Polish stocks reached a five-month high on Tuesday, as regional sentiment withstood rising global caution ahead of a meeting of the US Federal Reserve.

Central and eastern European currencies continued their strong run, with four currencies hitting one-month highs against the dollar. However, the Russian rouble slipped slightly, approaching a six-month low against the dollar. Continue reading »

The debate over poverty and development can often seem detached from the world of business and investment. But surging interest in emerging markets is changing that. Some of the countries where westerners are building factories, wooing consumers or snapping up shares also face big developmental challenges. Think India, Nigeria or Egypt.

How those challenges are tackled – whether it’s health, education, infrastructure or job creation – will have a big influence on how emerging markets evolve. That’s why a renewed debate on the pros and cons of aid, sparked by a UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals, matters to the broadest possible audience. Continue reading »