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Jaguar Land Rover launches trial of the world’s first digital leather distribution chain

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Jaguar Land Rover has begun to use secure blockchain technology to ensure complete transparency in its supply chain for durable leather goods. For the world’s first experience, Jaguar Land Rover supply chain monitoring solutions provider Circular has partnered with UK leather manufacturer Bridge Ware and the University of Nottingham to offer new surveillance technology. Chain leather.

In addition to monitoring compliance with established standards, this digital process will allow Jaguar Land Rover to evaluate the carbon footprint of its leather distribution network. Jaguar Land Rover is part of its commitment to mitigating negative environmental and ethical impacts on the life cycle of its products.

Jaguar Land Rover is committed to providing its customers with a more consistent and responsible selection of products used in the interior design of Range Rover Evoque’s premium natural eucalyptus fabric, as well as quattro, high quality wool blend. 53 recycled plastic bottles for each vehicle available on both Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Velor and all electric Jaguar i-Pace.

During research funded by the UK Innovation Institute, a “digital dual” of emerging raw materials was developed that allows digital and simultaneous monitoring of the leather supply chain. A combination of GPS data, biometric data and QR codes was used to digitally verify the movement of the skin at each step of the process using blockchain technology.

The verification process is structured as a repeatable model to monitor every leather area at each stage, and this system can be used by Jaguar Land Rover’s global distribution chain and other industries such as leather and fashion and footwear.

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The project is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘Remaign’ strategy, with a consistent mix of contemporary luxury, unique customer experiences and positive social impact.

The “New Vision” strategy seeks to completely eliminate carbon emissions throughout the company’s distribution chain, products and operations by 2039, and Jaguar Land Rover collaborates with a number of experts in the automotive industry to improve emissions, reduce emissions and invest in modern technology, data and software development.

Jaguar Land Rover, Managing Director, Supply Chain, Tag Owen, said: “We are currently restructuring our supply chain as part of our restructuring strategy. This is a step towards decorponizing our distribution chain, products and processes by 2039, driven by the most advanced digital capabilities.

Jaguar Land Rover’s investment and mobility services division, through In-Motion, allows us to obtain premium products more explicitly with the support, well-being and compliance of its suppliers across its networks.

This technology can be used to track other objects, and “Circular” improves the tracking of minerals currently used in the manufacture of electric car batteries using block chains, and what distinguishes block chains is that they cannot be replaced or damaged. Gives corporate customers greater confidence in the consistency of their supply chain and ensures access to all products from standard sources.

The doctor said. Warren Botten, Director of Innovation and Sustainability at the Scottish Leather Group, said: “We believe this partnership with Jaguar Land Rover and the University of Nottingham presents the best opportunity to improve blockchain technology to enhance current global innovation and transparency in the UK agriculture.

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“In the Bridge of War, we see the potential for carbon-positive buildup combined with the resources responsible for improving carbon and waste-free production, and the commitment to continuous innovation, if sourced from local, grass – fed, non – deforestation farms. , Allowing the entire skin supply chain to be accurately monitored and measured.

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Economy

A private credit boom leads to a new crisis

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A private credit boom leads to a new crisis

If this is a “golden moment” for private lending, where will things go? What are the risks? Higher interest rates and turmoil in regional banks earlier this year have boosted confidence in the recovery of private credit. According to data provider Preqin, the market is expected to grow from $1.6 trillion to $2.8 trillion this year. BlackRock takes a more optimistic view, predicting the market will grow to $3.2 trillion.

Mark Rowan, CEO of private equity firm Apollo, sees “de-banking” in its early stages, while John Gray, chairman of BlackRock, coined the phrase “golden moment” to describe conditions in private capital at the start of the year. .

If the new banking rules under Federal Reserve regulations are considered a catalyst, capital requirements for the commercial banking industry in the US are likely to increase by up to 35%, according to Oliver Wyman, the world’s leading management consultancy. company — and no wonder Jamie Dimon said. , head of JP Morgan, said private lenders would be “very happy.”

How things develop in the market will be a key issue not only for large firms and banks in the private market, but also for traditional asset managers who have begun to use the capabilities of the private market to avoid the extreme rise of passive asset management. . This coincides with at least 26 traditional asset managers buying or launching new private credit units in the past two years.

This shift confirms the extent to which the structure of the financial market has changed. 20 years ago, when I was working at Morgan Stanley, I noted in a research paper that investor flows would split into barbells. On the one hand, investors would flock to passive, exchange-traded funds to get record returns. They are cheap and convenient. On the other hand, investors looking for higher returns will use asset allocation with specialist fund managers who invest in private equity, hedge funds and real estate. For traditional “major” fund managers, caught between the two, they will be pressured to make their investment machines more specialized or merge to increase their size, which has already been achieved.

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According to ETFGI, ETFs have grown from $218 billion in 2003 to $10.3 trillion last October, but what’s surprising is how unbalanced the situation has become in terms of returns, with management fees likely to account for half of the investment sector. to alternative asset managers in 2023 from 28% in 2003.

Central banks are now scaling back their quantitative easing, which was implemented to support economies and markets, which has traditionally supported corporate profits. Without these tailwinds, the pressures on fund managers become more severe. So, how will the transition to private lending proceed?

Currently, Preqin estimates that just 10 companies have received 40% of private credit resources in the last 24 months. There are three reasons why private credit growth has disproportionately favored these large firms.

First, a good amount of growth is expected from the sale of investment portfolios by regional banks, which have to reduce their debt and are forced to sell good assets. The central bank’s new rules signal an inability for big banks to step up. In light of the large portfolio sizes and the speed required for transactions, the acquisition of these assets is a specialized venture that is in the interest of large companies that can underwrite the risks.

Second, a growing number of deals require more money, and August saw a new record for the largest loan, reaching $4.8 billion for fintech firm Finastra. The third and most important reason is that banks prefer to enter into partnerships so as not to lose access to customers. Even though tougher rules mean they have to divest assets, banks want to continue lending and partnering to help manage deal flows, which could benefit larger firms.

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Several major banks have already closed deals and more are expected to follow. Citi is the latest bank to report its intention to launch a new unit in 2024.

A changing interest rate regime will mean loan losses rise as funding costs normalize and exposed weak balance sheets, which will be a source of challenges for private lenders. It may be unwise for new companies to try to exploit the growth. This requires a strong focus on the risks and rewards of selection and contracts, and teams that specialize in reconciliation, which many of the major players in the market have.

Of course, there will be key opportunities, such as hard credit or energy infrastructure credit, that are places that efficient companies can tap into, but they may not be on the scale that traditional companies need to maximize opportunities.

In general, a complete and comprehensive shift in capital allocation awaits us, requiring a major shift towards private credit, as Howard Marks recently argued, but the coming tide will not smooth all boats.

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Economy

Demand for gold from central banks around the world continues to rise…banks bought 337 tonnes in the third quarter, bringing the total to 800 tonnes at the start of the year with a growth rate of 14%…selling only one. Tons in 9 months.

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Demand for gold from central banks around the world continues to rise…banks bought 337 tonnes in the third quarter, bringing the total to 800 tonnes at the start of the year with a growth rate of 14%…selling only one.  Tons in 9 months.


Islam Saeed wrote

Friday, December 1, 2023 06:30 PM

Communication Central banks Worldwide, demand for gold in 2023, according to reports World Gold CouncilIn gold trends in the third quarter, central banks’ demand for gold increased by 337 tonnes – the third largest purchase level in a quarter – but this was 459 tonnes less than what banks bought in the third quarter of 2022. tons

Since the beginning of the year, demand by central banks has increased by 14% year-on-year, reaching a new record level of 800 tonnes of gold.

Gold holdings reported by global central banks rose by a net 77 tonnes in September, as banks’ total sales of 78 tonnes were just 1 tonne, indicating strength in central banks’ gold purchases.

The World Gold Council showed that outflows from gold investment funds continued in October, but at a slower pace than in September, with outflows of $2 billion in October, the fifth consecutive monthly loss.

Since the start of the year, the funds’ investment holdings have declined by 6%, while the total value of assets managed by the funds has increased by 3% due to rising gold prices. Global outflows from gold-backed funds have reached US$13 billion since the start of the year. Equivalent to 225 tonnes of gold lost.

Gold neared a 6-month high in November on strong expectations in markets that the Federal Reserve has ended its interest rate hike cycle, and the time has come to set a date for a rate cut. Positive for gold prices.

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Spot gold – at the time of writing the Gold Billion Technical Report – was trading at $2043 an ounce, up 0.4% after yesterday’s drop of 0.4% to a record low of $2031 an ounce.

In November, gold prices rose 2.6% to $53 an ounce, from a 6-month high of $2052 an ounce and a low of $1931.

Gold is on track to post a 2.2% gain this week, and prices are up around $43 an ounce, marking a third straight week of gains. October and November.

On the other hand, we see the US dollar post its biggest decline in a year in November, while the dollar index fell 2.9% to its lowest level in nearly 4 months. The Federal Reserve is holding off on raising interest rates, and it’s expected to start cutting interest rates in the first half of 2024.

As for the 10-year US government bond yield, it fell 12.3% in November to a nearly 3-month low of 4.247%, raising the prospect of gold gains due to its inverse correlation with gold. With bond yields, in addition to lower opportunity costs. As an alternative to gold, it does not provide income to its holders.

The current time frame sees the price of gold fluctuate below the resistance level of $2050 per ounce, before undergoing a negative correction in light of pressure on the price, before the price of gold reaches its all-time high targets of $2080 per ounce, then registers a target of $2100, and if the price breaks above the 2035 level, the dollar , until the 2025-2020 region, $ per ounce, after which the 2010 dollars support level will begin. ounce.

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Following are the key events that influenced the gold price movement last November:

– Demand for safe havens, including gold, in financial markets has weakened as the war in Gaza has not reached a current ceasefire.

– The consumer price index (a key inflation indicator) in the United States of America fell to 3.2% in October, beating expectations of 3.3% and the previous reading of 3.7%.

The core personal consumption expenditure index (the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge) fell in October, bringing the annualized rate to 3.5%, down from the previous reading of 3.7% expected.

– Moody’s Credit Rating Agency downgraded the US outlook to negative after holding it steady while keeping the credit rating at its highest Aaa rating.

Moody’s pointed to rising downside risks related to US credit and debt as the main reason for downgrading the outlook.

– Minutes from the Federal Reserve Bank meeting showed bank members maintaining a tight monetary policy and a willingness to raise interest rates further if necessary, but with more caution.

Reports from members of the Federal Reserve show that if inflation rates continue to fall for more than a month, the bank may abandon some of its monetary tightening policy.



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Economy

OPEC Plus has voluntarily cut 2.2 million barrels, and prices are falling in the economy

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OPEC Plus has voluntarily cut 2.2 million barrels, and prices are falling in the economy

Oil prices fell in early trade – today, Friday – to continue losses that began after producers in the OPEC Plus alliance agreed to voluntarily cut crude output in the first quarter of next year.

Brent crude futures for February were down 0.4% at $80.5 a barrel by 7:34 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 0.3% at $75.7.

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other members of the OPEC Plus group – which pump more than 40% of global oil – have agreed to voluntary production cuts of more than two million barrels per day in the first quarter of 2024.

However, at least 1.3 million barrels per day of these cuts come from voluntary cuts already implemented by Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Representatives earlier said new additional cuts of up to two million barrels per day were under discussion.

OPEC Plus production – comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia – reflects a cut of about 5 million barrels a day aimed at actually supporting prices and reaching the market by about 43 million barrels a day. Stability.

Discount details

In a statement after the meeting, OPEC said the cuts totaled 2.2 million barrels per day from eight producers.

The figure includes Saudi and Russian voluntary cuts of 1.3 million barrels per day.

The additional cut of 900,000 barrels per day pledged on Thursday comes from 200,000 barrels per day of fuel exports from Russia and the remaining 6 members, Reuters reported.

The United Arab Emirates said it agreed to cut output by 163,000 barrels per day, while Iraq announced an additional 220,000 barrels per day cut in the first quarter.

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Algeria plans to voluntarily cut its oil production by 51,000 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2024, while Kuwait announced it will voluntarily cut oil production by 135,000 barrels per day for 3 months from next January.

Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan and Algeria were among producers who said the cuts would be phased out after the first quarter if market conditions allowed.

Fears

OPEC Plus’ focus on cutting production comes in light of a slump in prices that hit $98 a barrel at the end of September, as well as growing concerns about weak economic growth in 2024 and expectations of a surplus in supplies.

This month, the International Energy Agency predicted a slowdown in demand growth in 2024, as “the last phase of the economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic dissipates and energy efficiency, the expansion of electric vehicles and structural factors combine.”

Oil prices fell about 0.3% in early trade on Friday (Reuters)

Member of Brazil

OPEC Plus invited Brazil to become a member of the group, and the Brazilian energy minister said he hoped to join next January.

Brazil is one of the world’s 10 largest oil producers and, as of 2016, the largest producer in Latin America.

Brazil’s crude oil production reached a record level of 3.7 million barrels per day last September, an increase of approximately 17% from the same month last year and a 6.1% increase from August 2023, according to “Argus Media”.

UBS analyst Giovanni Stonovo said, “Brazil is a big oil producer and a leader in crude production growth, so it’s important to get involved, but it doesn’t seem to be cutting production like Mexico, so it’s going to be good. OPEC Plus, and less important for the oil market.” “, according to Agence France-Presse reports.

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The OPEC Plus alliance was formed in late 2016, when Russia and nine other countries joined OPEC to support lower oil prices, and from late 2022, the alliance relies on production cuts of about 5 million barrels per day.

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