Regulated Commodity The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced that it will hold hearings at the end of the month to examine issues related to regulating the trading of bitcoin. The value of bitcoin has risen rapidly in recent weeks as speculators have taken a more dominant position than those simply using it as a transactional medium. Gabriel Rubin in the Wall Street Journal compared bitcoin to gold, the value of which rises and falls with supply and demand but ultimately drops to the cost of production. However, the production of bitcoin is capped, and while gold has competition from silver and other precious metals, the ability to conjure competitor cryptocurrencies is unlimited. Indeed, there is an argument that Ethereu...
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...