The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have established a new approach to what they view as a pervasive liquidity crisis in many low-income countries and some emerging markets. According to this assessment, many countries are simply facing a short-term liquidity problem led by a concentration of debt service payments at a moment when creditors are not willing to extend additional lending.

The proposed approach has three pillars: first, an IMF reform programme; second, supplementing this with concessional financing from development banks and donors; and third, hoping that the private sector will return to the country – potentially with some incentives.

However, injecting more liquidity into LICs and EMs may pile on…

The number of business insolvencies boomed in late 2023 and is poised to accelerate in 2024, official data shows, but industry professionals say the growing use of the small business restructuring scheme is a silver lining.

Data released by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on Tuesday shows 727 companies entered external administration or control in December last year, a 16% jump from December in 2022.

At the time of writing, 5,020 companies have collapsed so far in the 2023-2024 financial year, setting a trajectory for more than 10,000 by July — a figure that would eclipse the 2022-2023 total of 7,942.

If the increase continues, more companies will enter external administration or control in 2023-2024 than…

Australia Post is changing the way it negotiates with its small business licensees, after quietly liquidating the advisory forum it has used for more than 20 years.

The government-owned postal giant now says it will ‘reinvigorate’ its relationship to thousands of licensed post office (LPO) operators.

But some industry representatives fear it won’t do enough to protect its small business licensees as Australians change their relationship to physical mail.

Why AusPost replaced APLAC with new advisory council

Since 2003, the Australia Post Licensee Advisory Council (APLAC) has provided two-way communication between Australia Post and the small businesses making up the bulk of its brick-and-mortar branches.

However, the public…

As the festive season approaches, many of us struggle to manage our finances, and for some, particularly those already facing difficulties, Christmas can lead to an even deeper spiral into debt.

Since 1996, Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has been helping people break free from debt. The charity was founded in Bradford by John Kirkby, who had experienced financial hardship himself and had even worked as a debt collector before turning to his local church for support. With their help, he regained control of his finances. Inspired by this, John set up CAP to provide free debt help, life skills training, and money coaching.

“…watching The Debt Saviours on TV inspired me to get involved.”

Today, CAP operates across the UK, with…

The Body Shop operates about 100 stores in Australia and is said to be the most profitable international arm of the stricken business. However since the UK parent entered bankruptcy last month, the Australian subsidiary – and others around the world – have become creditors and their access to funds has been cut off.

The Guardian has quoted sources explaining that the money earned by the key overseas businesses during the peak trading period in November and December was paid into a global account, based in the UK – “a practice termed ‘cash pooling’”. As a result, global subsidiaries are struggling to pay suppliers for services rendered during that peak. The cash pooling ceased when the business entered into administration.