) Bilateral and multilateral trade began to develop in the mid 19th century with the primary focus on national advantage as being the determining factor on whether to open a country's borders to imports or not. Building on the work of economists such as David Ricardo and his father, James Mill, John Stuart Mill went on to prove that a country with the trade monopoly on international markets could make use of tariffs to manipulate the terms of trade between countries, which is likely to result in reciprocity – the granting of benefits in return. It was argued that this form of trade was superior to the policy of free trade and was later proposed by Mill as a protection for fledgling industries as they tried to compete in a world which was rapidly becoming industrialized. Today, trade tariffs play an important role in the supply and demand of international trade.

• A Brief History of Trade – Part 2 - 5 August 2010

(Cont.from Part 1)Between the 8th and 11th century the Varangians and Vikings used their prowess at sea to dominate trade in the Scandinavian countries, as well Western Europe and Russia. Between the 13th and 17th centuries the Hanseatic League, also referred to as the Hansa, was an alliance of trading cities which monopolized trade along the coastlines of Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea and the Northern Sea, as well as inland at various points.

• A Brief History of Trade – Part 1 - 29 July 2010

With the sophisticated methods of trading in the world today and stock exchanges handling billions of dollars on a daily basis, looking back at the challenges faced by early traders and the development of the modern commercial system can be quite fascinating. Trade is likely as old as mankind itself, with commodities and services being bartered long before different forms of currency were created. Some experts, including well respected historian Peter Watson, are of the opinion that commerce likely began around 150,000 years ago. Certainly, trade has featured prominently throughout recorded human history.

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