COP25: Companies will need to invest USD 2.5tn to comply with intensifying climate regulation
As the COP 25 conference opens in Madrid, greenhouse gas emissions are still rising (+2.0% pa in2018) despite 1500 climate change laws enacted all over the world. Efforts need to be stepped up by a factor of five according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Global trade to grow at its slowest pace in a decade and no hope for sizable improvement
Higher uncertainty and higher global tariffs are taking a toll on trade: In 2019, the volume of global trade of goods and services should grow at its slowest pace in a decade (+1.5%). As a result, exporters are likely to see USD420bn in losses this year, according to Euler Hermes’ latest Global Trade report: “Trade Wars: May the Trade Force be with you in 2020 and beyond”.
Euler Hermes releases today the first edition of its proprietary “SMЕ Businеss Climаtе Index” (SMEB). It assesses the business environment for SMEs in 13 selected economies: the U.S., Canada, Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hong Kong, Singapore.
Rising costs cause concern for SMEs amid global uncertainty, according to latest international study
Findings of the research, based on a survey of more than 2,300 SMEs in 13 countries across Asia, Europe and North America, show that two-fifths of businesses (42%) believe rising costs and overheads are their greatest challenge. Government regulation (36%) and cashflow (32%) were also cited in the top three concerns in 2019.
Three indicators can reveal the risk of insolvency for European SMEs up to four years in advance
Declining turnover is often identified as the initial sign of corporate distress, but a new study from Euler Hermes shows it is not as reliable as it seems.
Instead, the study highlights three other indicators that can provide warning signs up to four years before an acute insolvency risk for European small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and midcaps.
TRIBRating is a service developed through the Euler Hermes collaboration with Moody’s Investors Service, formed in late 2016. Launched in 2017 and already operational in Germany, France, Italy and Spain. TRIBRating is now being introduced in Switzerland as the fifth country of its wider European rollout.
Large companies: Working Capital Requirement hit its worst level since 2012 at 70 days
A new study, jointly produced by Euler Hermes Economic Research and Euler Hermes Rating, focuses on Working Capital as a key indicator of the financial situation and behavior of corporates. It complements previous studies that pointed out the reactivating of self-discipline of corporates in their Days Sale Outstanding (DSO), and the unusual accumulation of inventories by corporates, giving an enlarged view on the financial situation and behavior of corporates.
After two years of strong growth, the world economy is “back to purgatory” due to global uncertainties, the US-China trade feud and the drawbacks of financial repression, according to Euler Hermes’ international macroeconomic scenario for 2019 and 2020.
