Bin_Salman__Reuters_ Courtesy:
9 November 2017

Saudi purge: Arab Spring 2.0?

The removal of 11 top ministers in the Riyadh government last week by the young crown prince Mohammad bin Salman, is a geopolitical upheaval, the implications are serious. Domestically, the kingdom is seeking to liberalise its conservative society and move away from oil-dependency – evident from the expected listing of its crown jewel Aramco. For India, which imports oil largely from West Asia, instability could cause a spike in prices, leaving less for its ambitious reforms. Globally, there is now space for new alignments – in the Great Power plays, in the Shia-Sunni rivalry, and in the war on terrorism.

3W7A0255 Courtesy: Gateway House
14 February 2017

Trump: the real estate businessman

In Gretchen Morgenson's interview she discusses the implications on the American stock market of the repeal of the Dodd-Frank financial regulations and the possibility of a reduction in corporate taxes. She argues that although Trump has proposed several changes to financial regulations and the American tax regime, he may be unable to implement these measures. She then illustrates the impact of the lack of accountability of the government on the psyche of the American consumer, which would, by default, affect the economy. She emphasizes on the impact, that Trump being a real estate business man, will have on his negotiating methods, and in turn will have on investors.