Hedge Funds Bet Trump Trade War Will Spark Global Recession

THE TELEGRAPH: Investors race to sell shares in North American and European companies amid market turmoil

Hedge funds scrambled to sell shares in North American and European companies last month in a sign that the world’s top money managers are preparing for a global recession.

Hedge funds piled out of stocks which might be vulnerable to an economic slump in January, according to data from Goldman Sachs, amid growing concerns about market turmoil and the prospect of a global downturn.

The funds instead focused on buying shares that are most likely to withstand any incoming recession, including by picking up stocks that generate reliable returns regardless of the state of the economy, such as healthcare and utilities companies.

Bruno Schneller, of asset manager Erlen Capital Management, said: “The rotation into more resilient sectors suggests hedge funds are positioning for a potential economic downturn.” » | Louis Goss, Business Reporter | Tuesday, February 4, 2025

A New Kind of Global Recession: Why This Time Is Different | Business Beyond

Nov 18, 2022 | The global economy is at an inflection point. The IMF projects that a third of the world economy will be in recession next year. War in Europe, a slowdown in China and soaring inflation have contributed to widespread pessimism around a growing, multifaceted economic crisis. In this episode, we will untangle the threads of the looming global recession. By comparing the current state of the global economy to the 2008 financial crisis, we will be exploring what makes this downturn different.

Prepare for the Coronavirus Global Recession

THE GUARDIAN: What initially seemed localised is worldwide and economic pain will go on for longer than first thought

Travel bans. Sporting events cancelled. Mass gatherings prohibited. Stock markets in freefall. Deserted shopping malls. Get ready for the Covid-19 global recession.

Up until a month ago this seemed far-fetched. It was assumed that the coronavirus outbreak would be a localised problem for China and that any spillover effects to the rest of the world could be comfortably managed by a bit of policy easing by central banks.

When it became clear that Covid-19 was not confined to China and that the economic effects would be more widespread, forecasts started to be revised down. But central banks, finance ministries and independent economists took comfort from the fact that there would be a sharp but short hit to activity followed by a rapid return to business as usual. » | Larry Elliot | Sunday, March 15, 2020

Will the Coronavirus Pandemic Cause a Global Recession? I Inside Story

Stock markets around the world have had a turbulent week with some of the worst losses in over 30 years. It's the world's biggest health emergency. The coronavirus outbreak is now a pandemic, and there are fears it can lead to a catastrophic global economic crisis.

Sweeping containment measures have disrupted markets around the world - including in the US. A travel ban on 26 European countries came into effect on Friday and the unprecedented move sent stocks crashing to their worst losses in over 30 years.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 10 percent on Thursday -- its biggest plunge since the Black Monday crash of 1987. While European markets showed some signs of recovery on Friday. So, what's the economic fallout?

Presenter: James Bays | Guests: Pedro Da Costa - Senior Reporter at Market News International; Hosuk Lee-Makiyama - Director of the European Centre for International Political Economy; Gareth Leather - Senior Economist who specialises in Asian and emerging markets at the firm Capital Economics

Is Global Recession Looming?

According to Heiner Flassbeck, former head of UNCTAD, there are many factors pointing to a convergence in a normal cyclical downturn deepening recession in Europe, complicated by potential hard Brexit--With host Paul Jay

How to Prepare for the Next Global Recession | The Economist

A decade after the global recession, the world’s economy is vulnerable again. Ryan Avent, our economics columnist, considers how the next recession might happen—and what governments can do about it

Suicides Rise Amid Global Recession

A new report has found that suicide has been on the rise, after the economic crisis in 2008.

Global Recession Grows Closer as G20 Summit Fails
THE GUARDIAN: IMF to monitor Italy to ensure austerity as leaders fail to agree plan for financial aid for distressed countries


A world recession has drawn closer after a fractious G20 summit failed to agree fresh financial help for distressed countries and debt-riddenItaly was forced to agree to the International Monetary Fund monitoring its austerity programme.

Financial markets fell sharply after the two days of talks in Cannes broke up in disarray, amid concerns that Italy will now replace Greece at the centre of Europe's deepening debt crisis.

UK hopes that the Germans would relent and allow the European Central Bank to become the lender of last resort for the euro were also dashed.

On a day of unremitting gloom and yet more market turbulence, the Greek prime minister, George Papandreou, won a late-night confidence vote in his parliament after making a speech in which he promised to start powersharing talks to form a caretaker coalition government. Although he won the vote by 153-145, he is now expected to step down and a national unity government is expected to take over in the coming days.

Papandreou said he would visit the country's president on Saturday to launch power-sharing talks "with the [opposition] parties … for the formation of a government of broad co-operation."

In a sign that the spread of the debt crisis to Italy could break up the single currency, the chancellor, George Osborne, admitted the Treasury was undertaking crisis planning for a eurozone collapse. » | Patrick Wintour and Larry Elliott in Cannes | Saturday, November 05, 2011

Related »

Smoking Bans and Economics Hit Famed Cuban Cigars
REUTERS: Production of finest tobacco leaf down 14 percent / Cigar production, export earnings off sharply / Industry draws on inventory

HAVANA - Global economic woes and the worldwide spread of smoking bans are taking their toll on Cuba's famous cigar industry, with the just-completed harvest of the country's finest tobacco down 14 percent over 2009, local media said on Monday.

In westernmost Pinar del Rio, home of Cuba's most famous tobacco, the harvest came in at 22.4 million leaves, down from 26 million in 2009, according to Guerrillero, the province's Communist party weekly.

The area's tobacco is used as wrapper leaf and part of the filling in Cuba's prized cigar brands, including Cohiba, Montecristo, Trinidad and Partagas.

"There was a reduction in planting due to limitations in resources caused by the economic crisis," the weekly said.

Cuba's premium cigars dominate the world market with 70 percent of sales. >>> Marc Frank; Editing: Jeff Franks and Will Dunham | Monday, June 21, 2010