Global ETF News Older than One Year
World Economic League Table 2015 Highlights
December 26, 2014--Revisions to China's GDP mean that it is now forecast to overtake the US in 2025 compared to 2028 in last year's forecasts
The UK appears to have overtaken France this year to become the world's 5th largest economy (but as the 2014 GDP figures are $2,828bn for the UK and $2,827bn for France, the gap is well within the margin of error)
The rise of India looks unstoppable. India overtakes the UK in 2018 to become the largest economy in the Commonwealth and the rise continues – by 2024 India is the world’s third largest economy
Korea is becoming an economic powerhouse (Gangnam Style?) as its growth continues-its league table position moves from 15th in 2013 to a solid 8th, just behind Germany in 2030
Russia's economic woes, a likely weak rouble and a low price of oil mean that it drops back from 8th position in 2013 to 10th in 2014 and stays around that position to 2030
Source: Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr)
Opec won't cut output even at $20 a barrel
December 26, 2014--Opec will not cut oil production even if the price drops to $20 a barrel,
it is unfair to expect the cartel to reduce output if non-members do not, says Saudi Arabia.
Source: FIN24
IMF Working paper-Spillovers from United States Monetary Policy on Emerging Markets: Different This Time?
December 24, 2014--Summary: The impact of monetary policy in large advanced countries on emerging market economies-dubbed spillovers-is hotly debated in global and national policy circles. When the U.S. resorted to unconventional monetary policy, spillovers on asset prices and capital flows were significant, though remained smaller in countries with better fundamentals. This was not because monetary policy shocks changed (in size, sign or impact on stance).
In fact, the traditional signaling channel of monetary policy continued to play the leading role in transmitting shocks, relative to other channels, affecting longer-term bond yields. Instead, we find that larger spillovers stem more from structural factors, such as the use of new instruments (asset purchases). We obtain these results by developing a new methodology to extract, separate, and interpret U.S. monetary policy shocks.
Source: IMF
Preview of the share image Deutsche shutting 12 ETFs after low demand
December 23, 2014--Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management is to shut 12 exchange traded funds due to low investor demand.
The firm's exchange traded fund arm, db X-trackers, plans to close four ETFs tracking financial companies and eight ETFs with exposure to US treasuries, high-yield debt, European sovereign bonds and UK gilts.
Source: FT.com
Deutsche Boerse announces compliance of DAX index family with IOSCO Principles for Financial Benchmarks
December 23, 2014--Deutsche Börse, the official Index Administrator of the DAX index family and other leading financial market indices, today announced that the indices comply with the International Organisation of Securities Commission's (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.
Deutsche Börse has published the Letter of Compliance on the company's website.
The objective of the IOSCO Principles is to create an overarching regulatory framework for benchmarks used in global financial markets.
Source: Deutsche Börse
China Offers Russia Help With Currency Swap Suggestion
December 22, 2014--Two Chinese ministers offered support for Russia as President Vladimir Putin seeks to shore up the ruble without depleting foreign-exchange reserves.
China will provide help if needed and is confident Russia can overcome its economic difficulties, Foreign Minister Wang Yi was cited as saying in Bangkok in a Dec. 20 report by Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV.
Source: Bloomberg
Basel Committee consults on capital floors
December 22, 2014--The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has published today a consultative paper on the design of a capital floor framework based on standardized, non-internal modelled approaches.
The Committee's proposed floor would ensure that the level of capital across the banking system does not fall below a certain level. The floor is also meant to mitigate model risk and measurement error stemming from internally-modelled approaches. It would also enhance the comparability of capital outcomes across banks.
Source: BIS
Alibaba Enters Russell Global Indexes, When Will It Enter MSCI?
December 22, 2014--Russell added 102 IPOs to its global indexes for the fourth quarter of 2014 after the market close on December 19. The most notable new add is China's largest e-commerce Alibaba Group (BABA).
Alibaba is in a tricky spot. It is listed in the U.S., incorporated in the Cayman Islands and mainly operates in China. This has been a no-no for the largest global index providers. MSCI China Index only includes Chinese companies that are listed in the same time zone as their home operating base.
Source: Barron's
SSgA cutting fees for more ETFs
December 21, 2014--State Street Global Advisors has reduced fees on a further two exchange traded funds following on from the raft of price cuts it announced in October.
The US asset manager has cut the total expense ratio on its SPDR MSCI Europe ETF by 5 basis points, meaning the product now costs 25bp.
Source: FT.com
U.S. Treasury Criticizes Europe Plan for Tainted Benchmarks
December 19, 2014--A European proposal to regulate financial benchmarks that have been tainted by manipulation allegations is running into criticism from the U.S. Treasury Department.
The plan requires that other countries have equivalent oversight of indexes, which could prevent European banks and asset managers from using U.S. benchmarks, according to a counselor to Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew. Europe wants national governments to take responsibility for regulating financial and commodity benchmarks--something the U.S. has no plans to do.
Source: Bloomerg
