My Debt Exchange - MDX

A few weeks ago the Government of Jamaica initiated the Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX) transaction, this was done as the debt structure and fiscal position of the country was not sustainable. In plain old English, the government was spending more than it was earning and had been borrowing from Peter to pay Paul at high interest rates to balance the books each month and it wasn’t possible to ensure longevity with this approach.

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2010 – Looking back, looking forward

2009 was certainly a rollercoaster ride in terms of the performance of the international capital markets. The last quarter of 2008 had seen the emergence of the global freeze in the credit markets and the near collapse of some of the world’s largest financial institutions.

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That Dreaded Call

Parents of teenagers who frequent parties will always confess that their worst fear is to get a call at 3am when their children are out, as this rarely ever result in the continuation of a good night’s sleep.

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Focusing on 2010 and not 2012

The big block buster movie 2012 told the story of how the world, according to scientists, would be coming to an end in that year. While no one knows the day or time our focus right now, as it relates to our finances, should be on putting things in order for 2010.

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Tis the Season for Budgeting!!

Another year is almost over and I know I am not the only one wondering “where did it all go?” The days went by and so did your salary, for many of us our savings, and unfortunately for a few our jobs also disappeared. Even though Jamaica survived an uneventful Hurricane Season, many of us will be finishing off this year feeling as if a category 5 Hurricane swept through our finances.

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That Dreaded Call by David Weir

Parents of teenagers who frequent parties will always confess that their worst fear is to get a call at 3am when their children are out, as this rarely ever result in the continuation of a good night’s sleep.

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Do as I say but not as I do? by Charles Ross

There has been some discussion (including an editorial in a daily newspaper) about a statement made by a former finance minister of Russia at the Jamaica Chamber Commerce’s National Economic Forum a couple of weeks ago. Mr. Alexander Livshits, Russian finance minister between 1992 and 1998, said at the forum that Jamaica’s debt situation was unsustainable and that the country should immediately begin talks with its foreign creditors on the restructuring of its debt. In other words, Mr. Livshits was advocating default on the foreign debt as the primary solution to the government’s debt problems.

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Default vs restructuring: is there a difference? - Dian Blackwood

The subject of default and restructuring has always been a topical issue. With all the technical jargon being swirled around how many of the “average Joe” can say they truly understand what each term means? Should a company or country have to default or restructure, what exactly is in store? Let’s examine both it their simplest of forms.

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Structuring your finances with structured notes - Natalie Bennett

Over the last year we have watched the demise of the high interest paying alternative investment schemes, the lowering of Government of Jamaica’s credit rating and the financial chaos in the world coined “The Recession”.

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Chasing Rainbows

Don’t go chasing rainbows.......There is an important distinction to be made between saving and investing and it is one that needs to....

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