Can a company be more credit-worthy than its government?

In this June 10 2010 video, the Financial Times investment editor, James Mackintosh explains that in 2008, McDonald's became more credit-worthy, according to its bonds and credit default swaps, than the US government. Back then, it was seen as an oddity but now investors are starting to sit up and pay attention.  Mackintosh explainss why the spreads don't really make sense. (3m 3sec)

The Balance-Sheet Recession

The CFA Institute is holding it conference in Boston. The Wall Street Journal reporter, Donna Kardos Yesalavich, speaks with Nomura Research Institute's chief economist, Richard C. Koo, who describes the current recession as a "Balance-Sheet Recession." 6/4/2010 2:39:28 PM

Banks and Risk

The Economist walks through how financial institutions misread the risks they were taking, and were more vulnerable than they imagined in this video.

Stephen Roach: Unconscionable Policy Blunders

Stephen Roach, the chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia on the bittersweet taste of vindication and China's role in the economic crisis:

Myron Scholes on Financial Innovation and Regulation

Myron Scholes is a Nobel Laureate for his work in financial innovation, the Frank E. Buck Professor of Finance, Emeritus, at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the chairman of Platinum Grove Asset Managemen. The seemingly esoteric mathematical model he and Fisher Black developed for pricing options is now checked on every trading floor and is used even by stogy accountants. The Economist interviews him on why innovation must lead, how markets should be regulated, and why taking huge risks became so comfortable going into the financial crisis.

The Economist on the The German Economy

What China Sees as Its Borders are not What its Neighbors See Them

In this video the Economist reviews the history that has led to suspicions between China and its neighbors that bedevil its boundaries to the east, south and west:




Please note that the Republic of China overthrew the last Chinese dynasty.  When Mao Zedong led the Chinese Communist revolution against the Republic, he eventually conquered the mainland after Japan withdrew.  Chiang Kai-Shek retreated to the island of Taiwan with his government.

Asia's growing economic power.

The Economist shows graphically that Asia is regaining the economic dominance it enjoyed a millennium ago - but it still has some way to go.

The "B" in BRIC is Brazil and Henrique Meirelles is Brazil's Banker

My four favorite central bankers are Thomas Hoerner, Glenn Stevens, Mark J. Carney and Henrique Meirelles.

Henrique Meirelles is the president of Brazil's Central Bank. In this video he has tea with the Economist and says there's no room for complacency despite Brazil's impressive economic performance.