International
Firms’ net-zero plans are key to meeting climate goals
To meet climate targets, corporate initiatives to reduce carbon emissions will be as important as government policies
InternationalMarket forces alone cannot improve tech security
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of technology but without a commensurate concern for security
InternationalSmart contracts are likely to have limited application
Self-executing digital contracts whose terms are directly written into the lines of code can streamline transactions
InternationalBlockchain can streamline simpler supply chains
Blockchain, or distributed ledger technology, holds significant promise for improving global supply chains
InternationalDemands for banks to resume dividend payouts will rise
For UK, US, EU and emerging market banks, timing the resumption of dividend payouts will be tricky but key to recovery
InternationalExplainable AI systems will develop slowly
High-profile failures of artificial intelligence (AI) systems have fuelled public scepticism about the technology
InternationalOPEC elasticity offsets supply risks and uneven demand
OPEC+ will raise output by 500,000 b/d in January, reviewing this monthly thereafter to match modest and uneven demand
InternationalThe renminbi will gradually check dollar dominance
Chinese officials are sparking renewed discussion about the renminbi challenging dollar dominance in global finance
International
