Leaders Take to the Stage

This week saw world leaders take center stage from addressing nations to bidding farewell.

US President Barack Obama addressed the American people in his State of the Union address where he outlined plans to address taxation and climate change. At one point President Obama had an encounter with a cheeky Republican response to one of his statements but quickly cut them down to size with a witty retort while on the other side of the world Pope Francis ended his 5 day tour of the Philippines after huge crowds had gathered to hear him speak in Manila.
 
On the monetary front leaders met in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum with plenty on the agenda to discuss. Ukrainian leaders requested funding from the IMF (International Monetary Fund) to turn around the war-torn economy while Russian President Putin was under strain when it was revealed that lending to Russian banks had dropped by over £7 billion.

The week ended with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia passing away at the age of 90 and his brother taking over his role resulting in the price of oil futures jumping 3pc while in Argentina President Cristina Kirchner found herself under the spot light after the death of the lead prosecutor investigating the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre which resulted in protests demanding an investigation. Previously President Kirchner has suggested it was suicide but has since backtracked on the statement.