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☆ Sanctions-hit Russia is rushing to set up payment systems, including crypto, to make trading easier
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRussia is stepping up sanctions-evading measures to keep its international trade flowing. Russian central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina said the first transactions are expected by the end of this year, per Reuters. An existing ban on crypto payments in Russia remains, but Moscow's greenlighting crypto for international trade marks a significant shift. Russia could be eying a digital-currency-based settlement systemIt isn't clear how Russia's crypto and digital currency regimes will shape up. Even China, which has one of the world's most advanced digital currencies, relies on a "two-tier" system involving banks as wallet-holding agents.

Persons: —, Elvira Nabiullina, Nabiullina, Vladimir Putin, Moscow hasn't, Christopher Granville, Granville Organizations: Service, Russia's, Duma —, Reuters, Business, Bloomberg, US Treasury, GlobalData, Lombard, Russia Locations: Russian, Russia, Ukraine, cryptocurrencies, Hong Kong, Moscow, China, UAE, Turkey, Austria, India

☆ Russia's fraught rupee oil trade is a warning for countries trying to abandon the dollar
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But trading in alternative currencies like the Indian rupee and the Chinese yuan has its own issues. Russia's oil trade best exemplifies the problems it has with alternative currency trade, as it accounts for about a quarter of Russia's budget. AdvertisementThe international oil trade is typically denominated in the dollar, but due to sanctions, less than 10% of Russia's daily oil trade is sold in the dollar and the euro, five traders told Reuters on Monday. Risks and complications of alternative currenciesRussia's oil trade with India is particularly problematic. To be able to buy Russian oil, India insisted on settling trades in the rupee earlier this year.

Persons: —, hasn't, Vladimir Putin, It's, Sergey Ivanov Organizations: Service, Reuters, United, United Arab Emirates Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Europe, India, China, Africa, Turkey, Delhi, Beijing, United Arab, UAE, Russian

☆ China and Saudi Arabia sign a $7 billion currency swap agreement, adding to de-dollarization push
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Aruni Soni | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

China and Saudi Arabia signed a currency swap agreement worth around $7 billion. China's o utstanding balance of forex swap lines hit a record 117.1 billion yuan, Bloomberg reported. AdvertisementChina and Saudi Arabia reached a currency swap agreement worth around $7 billion, marking another step in the dedollarization trend as countries around the world shift away from the greenback. The three-year deal allows for a maximum of 50 billion yuan or 26 billion riyals. And although Russia is China's top oil supplier, China imported $65 billion worth of Saudi crude oil in 2022, according to Chinese customs data cited by Reuters.

Persons: — Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, greenback, Reuters, RBC, JPMorgan, Initiative Locations: China, Saudi Arabia, dedollarization, Russia, Argentina, Beijing, Peru, Malaysia

☆ Argentina's new president Javier Milei thinks adopting the US dollar can rescue its screwed economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

He thinks replacing the peso with the dollar can tame hyperinflation and revive the battered economy. Prominent economist Steve Hanke — a champion of Milei's dollarization drive — posted on X after the results were announced that the candidate's proposal was "clearly a vote-getter." REBUILDING ARG'S ECONOMY = DOLLARIZATION. AdvertisementDespite its economic woes, Argentina's economy was worth $633 billion in 2022, making it the world's 23rd-largest economy. Critics of Milei's dollarization plans cite major challenges for Argentina against its backdrop of hyperinflation, economic crises, and political instability.

Persons: Javier Milei, —, Javier Milei's, Milei, Milei's, dollarize, Steve Hanke —, Milei’s, Steve Hanke, Milei's dollarization, There's, Markus Jaeger, Jaeger Organizations: Service, Johns Hopkins University, Argentine, Argentina, International Monetary Fund, Business Locations: Argentina, Argentine

☆ Don't worry about dedollarization – the yuan has a 'paltry' share of reserves, so the buck is going nowhere, RBC says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The rival yuan doesn't pose a credible threat to the buck, strategist Alan Robinson said in a recent research note. "While China would like its renminbi to topple the dollar, that currency's share of global reserves remains a paltry 2.5%," he wrote. AdvertisementAdvertisement"We don't think any single currency is positioned to replace the dollar in the global reserve system," Robinson added. The greenback had a 59% share of global reserves at the end of the second quarter of 2023, per the IMF. The buck has clung onto its role as the dominant global currency despite China and Russia stepping up their efforts to undermine it since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Persons: Alan Robinson, —, Robinson Organizations: RBC Wealth Management, Service, Global, International Monetary Fund Locations: China, Russia, Kremlin, Ukraine, Beijing, Moscow, Russian

☆ China is importing more from Russia than ever before, with trade between the 2 countries surging since Putin invaded Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

China bought Russian products worth a record $11.5 billion last month, new customs data showed. Trade between the two countries has soared since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine last year. Russia expects trade volume with China to hit $200 billion by the end of the year. Customs data published Thursday showed that Chinese imports from Russia jumped more than 25% to a record $11.5 billion in August. Russia and China started to do more business with each other after Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022, which led to the US and its allies imposing widespread sanctions.

Persons: Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, China, Kremlin Locations: China, Kremlin, Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Beijing, Moscow, renminbi

☆ The BRICS summit ended with no new currency and all 5 members issuing differing and contradictory commentary on de-dollarization
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

De-dollarization was a closely watched topic amid the BRICS summit last week. He said at a previous international meeting in July that it was important to establish an "independent financial system" based on local currency trade. But these international arrangements, trading arrangements, payment arrangements, these have been in place for a long time." AdvertisementAdvertisementInstead, South Africa appears to veer toward increasing the bloc's trade in local currencies. The economist who coined the term BRICS slammed the idea altogetherJim O'Neill, a former Goldman Sachs economist who first gave the BRICS bloc its name, has slapped down the idea of a common BRICS currency.

Persons: dollarization, SWIFT, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Putin, Vladimir Putin, I'm, Hardeep Singh Puri, Puri, Xi, Xi Jinping, Enoch Godongwana, Paul Mashatile, Jim O'Neill, Goldman Sachs, O'Neill Organizations: Service, United, United Arab Emirates, Times, CNBC, Bloomberg, Financial Times Locations: Wall, Silicon, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, India, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, United Arab, New Delhi, Johannesburg, South

☆ Dedollarization suffers a blow as the greenback's share in global payments hits a record high
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Zahra Tayeb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The international drive to end the dollar's dominance has suffered a blow, with the greenback's role in global payments hitting a record high. SWIFT data showed as much as 46% of foreign-exchange payments in July via the messaging system involved the dollar. The jump in dollar usage comes at a time when countries including China and Russia are trying to move away from the greenback. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe jump in dollar-based SWIFT payments raises challenges to the movement to end the greenback's supermacy of global payments and fund transfers. Some market experts however have ridiculed the so-called dedollarization efforts, with one calling the proposed BRICS currency plan "embarrassing."

Persons: SWIFT Organizations: Service, Society, Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, Bloomberg Locations: China, Russia, Wall, Silicon, India, Ukraine

☆ China's Xi Jinping unexpectedly skipped a speech at a BRICS summit aimed at challenging dollar dominance
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping unexpectedly missed a scheduled speech at this week's BRICS summit. China's commerce minister stood in for the speech instead, commenting on the US's economic dominance. Xi was the only BRICS leader who didn't make an appearance, with even Russia's Putin delivering comments virtually. After skipping the speech, Xi attended a dinner with the other nations' leaders, per CNN. Over the last two years, BRICS nations have increasingly tried to move off the US dollar as part of the broader dedollarization trend, completing international transactions in China's yuan or other local currencies.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, didn't, Putin, Russia —, Wang Wentao, Xi's, Bonnie Glaser, — Bonnie Glaser, 葛 Organizations: Service, CNN, China's, German Marshall Fund Locations: Wall, Silicon, South Africa, India, Brazil, Russia, China

☆ The dedollarization drive is facing a confidence crisis as the yuan, ruble and Argentine peso simultaneously plummet, an analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Zahra Tayeb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Slumps in the ruble, yuan, and Argentine peso underscore how the US dollar is a more reliable currency, an expert told Insider. In the past week alone, the Chinese yuan, Russian ruble, and the Argentine peso plunged, forcing the countries' central banks to take drastic measures to calm markets. The Chinese currency fell Thursday to its weakest level this year amid investor anxiety over the deepening slowdown in the world's second-largest economy. Last month, Russian president Vladimir Putin said more than 80% of his country's trade with China is settled in the yuan and ruble. "The recent decline and volatility in the Chinese Yuan, the Russian Ruble, and to a lesser extent the Argentine Peso, will only add further challenges to the idea of de-dollarization," Zain Vawda, market analyst at DailyFX, said.

Persons: Slumps, Vladimir Putin, Yuan, Zain, Vawda, Paul Krugman, Larry Summers, It's Organizations: Service, Argentine, International Monetary Fund Locations: Argentine, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Argentina, Moscow, Beijing, Russian, China

☆ The biggest threat to the dollar is the US itself, top economist Benn Steil warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

But the US itself poses the biggest threat to the buck's dominance, according to Benn Steil. Debt-ceiling standoffs and “growing weaponization” could undermine the currency, he said. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. "The biggest threat to the dollar's dominance comes not from competitive alternatives, but from the US government itself," Steil, who's the director of international economics for the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote. "Just as the overuse of antibiotics fuels antimicrobial resistance, excessive use of sanctions prompts targeted countries, as well as potential targets, to reduce their engagement with the US financial system," Steil wrote.

Persons: Benn Steil ., Benn Steil, Biden, Fitch, heightening, Vladimir Putin, that's, Elon Musk, Steil Organizations: Service, Project Syndicate, Council, Foreign Relations, International Monetary Fund, European Union Locations: China, Russia, Wall, Silicon, US, Ukraine

☆ India just ditched the dollar and used its own currency to buy a million barrels of oil from the UAE
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

India bought 1 million barrels of oil from the United Arab Emirates using its own currency instead of US dollars. The Indian Oil Corp settled a payment in rupees with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Nations including India, Russia, and other BRICS members have been pushing to de-dollarize. Monday's deal marked India's first crude oil payment to the UAE in rupees. Leaders from BRICS nations — a bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — have made a particular push for their own non-dollar currency.

Persons: Dedollarization, Stephen Jen Organizations: United, Indian Oil Corp, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Nations, Service, UAE, Eurizon Locations: United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, India, Russia, Wall, Silicon, UAE, China, France, Israel, Brazil, South Africa, Argentina

☆ Amazon leaders are worried that a 'Day 2' mindset is seeping in at the company
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Matt Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Selipsky does work at a "big company" of course, but he doesn't want Amazon to feel that way. At Amazon, it's always supposed to be "Day 1," the dawn of a new era where the customer comes first and bold bets are backed. Selipsky said in the staff meeting that Amazon has to keep the mentality that "we are going to be the insurgents." Economic update: I wrote a week ago that the dream scenario for the economy was looking more likely by the day. More than 30 people involved in the tech industry told us the real problem was lazy managers.

Persons: Adam Selipsky, it's, Insider's Eugene Kim, Selipsky, that's, Andy Jassy, let's, Arantza Pena, —, David Clapp, Insider's Adam Rogers, Rogers, Phil Rosen, George Mickum Mike Vitelli, George Mickum, he'd, Birkin, Mitchie Nguyen, Matt Turner, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: AWS, Federal Trade Commission, San, Getty, Google, LinkedIn Locations: San Francisco San Francisco ,, San Francisco, Manhattan

☆ The weaponization of the dollar will reverse globalization and kill the WTO, it was warned. That's a real threat today as dedollarization gathers force.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Zahra Tayeb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

US economic sanctions have spawned something of a global backlash, in the form of the dedollarization movement. This was anticipated as early as 2019, by an expert who warned the weaponization of the dollar could have serious consequences for the global economic system. Back in 2023, dedollarization is a thingFast forward to 2023, and some of the recent rumblings across the global currency and monetary landscape are strikingly in line with Sen's prognostications. All that could come at a huge cost to the global economy – and drive a "complete reversal of global economic integration," he wrote. The dollar's share of global reserves could slowly decline, but no alternatives exist that could completely displace the US currency, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said last month.

Persons: Julius Sen, Donald Trump, Sen, prognostications, Emmanuel Macron, Elon Musk, –, optimists, Paul Krugman, Janet Yellen, Putin Organizations: London School of Economics, Service, UN, SWIFT, Allianz, WTO, FX Locations: Wall, Silicon, China, Brazil, Iran, Tehran, Russia, Ukraine, India, Europe

☆ Dedollarization of global FX reserves? Not so fast, Allianz says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Joseph Wilkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Recent moves led by China and Russia to challenge the dollar's global dominance has attracted much attention. But Allianz says the greenback's supremacy faces no serious threat, saying "any significant switch will take a long time to evolve". Dollar assets' unmatched liquidity and the private sector's heavy reliance on the greenback will support it over the longer term, according to the German financial services giant. But the greenback's status as the world's reserve currency faces no real threat for the foreseeable future, according to Allianz. The dollar still makes up almost 60% of all global reserves – while China's yuan accounts for just 3%, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Persons: Ludovic Subran, It's Organizations: Allianz, Service, International Monetary Fund Locations: China, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Argentina, Beijing

☆ How will the Federal Reserve’s rate hike pause affect the dollar?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A strong dollar affects prices, tourism and tradeThe ripple effect of a robust dollar permeates various parts of the economic picture, from international trade to tourism. “One of the underappreciated dimensions of a strong dollar is that it weighs on inflation,” she said. While Americans may find trips abroad relatively cheaper during times of dollar strength, tourism to the United States may take a hit. Relative weakness in European and Asian economies has also added investors’ appetite for the dollar, according to Gagnon. “I don’t see anything on the horizon that would weaken the dollar,” Gagnon said.

Persons: … that’s, Lisa Shalett, Shalett, Joseph Gagnon, ”, That’s, Gagnon, ” Gagnon, Goldman Sachs, “ Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Products, Walmart, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Deutsche Bank, eventual Locations: United, United States

☆ Bill Gates says an under-the-radar startup could be the biggest winner in AI. Check out its free app, and you'll see why.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Matt Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Bill Gates said the winner in AI will be the company that creates a personal digital agent. Gates added that it's 50-50 as to whether the AI winner behind the digital agent will come from Big Tech or the startup world. The startup was founded by LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, Deepmind cofounder Mustafa Suleyman, and Karén Simonyan, and describes itself as an "AI studio creating a personal AI for everyone." And Pi is still a ways away from what Bill Gates is imagining, a personal AI that can do your shopping and help read your emails. But Pi is the best conversational AI I've used so far, and everyone I've spoken to who has used it has been impressed.

Persons: Bill Gates, Pi, it's, Gates, I'd, I'm, I've, Reid Hoffman, Mustafa Suleyman, Karén, Matt Turner, we've, It's, there's, Spriha Srivistava, that's, Brad Davis, Brad, ChatGPT Organizations: Microsoft, Google, Big Tech, CNBC, LinkedIn, Pi Locations: San Francisco, Instagram

☆ Gold gains as traders gear up for U.S. inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Gold prices gained on Wednesday as investors keenly await key U.S. inflation data for signs of how close interest rates are to peaking. Gold could continue to drift higher "as early birds place their bets on a soft inflation report," said Matt Simpson, senior market analyst at City Index. "A soft inflation print could send gold prices above $2,032 to mark a fresh YTD high, given the inverted yield curve, talks of soft growth and rise of geopolitical tensions across parts of Asia." Philadelphia Fed Bank President Patrick Harker on Tuesday said he feels the Fed may soon be done raising rates, while New York Fed President John Williams said the Fed's policy path will depend on incoming data. A "weaker U.S. dollar and returning investment flows have been holding (gold) prices," ANZ said in a note.

☆ Gold gains as traders gear up for US inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Kavya Guduru | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies All eyes on CPI data due at 1230 GMTA soft inflation print could send gold above $2,032 - analystApril 12 (Reuters) - Gold prices gained on Wednesday as investors keenly await key U.S. inflation data for signs of how close interest rates are to peaking. Gold is considered an inflation hedge, but rising interest rates reduce the appeal of non-yielding bullion. Gold could continue to drift higher "as early birds place their bets on a soft inflation report," said Matt Simpson, senior market analyst at City Index. "A soft inflation print could send gold prices above $2,032 to mark a fresh YTD high, given the inverted yield curve, talks of soft growth and rise of geopolitical tensions across parts of Asia." A "weaker U.S. dollar and returning investment flows have been holding (gold) prices, ANZ said in a note.

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