Your Monday morning coffee briefing from TFG. The IMF upgraded its growth forecasts for developed countries and said the global recession would have been three times as deep had governments not intervened. The G20 extended its debt relief initiative for low-income countries to the end of 2021.
CFO optimism reaches record levels
Deloitte’s latest CFO Survey shines light on the plans of Britain’s largest corporates as the economy reopens. Optimism among CFOs has risen to a record high. The successful rollout of vaccines in the UK, prospective re-opening of the economy and a gathering US recovery have all boosted sentiment. CFOs anticipate a strong recovery in profits over the next twelve months. Read more →
Maersk warns real work to clear Suez backlog has only just begun
Maersk has warned customers not to expect a quick return to normal services after the Suez Canal blockage, which the world’s largest shipping company predicts will keep disrupting global supply chains in the coming weeks. Read more →
UK MPs and business figures seek to improve Brexit trade deal
A cross-party group of MPs and a number of other enterprise figures have arranged an unbiased fee to scrutinise and enhance the UK’s commerce offers with the EU and the remainder of the world. Read more →
EU and UK edge towards accord on trade rules for Northern Ireland
The UK and the EU are making progress in talks on how to apply post-Brexit trade rules in Northern Ireland, raising hopes of an agreement that could help reduce tensions that have spilt over into violence on the streets of Belfast. Read more →
StanChart Incorporates Loan Market Association’s Green and Sustainability-linked Loan Principles into Trade Financing Framework
Standard Chartered has launched a suite of sustainable trade finance solutions across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. The Bank’s new Sustainable Trade Finance Proposition is designed to help companies implement more sustainable practices across their ecosystems and build more resilient supply chains. Read more →
HSBC and ADB announce $300m boost for COVID-19 vaccines in APAC’s developing economies
HSBC and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced a USD300m financing programme to help the region’s supply chains scale up to deliver life-saving vaccines at both volume and pace. The targeted financing will inject much-needed liquidity into the complex vaccine ecosystem – from sourcing and manufacturing through to distribution.Read more →
Singapore is the first country to ratify RCEP trade deal
Singapore has ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement, with plans to implement the accord on the 1st January 2022. Read more →
