Shadow or parallel banking refers to the non-bank financial intermediaries that supply services similar to commercial banks.
Jenny Evans/AAP
Shadow banking provides investors with the means to isolate risks, transfer profits, avoid regulation and increase the range of money-like financial products available for investment.
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan are giving billions to charity through their donor-advised fund instead of a traditional foundation.
Jeff Chiu/AP Photo
As these tax-exempt vehicles transform philanthropy, they’re drawing more scrutiny. Will Congress or the Trump administration tinker with the rules that encouraged their rapid growth?
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The health of our pensions can ebb and flow with mortality rates, and the latest data has delivered a shock.
Justin Lane/EPA
The ratings agency downgrade decision is not a surprise. It’s a wake up call. South Africa has its work cut out.
Rapid rise of Australian house prices have created disagreement between economists on whether a housing bubble currently exists.
Brian Birdwell/flickr
Economists struggle to agree on when and where housing bubbles occur, but bubbles all have similar characterisitics.
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The rising talk about ‘white monopoly capital’ as an obstacle to economic inclusion in South Africa is a red herring.
Despite all the proposals to combat housing affordability, Scott Morrison will need to make hard political decisions on policies that will actually make a difference.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The latest thought bubbles about using super savings for housing might be less harmful than in the past, but they would be just as ineffective.
TTstudio/Shutterstock
Expect more deals as low-cost options derail the investment industry’s business model.
The Chinese Community Party has trouble controlling its own members much less those of private businesses.
Lukas Coch/AAP
The public debate about Chinese corporations investing in Australia is spurred by several misleading ideas about the control of the Chinese government and its intervention with private businesses.
With a prospective hard Brexit, Australia should prioritise a free trade agreement with the EU over the UK.
Australia High Commission
Analysis shows there’s less competition and more cross over in trade between Australia and the EU, making a trade deal more appealing.
Alan/Flickr
A weak pound is likely to lure more international bidders to UK shores. Time then to make sure we have our defences in place.
Thinglass / Shutterstock, Inc.
Renting makes financial sense in a number of circumstances; it’s time to move away from the obsession with home ownership.
World Literature Today/Flickr
Financially illogical and fuelled by irrational dogma, the creation of a new tranche of private sector debt is a missed opportunity.
Gains, but there may be pains.
EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT
Investors have given Donald Trump the thumbs up, so far, but trader sentiment can’t be guaranteed.
Dayland Shannon/Flickr
The system is rigged for a small minority to profit, but are we brave enough to deploy the solutions that would work?
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Britain has a number of bilateral treaties with Eastern European countries that will remain after Brexit.
President-elect Trump’s twitter account has the power to devastate companies’ share prices.
Des Moines/Reuters
Tweet-shaming from politicians isn’t the best way to regulate companies – it hurts investments, shareholders and ultimately the economy.
Australian business confidence is falling, amid concerning signs from other economic indicators.
Dan Peled/AAP
Australia’s economic indicators are showing worrying signs, with business confidence falling in the face of continued low interest rates.
‘Tis the season to think about Christmas spending in a different way.
Dan Himbrechts/AAAP
Five tips on how to spend in a way that contributes to social movements this Christmas.
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Football is becoming an increasingly important weapon in Britain’s soft power arsenal.