Federico Kroupensky 
Understanding the Dip For the first time in two years, gas exchange prices in Europe have dipped below the $300 per thousand cubic meters mark as reported by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). On May 20, 2023, gas futures at the Title Transfer Facility (TTF) hub in the Netherlands fell by 3.3% to $297.06 per thousand … Read more
The Inverse Relationship: Gold Prices and the Dollar Index In May 2023, gold futures experienced negative returns, largely due to an increase in the value of the Dollar Index (DXY) against a basket of six major currencies. The DXY, which measures the strength of the US dollar against other major currencies, rose by 2.34% over … Read more
The Landscape of E-commerce in Europe The European Union, with its 27 member states and over 500 million consumers, represents one of the largest markets in the world. The rise of digital technologies has significantly transformed the landscape of international trade, with e-commerce playing a pivotal role. In 2020, 25.5% of e-commerce in Europe was … Read more
India, an emerging economic powerhouse, has shown remarkable resilience and growth despite global challenges. Its economy has outpaced that of the United Kingdom in terms of size and is projected to grow by 7 percent in FY 2023​1​. These economic strides have been driven by factors such as large domestic markets, government reforms, and a … Read more
The Global Wheat Market Landscape Wheat prices on global exchanges have fallen significantly, surrendering earlier gains from the start of the week. Demand for old-crop grain remains low, and favorable weather conditions are predicted to result in abundant harvests in major exporting countries. Despite the price drop, there is a complex network of factors shaping … Read more
Embracing Divergent Strategies: The Art of Woo and Economic Restrictions The current state of trade relations between the U.S. and China is a complex intertwining of contrasting strategies. On one hand, there is the employment of the ‘art of woo,’ characterized by diplomatic efforts aimed at maintaining a semblance of economic collaboration and cooperation. On … Read more
International trade is undergoing a seismic shift thanks to the rapid advancements in technology, with India taking a pole position in this transformative journey. This observation was shared by Sunil Barthwal, Secretary of the Department of Commerce, during a recent media conference. This conference was organized in conjunction with the G20 Meeting on Trade and … Read more
Understanding Japan’s Business Culture Japan’s business environment is characterized by meticulous attention to detail, formal politeness, a preference for group consensus, and high standards of professionalism. Understanding and respecting these norms is vital to successful business interactions in Japan. Japanese businesspeople place a high value on trust and personal relationships. This might involve several meetings, … Read more
Navigating Through Conflict: Russian Hindrance to Ukraine’s Port Access Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict, the global trading dynamics have taken a significant hit, primarily due to Russia’s ongoing blockade of Pivdenny, Ukraine’s deepest seaport. This unilateral action, with a lack of explanation or prior notice, is exacerbating an already strained situation, adding to the challenges … Read more
The Unforeseen Challenges of Kansas Farmers Despite being part of the breadbasket of America, Kansas farmers are now facing an unprecedented crisis. An ongoing drought has severely damaged winter wheat crops to the extent that many farmers are forgoing their harvest altogether. Some have even resorted to employing crop-killing chemicals, aiming to increase their insurance … Read more