Global ETF News Older than One Year
WEF-Seven Ways Geo-economics is Changing the Global Economy
February 26, 2015--The world is witnessing a rise in geo-economics, where the main global battlefield is economic rather than military. And with sanctions, competing trade regimes, currency and price manipulation increasingly taking the place of conventional warfare, the implication of these forces could be an unravelling of the global economy, a new report by the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Geo-economics finds.
According to the report, Seven Challenges to Globalization, the re-emergence of geo-economics comes at a time when many states in the developed world-including Europe and the United States-faced with high levels of public debt and weak domestic support for engagement are choosing to project power through economics rather than military force. This, in turn, is weakening multilateral institutions designed to safeguard the free flow of trade and investment, such as the World Trade Organization, and making conditions for international trade more difficult.
view the WEF report-Geo-economics: Seven Challenges to Globalization
Source: World Economic Forum
IOSCO Reviews Implementation of Financial Benchmark Principles
February 25, 2015--The International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO) today published the Review of the Implementation of IOSCO's Principles for Financial Benchmarks.
The report sets out the findings of IOSCO's review of the implementation of its Principles for Financial Benchmarks (Principles) by a sample of administrators of financial benchmarks across a range of geographical areas and asset classes. It was prepared by a Review Team, constituting members of the IOSCO Board-level Task Force on Financial Market Benchmarks.
view the Review of the Implementation of IOSCO's Principles for Financial Benchmarks
Source: IOSCO
Report: Mitigating Political & Regulatory Risk for Successful Infrastructure Projects
February 25, 2015--The world's huge infrastructure demand cannot be met by the public sector alone; private investors and operators are needed, but they worry about political and regulatory risk.
Today, political and regulatory risk takes many forms-from community protests to tightened regulations and corruption-and is relevant in both developing and industrialized countries.
A new report, Mitigation of Political & Regulatory Risk in Infrastructure Projects, has been launched today as part of the World Economic Forum's Strategic Infrastructure Knowledge Series.
Political and regulatory risk is one of the major constraints on infrastructure investment decisions. It takes different forms over an infrastructure project's life cycle, from delayed construction permits and community protests to breach of contract, tightened regulations and the non-renewal of licences. In addition, some broader risks apply throughout the life cycle-changes to taxation laws, for instance, and endemic corruption.
Source: World Economic Forum
IOSCO Report Compares, Analyses Prudential Standards in the Securities Sector
January 24, 2014--The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published today the final report A Comparison and Analysis of Prudential Standards in the Securities Sector, which makes a high level comparative analysis of the key prudential/capital frameworks for securities firms.
The report seeks to highlight similarities, differences and gaps among the different frameworks. IOSCO's objective is to update its 1989 Report on Capital Adequacy Standards for Securities Firms (Capital Standards Report), based on the issues identified in this final report.
view the A Comparison and Analysis of Prudential Standards in the Securities Sector
Source: IOSCO
The African Development Bank and Bloomberg launch African Bond Index
February 24, 2015--Following the announcement of the collaboration between Bloomberg and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in December, Bloomberg and the AfDB through the African Financial Markets Initiative (AFMI) have launched the AFMISM Bloomberg(R) African Bond Index (ABABI), a new family of African bond indices.
Calculated by Bloomberg Indexes, this composite index is comprised of the Bloomberg South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya local currency sovereign indices.
Source: starafrica.com
STOXX Changes Composition Of Benchmark Indices
Results Of The First Regular Quarterly Review To Be Effective Mar. 23, 2015
February 24, 2015--STOXX Limited, the market-moving provider of innovative, tradable and global index concepts, today announced the new composition of the STOXX Benchmarks and their sub and sector indices, among them the STOXX Europe 600 Index, STOXX North America 600 Index and STOXX Asia/Pacific 600 Index.
Effective as of the open of European markets on Mar. 23, 2015, the following stocks will be added to and deleted from the STOXX Europe 600 Index and its respective size and sector indices:
Source: STOXX
ETF Securities Research-Precious Metals Weekly-The Fed Reduces Misfire Risk and Gold Declines
February 23, 2015--Gold returns to widely watched US$1,200/oz. support on new stock market highs.
Despite an improving foundation on the back of dovish FOMC minutes, precious metals (PMs) declined last week as a Greek debt deal reduced alternative asset demand. Record highs in the S&P 500 appeared to resume the "all that matters" attention drain to the
detriment of the PMs.
Despite the CITI negative economic surprise index reaching a 2-1/2 year high, risk-off remained at play as the VIX closed at a new low for the year at 14.4.
Adding some support to platinum, EU27 car registrations increased a greater than expected 6.7% in January. The latest report on silver from Metals Focus, pointed out that global silver production "may have peaked last year with the low price likely to lead to mine cutbacks and closures". The foundation for PMs is still improving, notably due to central banks continuing to surprise markets with more aggressive stimulus, increasing currency volatility and the recent back-up in prices.
Source: ETF Securities Research
IMF Working paper-Private Sector Deleveraging and Growth Following Busts
February 23, 2015--Summary: Balance sheet recessions have been a drag on activity after the Global Financial Crisis, underscoring the important role of balance sheet adjustment for resuming sustained growth. In this paper we examine private sector deleveraging experiences across 36 advanced and emerging economies countries since 1960.
We consider the common features and divergent experiences of deleveraging episodes across countries, and analyze empirically the impact of different aspects of deleveraging during the bust phase of leverage cycles on subsequent medium-term growth. The results suggest that larger and quicker unwinding of non-financial sector debt overhangs is associated with sizable medium-term output gains, and that policies should focus on facilitating up-front balance sheet adjustment.
view IMF Working paper-Private Sector Deleveraging and Growth Following Busts
Source: IMF
DECPG Global Weekly-February 20, 2015
February 20, 2015--Taking Stock
Eurozone finance ministers reached an agreement to extend Greece's financial bailout by four months. Greece
and its Eurozone creditors agreed to extend the bailout program for four months, avoiding bankruptcy for Athens.
Greek government officials welcomed the agreement, saying that the extension gave the government time to negotiate a "new deal." Greece had been seeking a six-month extension of the bailout but the Eurozone partners opted for four months. The euro gained against the US dollar on Friday following the announcement, adding 0.3 percent to $1.1403, while the Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 struck new intraday highs.
Oil prices declined on strong supply data. Oil prices fell sharply after data showed a surge in U.S. crude inventories, adding to concerns over oversupply. A possible increase in production from the world's largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, also weighted negatively on the prices. U.S. crude supplies for the week ended February 13th saw a 14.3 million-barrel jump from a week earlier, significantly higher than market expectations of a 3.2 million barrel increase. Brent crude futures declined on Thursday by $2.35 (or 3.9 percent) to $58.18 a barrel on the London Exchange, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil futures fell $2.70 (or 5.2 percent) to $49.44 a barrel on the New York Exchange.
Source: World Bank
At 30, Nasdaq-100 Recognized as Benchmark for Innovation
Growth Companies From Multiple Sectors Diversify Index and Represent the 'New Global Economy'
February 19, 2015--Once considered a pure play on technology stocks, the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX), which celebrated its 30th anniversary on January 31, 2015, has emerged as the de facto benchmark for broad-based innovation,
representing the "new global economy," according to a recent Nasdaq study titled The Nasdaq-100 Turns 30: Tracking Innovation in Large Cap Growth
Source: Nasdaq.com
