Andrew Hollins, Director of Corporate Treasury Proposition at Refinitiv, explores the implications of unprecedented levels of sanctions being issued in recent weeks growth in sustainable finance and the state of the oil and gas markets.
- Following the imposition of unprecedented levels of sanctions, companies need to have effective sanctions screening and due diligence programmes in place.
- Amid the turmoil created by COVID-19, sustainable finance continued its growth, but barriers to further expansion may lie ahead.
- With plenty of volatility in commodities prices, what challenges could lie ahead for the oil and gas markets?
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Chart of the Month
Sanctions continue to dominate the geo-political landscape with unprecedented levels of sanctions being issued in recent weeks.
Our news partner Reuters is tracking government sanctions and actions taken by large companies and organisations around the world.
Explicit versus Implicit sanctions are an important distinction to make.
Explicit sanctions are specific lists, with the names of the individuals, organisations and/or sanctioned countries explicitly listed. Implicit or narrative sanctions, meanwhile, do not specifically name an individual or company (other than the main sanctioned entity) but extend to entities covered by a narrative statement on a sanctions programme.
Determining which entities are covered is governed by strict rules. The most well-known of which is the OFAC 50 percent rule, which states that “the property and interests in property of entities directly or indirectly owned 50 percent or more in the aggregate by one or more blocked persons are considered blocked”.
Given this complex and dynamic backdrop, sanctions compliance – although it may appear straightforward at first glance – is not always easy to achieve. More than ever before, it is essential to have an effective sanctions screening and due diligence programme in place.
Webinar: Navigating the global sanctions landscape in 2022
This on-demand webinar from Refinitiv covers developments in global sanctions compliance, practical solutions that can help organisations with their sanctions compliance, and best practice for identifying sanctioned entities.
Growth – and challenges – in sustainable finance
Amid the gloom of the continuing public health crisis, last year proved a watershed for sustainable finance.
As the industry looks back on a year of solid growth, the focus now turns to addressing the barriers that stand in the way of greater success.
Data Insight: how ‘backwards’ is the oil market?
While prices are important, looking at the shape of a commodities curve can also provide rich insights as to whether the market is trading in ‘backwardation’ or ‘contango’, which influences the behaviour of most participants including speculators, hedgers, producers, and consumers.
If Russia cuts supply, current gas prices will ‘look cheap’
Europe is scrambling to replace the 40 percent of natural gas it buys from Russia. Wayne Bryan of Refinitiv European Gas Research says it’s feasible in the medium term, but if Russia follows through on its threat to cut a key pipeline, current high prices could just be the beginning.
Refinitiv Corporate Treasury Newsbeat
- London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) suspends all services and products for all customers in Russia | LSEG confirms it is suspending all products and services for all customers in Russia, subject to any regulatory requirements.
- Update on access to news and commentary in Russia | To comply with the changes in Russian law, LSEG announced it is suspending access to products in Russia that contain our news and commentary. This took effect by 12.00hrs GMT Wednesday 9 March.
