DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Japan stocks plunge as much as 7%, hovering near bear market territory, as Asia shares extend sell-off
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Japan’s markets led losses in the region as the Nikkei 225 and Topix dropped as much as 7% in volatile trading. At these levels, both the Nikkei and Topix are nearing bear market territory, having fallen almost 20% from their all-time highs on July 11. Monday’s decline follows Friday’s rout when Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix fell more than 5% and 6%, respectively. The broader Topix marked its worst day in eight years, while the Nikkei marked its worst day since March 2020. The Nasdaq was the first of the three major benchmarks to enter correction territory, down more than 10% from its record high.

Persons: Topix, “, Australia’s, Kospi Organizations: Nikkei, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Co, Sumitomo, Topix, Reserve Bank of Australia, Reuters, CSI, Nasdaq, Dow, Dow Jones Locations: Asia, Pacific, China, Taiwan, Australia, India, U.S

☆ America may already be in a 'plain vanilla recession,' says Danielle DiMartino Booth
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Emily Rabbideau | In Emilyrabbideau | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. may already be in a "plain vanilla recession," according to Danielle DiMartino Booth, CEO and chief strategist for Quill Intelligence and a former advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. DiMartino Booth explained how a weakening job market and increasing Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings signal that the U.S. is already in a recession. DiMartino Booth suggested that "for the next six to 18 months, AI is going to … feel like a weapon of mass destruction." DiMartino Booth also said the Fed isn't entirely to blame for the high levels of inflation explaining that the "interest rate policy is a blunt instrument." Watch the video above to learn more about what Danielle DiMartino Booth has to say about the state of the U.S. economy, including why the nation may already be in a recession, ways AI is changing the workplace and how the economy can work best on a global scale.

Persons: Danielle DiMartino Booth, DiMartino Booth, — Organizations: Quill Intelligence, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, CNBC Locations: U.S

☆ Nikkei 225 falls more than 5%, hovering near bear market territory, as Asia-Pacific sell-off continues
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Japan's markets led losses in the region as the Nikkei 225 and Topix dropped as much as 7% in volatile trading. At these levels, both the Nikkei and Topix are nearing bear market territory, having fallen almost 20% from their all-time highs on July 11. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart iconMonday's decline follows Friday's rout when Japan's Nikkei 225 and Topix fell more than 5% and 6%, respectively. The broader Topix marked its worst day in eight years, while the Nikkei marked its worst day since March 2020. The Reserve Bank of Australia kicks off its two-day monetary policy meeting Monday.

Persons: Topix, Australia's, Kospi Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Nikkei, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Co, Sumitomo, Topix, P, Reserve Bank of Australia, Reuters Locations: Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, Asia, Pacific, China, Taiwan, Australia, India, Hong Kong

☆ San Francisco Fed President Daly sees interest rate cuts coming as labor market weakens
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mary Daly, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, during the National Association of Business Economics (NABE) economic policy conference in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly on Monday said she expects that interest rates will be cut later this year but declined to provide a timetable or the extent to which the central bank will ease. At their meeting last week, Fed officials provided some hints that lower rates are coming but were short on specifics. Earlier in the day, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee told CNBC that the central bank's "restrictive" rates policy doesn't make sense if the economy isn't overheating, which he said it is not. If there are trouble signs with the economy, Goolsbee said the Fed will "fix it."

Persons: Mary Daly, Daly, we've, Austan Goolsbee, Goolsbee Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of San, National Association of Business Economics, San Francisco Federal, Market, Chicago Fed, CNBC Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Washington , DC, Hawaii

☆ Asia markets are mixed ahead of Bank of Japan rate decision, China business activity data
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda delivers a speech at the start of issuance of new yen banknotes at the Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo on July 3, 2024. Asia-Pacific markets were mixed on Wednesday as investors awaited the Bank of Japan's rate decision and China's business activity data. Economists polled by Reuters expecting the bank to raise rates to 0.1%, though other analysts are expecting a larger hike. The BOJ's benchmark interest rate currently is in a range of 0% to 0.1%. Should the bank raise rates, this will mark the first time since 2010 that its benchmark interest rate stands firmly at 0.1% or higher.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda Organizations: Japan, Bank of Japan, Bank of, Reuters, Reserve Bank Locations: Tokyo, Asia, Pacific

☆ Here's what usually happens to stocks when the Fed cuts rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Any September decision to lower the Fed's target range would be the first time interest rates have fallen since the hiking cycle began in March 2022. However, stocks fell soon after the rate cut in 2001 and 2007 by 13.5% and 20.6%, respectively, due to the dotcom crash and the global financial crisis. The current tightening episode is the seventh in the past 40 years. Historically, the Fed has cut rates because the U.S. economy was heading into a recession or experiencing a notable growth slowdown. While nominal rates peaked at 11.5% at the end of the 1983-84 episode, the current target range of 5.25%-5.50% is the highest this millennium.

Persons: Kevin Kliesen, Louis Organizations: CNBC, CNBC Pro, Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Bank of St Locations: U.S

☆ Ron Insana: The economic slowdown is here, and the Fed will be key to avoiding a recession
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Ron Insana | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

It is a question based on recent market behavior, corporate profit reports and prospective economic policy changes at home and abroad. It suggests that declining inflation and economic weakness may well be in our future. Recent U.S. economic data has been unexpectedly steady, with recent growth pegged at an annual rate of 2.8% in the second quarter. Unemployment data flashes a warning sign The unemployment rate remains low at 4.1% as of June, but it has risen from 3.7% back in January . Some economists argue that an increase of half a percentage point in the unemployment rate, off the lows, is a precursor to a recession.

Persons: you've, Ron Insana Organizations: Treasury, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Procter, Gamble, Federal Reserve, Clearwater, CNBC Locations: Clearwater, Japan, Switzerland, Venezuela, U.S

☆ Rush hour isn't what it used to be: Working 10-to-4 is the new 9-to-5, traffic data shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

As more commuters settle into flexible working arrangements, the traditional American 9-to-5 has shifted to 10-to-4, according to the 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard released in June by INRIX Inc., a traffic-data analysis firm. Its analysis shows fewer early morning trips and a higher volume of midday trips compared to pre-pandemic traffic patterns. Ridership sank during the pandemic, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis data shows, and never fully recovered. The result is a surge in traffic congestion throughout the peak midday and evening hours, according to Pishue. "Pre-Covid, the morning rush hour would be a peak and then the evening peak would be much larger," he said, describing two apexes with a valley in between.

Persons: Kevin Carter, Bob Pishue, Louis, Gallup Organizations: Getty Images, INRIX Inc, Federal Reserve Bank of St Locations: San Diego, San Diego , California

☆ 'Nobody wants to talk about it': A market-shifting real-estate trend is hiding in plain sight — and these 5 states will benefit most
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"We've got a real headwind from climate change," Zelman told Business Insider in late July. AdvertisementThe two hottest days in recorded history were earlier this week, according to the Europe-based Copernicus Climate Change Service. Most scientists say that's due to climate change caused by humans, but even if it's a coincidental pattern, the trend of rising temperatures is undeniable. AdvertisementMidwestern cities are destined to overtake the 'Sun Melt'During the "great reshuffling" of the pandemic, warmer states in the Sun Belt region were among the biggest beneficiaries. The widespread advent of remote work allowed millions of people to relocate, and many moved in droves to warmer states in the Southern US.

Persons: —, Zelman, she's, We've, I've, Sylvain Leduc, Daniel Wilson Organizations: Service, Zelman, Associates, Wall, Business, Van Lines, Federal Reserve Bank of San Locations: Europe, Southern, South, Carolinas , Tennessee, Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina , Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Midwest, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Miami, Ohio, Michigan , Illinois , Iowa, Wisconsin, Cleveland

☆ CNBC's Inside India newsletter: The tax with potential side effects
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Despite its progressive intentions, the tax failed to raise sufficient revenue for the monarch, as people boarded up their windows to lower their tax liability. Window tax was a property tax based on the number of windows in a house. In addition, the minister also lifted capital gains for stock market investors who cash in within a year from 15% to 20%. While the tax raises more than £3 billion ($3.9 billion) annually, it has given birth to far riskier forms of speculation while simultaneously hurting the stock market. However, given the lofty valuations that Indian stock markets currently trade, the tax to skim the excesses might be a positive development over the longer term.

Persons: Nirmala Sitharaman, Ajay Aggarwal, King William III of, Mike Kemp, Upasana Chachra, Morgan Stanley, Siddhartha Khemka, Motilal Oswal, Michael Langham, Abrdn, it's, JPMorgan's Jahangir Aziz, Aziz, Raghuram Rajan, Suman Bery, Bery Organizations: Union Finance, Budget Press Conference, National Media Centre, Hindustan Times, Getty Images, Getty, Budget, Motilal, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Reuters, CNBC, Health, Reserve Bank of India Locations: DELHI, INDIA, New Delhi, India, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom, England, Britain, Kerala, Malaysia, Nipah

☆ Why Paper Checks Refuse to Die
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Ron Lieber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Target stopped accepting personal checks as a form of payment this month, which might inspire the following question: What took so long? Check fraud has more than doubled in recent years, and it costs at least a dollar for businesses to process each check they receive. In many industries, checks continue to be a popular form of payment, and sometimes they are required. According to consumer survey data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which tracks the percentage of payments that consumers make by check, the following industries receive the most check payments: Contractors, like electricians and plumbers, get 25 percent of their payments by check. Landlords, government taxing authorities and professional-service firms also receive double-digit percentages of their payments by check.

Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

☆ Former India central bank governor discusses problems with budget
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIndia budget highlights main issues but doesn't devote resources to them: Ex-central bank governorRaghuram Rajan, former Reserve Bank of India governor and professor of finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, discusses the problems in India's budget.

Persons: Raghuram Rajan Organizations: Reserve Bank of India, University of Chicago Booth School of Business

☆ India 'clearly has a problem' finding new drivers for economic growth, JPMorgan's Jahangir Aziz says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | In Charmainemariajacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tim Graham | Getty ImagesIndia "clearly has a problem" figuring out new drivers for its economic growth even as its economy expands at a fast pace, JPMorgan's Jahangir Aziz said, following the country's union budget. "If you look at India over the last two years post the pandemic, recorded growth has been strong. But if you look at the drivers of growth, it's essentially these two: Public infrastructure and services export," Aziz, chief emerging markets economist at JPM, told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Tuesday. According to estimates by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India's services exports will likely hit $30.3 billion in June, compared with $27.8 billion in the same month last year. According to the International Monetary Fund's latest World Economic Outlook, the country's growth is predicted to decline to 6.5% in 2025.

Persons: Tim Graham, JPMorgan's Jahangir Aziz, Aziz, CNBC's, V Anantha Nageswaran, Raghuram Rajan Organizations: Getty, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Services, Reserve Bank, India's, International Monetary, University of Chicago Booth School, Reserve Bank of India Locations: Tardeo South Mumbai, India

When the Federal Reserve adjusts the federal funds rate, the decision affects banking products. It holds eight meetings annually, and one of the primary topics discussed is the federal funds rate. As a consumer, you'll see that changes to the federal funds rate impact banking products. The Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate several times in 2023 to combat inflation, which is why savings rates are still competitive in mid-2024. If the Fed raises interest rates, interest rates on banking products will likely be impacted.

Persons: aren't, Jerome Powell, Banks, it's Organizations: Fed, Federal Reserve, Market, Governors, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Bank, Reserve Bank, Market Committee, Chevron

Today, there are 55 Hispanic American banks and credit unions that are FDIC or NCUA insured around the United States. Nave BankBranches: 0 (online-only)ATMs: 0Services: savings accounts, business banking, business loansNave Bank is currently only available for businesses, and has a waitlist to join. We selected Hispanic American-owned credit unions from the National Credit Union Administration's list of minority depository institutions which was also updated in September 2023. You can open up savings accounts, checking accounts, CDs, and money market accounts in most of the institutions listed. Results from the study found that Hispanic Americans made up a greater percentage of those who took out home loans or small business loans at Hispanic American banks in comparison to non-minority banks.

☆ It’s becoming harder to get — and keep — a car
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Cook did the math, made a pros and cons list, and bought a new car. Courtesy Greg CookHis car — the monthly payment, the fast-rising insurance, fuel and maintenance costs — takes up a 30% share of his monthly budget. And buying a car is no cakewalk either: Credit is increasingly harder to come by and rejection rates are spiking. Instead, consumers have been presented with a higher bar, including requirements for a heftier down payment and a higher credit score, he said. More restrictive lending typically equates to approval rates going down and rejection rates rising.

Persons: Greg Cook’s, he’d, I’ve, ”, Cook, Greg Cook, “, Jeremy Robb, “ Everyone’s, Robb, David Paul Morris, they’re, repossessions Organizations: CNN, Cox Automotive, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Federal, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Oregon, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Richmond , California

☆ The salaries you'd need to afford iconic TV and movie homes from 'Full House', 'The Godfather' and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

This year, the Chicago-area house from "Home Alone" and the iconic "Full House" townhouse in San Francisco hit the market with asking prices in the millions. In June, CardRates.com examined 25 iconic houses featured on screen. Using Zillow's estimated home values and Bankrate's mortgage calculator, the report determined the monthly mortgage rates and the annual income required to afford each property. The mortgage rates were determined assuming a 20% down payment, a 30-year fixed loan, and the current interest rate as of June 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Some of the properties in CardRates.com's report are currently on the market and the amounts indicated are the current list prices.

Persons: you've, CardRates.com, Louis . Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of St Locations: Chicago, San Francisco

☆ Dollar set to eke out weekly gain as traders weigh U.S. rates, yen wobbles
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar was steady and poised to snap a two-week losing run on Friday as U.S. labour and manufacturing data kept traders pondering on when and by how much the Federal Reserve would cut rates this year. The dollar was steady and poised to snap a two-week losing run on Friday as U.S. labor and manufacturing data kept traders pondering on when and by how much the Federal Reserve would cut rates this year. The Federal Reserve is scheduled to meet at the end of July where markets anticipate a very low chance of the central bank cutting rates. Ryan Brandham, head of global capital markets for North America at Validus Risk Management, said the U.S. economy is getting closer to where a rate cut may be appropriate. In other currencies, the Australian dollar eased 0.11% to $0.66985, while the New Zealand dollar was 0.22% lower at $0.6032.

Persons: Ryan Brandham, Mary Daly, Daly, recouping, Sterling Organizations: Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, Traders, U.S, Federal, North America, Validus Risk, Fed, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Dallas Fed, European Central Bank, ECB, Bank of England, New Zealand Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Britain

Index funds are a type of investment vehicle aiming to match the returns of a specific market index. "Index funds generally benefit an investor by providing diversification and relatively low fees compared to actively managed funds. Decide which index funds to invest inNow it's time to decide which index funds you want to invest in. "In this scenario, the investor would research the universe of index funds available and purchase the funds they'd like to own." Index fund investing FAQsHow do I buy an index fund on my own?

Persons: Warren Buffett, Julian Schubach, Louis, Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, you've, Schwab Organizations: Independence, Nasdaq, Nasdaq Stock Market Dow, NYSE, New York Stock Exchange, U.S, Federal Reserve Bank of St, Market, Fidelity, Vanguard, Chevron Locations: Chevron

Mortgage rates are down this week, with 30-year mortgage rates averaging around 6.30%, according to Zillow data. This should remove some of the upward pressure off of mortgage rates and allow them to trend down. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on ZillowMortgage CalculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. Now that the Fed has paused hiking rates, mortgage rates have come down a bit. Once the Fed starts cutting rates, which may happen this year, mortgage rates should fall even further.

Persons: Christopher Waller, Waller, Freddie Mac Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Fed, Zillow, Federal Reserve Locations: Chevron

☆ CNBC's Inside India newsletter: How will India spend its billions?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

New Delhi, India – February 01: Finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, outside Finance Ministry on the Budget Day, with other members of Finance Ministry in New Delhi on February 01, 2024. (Photo by Hardik Chhabra/ The India Today Group via Getty Images)This report is from this week's CNBC's "Inside India" newsletter which brings you timely, insightful news and market commentary on the emerging powerhouse and the big businesses behind its meteoric rise. There are high expectations for a "populist" budget since the recent general election results delivered a slimmer than expected win for Modi. The demands from the various members of the fragile alliance could mean the government opens the taps on welfare spending. Bank of America analysts, who are also open to the idea that the deficit may fall, believe it is "refreshing" to see a finance minister "under-promise, over-deliver."

Persons: Nirmala Sitharaman, Hardik Chhabra, Narendra Modi's, Premal Kamdar, Modi, Goldman Sachs, Santanu Sengupta, Sengupta, It's, Goldman, Staples, Adity Suresh, Aastha Gudwani Organizations: Finance, Finance Ministry, India Today, Getty, BJP, Modi, UBS Wealth Management, Bank of America, Reserve Bank of India, UBS, Kamdar, Columbia India Consumer ETF, Hindustan Unilever, Unilever, " Bank of America's, Central Public Sector Enterprises Locations: Delhi, India, New Delhi, Bihar, Hindustan, " Bank of America's India

☆ Yen jumps on suspected intervention, sterling hits one-year high
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The yen rose sharply on Wednesday in what traders suspected was likely the result of yet another intervention from Japanese authorities to prop up the battered currency from multidecade lows. The euro was last down 0.8% at 171.15 yen, while sterling fell 0.76% to 203.75 yen. Combined with the estimated amount spent a day earlier, Japan is suspected to have bought nearly 6 trillion yen via intervention last week. That sent traders paring back bets of a rate cut from the Bank of England in August, providing a small boost to sterling , which was last up 0.43% to $1.3029. But the more important data is the inflation data, and that's telling the market that the Fed is in a position to cut fairly soon."

Persons: Geoff Yu, Masato Kanda, Michael Brown, Kyle Rodda Organizations: Mellon, Kyodo, Bank of Japan, Bank of England, Monetary, MPC, Tuesday's, Federal Reserve, New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New Locations: London, Tokyo, Japan, Reserve Bank of New Zealand

☆ Traders see the odds of a Fed rate cut by September at 100%
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( John Melloy | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Traders are now 100% certain the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by September. That put the annual inflation rate at 3%, the lowest in three years. Odds that rates would be cut in September were about 70% a month ago. The CME FedWatch Tool computes the probabilities based on trading in fed funds futures contracts at the exchange, where traders are placing their bets on the level of the effective fed funds rate in 30-day increments. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's recent hints have also cemented traders' belief that the central bank will act by September.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Jerome Powell's, Powell Organizations: Bank, Financial, Federal, U.S, Capitol, Washington , DC, Traders, Federal Reserve, Fed Locations: Washington ,

☆ These kinds of businesses are driving a surge in US corporate bankruptcies
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

In the meantime, you can stay up to date on the latest business news with CNN’s Business Nightcap newsletter. Access to credit is especially crucial for small, private businesses that aren’t able raise money through financial markets. “There were a number of programs out there to support small businesses during the depths of the pandemic, and there were relatively fewer filings than usual in 2021 and 2022.”Rising corporate bankruptcies could just reflect a lot of churn occurring in Corporate America, Jamner said. Don’t panicMost banks offer free checking if, for instance, customers have their paycheck direct deposited or they maintain an average minimum balance, reports my colleague Jeanne Sahadi. Marianne Lake, the head of Chase Bank, told the Wall Street Journal last week that Chase might stop offering free checking and other free banking services.

Persons: It’s, ” “, Matt Rowe, Josh Jamner, Jamner, we’re, Reena Aggarwal, “, ”, Banks, Jeanne Sahadi, Marianne Lake, Chase, Jaret, Read, Goldman Sachs, Jerome Powell, Mary Daly, Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, Adriana Kugler, Johnson, Kinder Morgan, Tom Barkin, Lorie Logan, Michelle Bowman, John Williams, Raphael Bostic Organizations: CNN’s Business, Washington CNN —, P Global Market Intelligence, CNN, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas, Nomura Capital Management, Consumer, Institute for Supply, P, ClearBridge Investments, ”, Corporate America, Federal, Fed, Georgetown University Psaros Center, Financial Markets, Chase Bank, Wall, TD Securities, BlackRock, San Francisco Fed, Bank of America, PNC, State, US Commerce Department, US Labor Department, National Association of Home Builders, Johnson, US Bancorp, Discover, Vegas Sands, Northern Trust, Citizens, United Airlines, National Statistics, Federal Reserve, Richmond Fed, Netflix, Novartis, Abbott Laboratories, Marsh, Blackstone, Infosys, Cintas, T Bank, Nokia, American Airlines, European Central Bank, American Express, Fifth Third Bancorp, AutoNation Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Corporate, UnitedHealth, Wells Fargo, Vegas, Equifax, Northern, McLennan, Schlumberger, Haliburton

Villagers watch the sunset over a small lagoon near the village of Tangintebu on South Tarawa in the central Pacific island nation of Kiribati May 25, 2013. CHINESE INTEREST AS WESTERN BANKS EXIT"The proposed World Bank project is a creative way of addressing the challenge of de-risking and small scale in Pacific Island countries," said Lalita Moorty, the World Bank's East Asia and Pacific director for prosperity. Without access to overseas banks, Pacific countries would struggle to receive remittances - a key component of their economies - welcome holidaymakers or trade with the wider world. "It can create instability for the financial system," said Denton Rarawa, senior economics adviser at the Pacific Islands Forum. "What we're saying is that if you're not going to address concerns and issues we have, Pacific countries will start looking elsewhere for support."

Persons: David Gray, Solomon, Lalita Moorty, Denton Rarawa, Mark Brown, Janet Yellen, Ariff Ali, Lewis Jackson, Lucy Craymer, Ziyi Tang, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Villagers, WELLINGTON, Bank, U.S, Pacific Islands, World Bank, Pacific, ANZ Bank, Westpac, Bendigo Bank, Bank of China, Reuters, Cook, U.S . Treasury, Federal Reserve, Reserve Bank of Fiji, Thomson Locations: Tangintebu, South, Pacific, Kiribati, SYDNEY, Australia, China, Washington, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Beijing, U.S, East Asia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Brisbane, Pacific Islands, Sydney, Wellington

Search resuls for: "Reserve Bank"

25 mentions found