Investment profile
Analysis
PROFILE ARTICLES AND SECTIONS
In this section of the site, we summarise and present the most relevant research and commentary on the economic perfrormance and trends in the market for individual financial centres, regions and around the globe. The research organisations quoted on the following pages are among the most prestigious worldwide.
The latest views from around the world on the key issues for professionals and investors. Our columinists include leading commenators from the political, bsuiness and legal spheres.
Tax is a cental factor in the selection of a jurisdiction for investment purposes. Companies planning to move their headquarters from one location to another will consider tax as one of their top priorities. Family offiices and high net worth will look for the most attractive destination for investment funds and the location of assets. This section examines a range of tax issues for professionals and investors alike.
MONEY LAUNDERING
April 8, 2009 - The vulnerability of casions to money laundering
The potential for money laundering through casinos is high, says a new report from the Financial Action Task Force and the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering. The vulnerability of casinos was recognised in the revision of the FATF 40 Recommendations, with obligations on casinos being significantly enhanced. However, action remains slow across the world on dealing with the money laundering threats posed by casinos and the gaming sector.
JERSEY
May 12, 2009 - In a downturn people turn to the silver screen
Film financing as a form of investment in Jersey
While much of the economy is teetering between bust and bailout, the movie industry has been startled by a box-office surge that has little precedent in the modern era. Suddenly it seems everyone is going to the movies, with ticket sales this year up 17.5%, to $1.7 billion, according to Media by Numbers, a box-office tracking company. And it is not just because ticket prices are higher. Attendance has also jumped, by nearly 16%. If that pace continues this year, it will amount to the biggest box-office surge in at least two decades.
BOND MARKETS
May 15, 2009 - Stick to investment grade bonds, says Investec
The current economic environment is extremely challenging for corporate bonds. The worst economic downturn since the Great Depression has put huge strain on company finances. A clear indication of this is the recent jump in the number of defaults of sub-investment grade bonds. According to Moody’s rating service, in the year to March 2009 almost 7.5% of low-rated companies failed, up from a 2% default rate a year earlier.
CAYMAN ISLANDS
May 19, 2009 - Permanent residence in a Chanllenging Economy
A diamond is said to be forever. Permanent residence may not however be as “permanent” as advertised. Cayman has long enjoyed and benefited from the presence of large numbers of foreign nationals in the community. The increase in population alone has generated levels of commerce that would not have otherwise been viable in the purely domestic economy, and the work permit regime served to help guarantee that whenever practicable local persons received tangible benefits.
EQUITIES
May 20, 2009 - A new bull market?
In early March, we noticed a curiosity in the equity performance tables: for several months, the average fund had been out-performing a falling market. The only explanation for this was that funds had high cash levels and so were positioned for market weakness. With valuations at extreme lows and pessimism rife, this was the signal we had been looking for. Markets usually make a fool out of consensus positioning and the fact that most investors would only outperform if markets fell suggested to us that they were going to rise.
UK OFFSHORE CENTRES REVIEW
Voisin solicitor Jeremy Berchem argues that the UK government's review of offshore financial centres is a prime example of focus-shifting by politicians to deflect attention from other more pressing issues.
Barclays Wealth exmaines the investment environment in Jersey
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Ross van Geest from the Horizon Group comments on how the investment environment has changed in barely eight months.
Choosing the Bahamas as an investment destination
Why the Bahamas is an increasingly attractive investment opportunity
Using German funds to invest in UK real estate
International law firm Ogier explains how German law assists investment in UK property
