Global Business Voice

Making Sense of Cryptocurrencies: Part #5

AGN Global Business Voice: Business Alert

Welcome to the final part of this GBV series seeking to demystify the world of the cryptocurrency – valuable fiscal tool or fantasy investment vehicle with no intrinsic value?  Since we conceived of this series a few months back, the market value of Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency had hit the heights of U$60,000 per coin, then halved to just over U$30,000 and is now gradually rising again –approaching the U$46,000 mark on 9 August 2021. Volatility is the hallmark of cryptocurrencies.

In this article we explore some of the views of the professionals within our own member firms.  It turns out that cryptocurrency experts are a pretty rare beast – although we suspect this is more to do with a reluctance to step into the spotlight on the topic rather than depth of capability.

Business Alert: Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) - Good Business, Or a Matter Of Survival?

AGN Global Business Voice: Business Alert

What is a diversity & inclusion (D&I) policy and why is it good business? How do you set yourself up for success? What are some practical takeaways to action now?

A firm’s D&I policy is broader than pursuing equity by gender or ethnicity; it can also tackle sexual orientation, class, age, religious preference and physical or mental disability. A diverse workforce breeds creativity and innovation, useful for both client service and running your own board room! Businesses that don’t operate diverse and inclusive workplaces see higher turnover rates as there’s a greater risk of a more hostile work environment developing. A McKinsey report found that the companies that performed worst on diversity were almost 30% more likely to underperform on profitability.

Making Sense of Cryptocurrencies: Part #4

AGN Global Business Voice: Business Alert

Bitcoin was originally intended as a commercial tradable currency that everyone could use day-to-day; however, as we’ve discovered in previous editions, there is a way to go to achieve that vision - mainly due to price volatility. Almost by default, they’ve become a vehicle for capital appreciation, with a total market value approaching US$[1.5]tn - the equivalent to the GDP of Australia or Spain.

But are cryptocurrencies a valuable, credible investment? In the 4th edition of our 'Making Sense of Cryptocurrency' series, we explore the arguments in favour and against and ask if regulatory changes are beginning to cramp the style of this maverick money.

Making Sense of Cryptocurrencies: Part #3

AGN Global Business Voice: Business Alert

In this edition, we continue to explore the real-life practicalities of cryptocurrency ownership – buying, storing and spending. Last time we looked at the rollercoaster changes in cryptocurrency prices, and now we consider safety, security and daily practicality.

Mexico - An Open Door To Foreign Investment

AGN Global Business Voice: Business Alert

With an open environment to foreign participation, a range of tax and other incentives are available in aerospace, food processing, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and electronics. But the most significant incentive for foreign companies to do business in Mexico is the IMMEX Maquiladora (factories) initiative.

The programme allows foreign manufacturers to import raw materials and components into Mexico, tax and duty-free, under the condition that 100% of all finished goods will be exported out of Mexico within a government-mandated timeframe.

Making Sense of Cryptocurrencies: Part #2

AGN Global Business Voice: Business Alert

In the first edition of the series, we looked briefly at the latest developments, considered mining and uncovered the environmental concerns. In this second edition, we talk about practicalities; what’s the likely impact of the authorities and regulation, and which cryptocurrency should you choose.

Member Survey: Recovering from Covid-19

The AGN Covid Business Recovery Index is a survey based on our member's opinions about how Covid-19 has impacted their country's economy and how fast it might recover. Each month four key data points will be published to indicate the current levels of business sentiment amongst our members. These will relate to ‘Business Confidence’ over the last 30 days and the coming 30 days, and ‘Recovery Expectation’ - Members views on how quickly things will revert to pre-covid levels of business activity.

In the last edition in its series, results show that business confidence continues its upward trend with +27% in March and now a +59% in May - that s the first time we have seen two consecutive periods of increasingly positive business confidence. Business confidence for the coming month also rose to 47%. March and May data showed a distinct pickup from the previous more pessimistic trend.

Making Sense of Cryptocurrencies: Part #1

AGN Global Business Voice: Business Alert

What do you say when your client asks you about cryptocurrencies? In this short series of Global Business Voice (GBV) Business Alerts, we explore the unfolding phenomenon of cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin chief amongst them. We are aiming to demystify the topic and put things in layman's terms. In this GBV we unpack Bitcoin mining and why being bad for the planet might burst the bubble.

Big Opportunities for Direct Investment in Australia

AGN Global Business Voice: Business Alert

There are huge opportunities for AGN technology clients in Australia. The Australian economy (measured through Gross Domestic Product or GDP) was down 1.1% to 136 Billion, which is remarkable given the problems associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Growth is still taking place in traditional sectors such as financial services, agribusiness, life sciences, resources and energy. The Australian government warmly welcomes foreign investment in six critical areas. Find out what the six areas are, the incentives offered by the Australian Government and strategise.

Global M&A Activity - The calm before the storm?

AGN Global Business Voice:
In this edition of the AGN Global Business Voice, the survey reveals the headline levels of M&A activity within our pandemic hit economies across the globe. Some of us have read reports that activity is up in some regions, other reports suggest there are some “bargain” businesses available for cash-rich buyers. Well, we have once again called on our global panel of business advisory accountants, spread around the world, to give us a very high-level global picture based on their opinion about what’s actually happening “on the ground”. 

The most striking thing about this research into M&A trends during the pandemic is the sense of an underlying and latent crisis. On the one hand, most economies are suffering the worst situation they’ve seen since the second world war, but on the other, we have only modest increases in distressed sales and business sales values remain steady. What is going on?