Global ETF News Older than One Year
FCA publishes occasional papers on behavioural economics exploring how people make financial decisions
April 10, 2013--The FCA is interested in behavioural economics as it can help the regulator understand the mistakes consumers make, how firms respond to these mistakes, how this affects competition, and what interventions the FCA might consider.
The first paper focusses on how consumers choose and use financial products, and how behavioural biases can lead to firms competing in ways that are not in the interests of consumers. The second explores how best to encourage consumers to respond to customer contact letters. The papers are the first in the FCA’s occasional paper series.
view the Occasional Paper No.1-Applying behavioural economics at the Financial Conduct Authority
Source: FCA.org.uk
OPEC joins U.S. in lowering 2013 oil demand growth view
Lowers 2013 forecast oil demand growth by 40,000 bpd
Saudi Arabia tells OPEC its output in March was flat
OPEC pumping just 190,000 bpd above official target
IEA's oil report due on Thursday
April 10, 2013--OPEC on Wednesday trimmed its forecast for global growth in oil demand in 2013, becoming the second of the world's closely watched oil forecasters this week to predict weaker consumption.
The move by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in a monthly report follows a similar downward revision to oil demand growth in 2013 by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Tuesday.
Source: Reuters
OPEC joins U.S. in lowering 2013 oil demand growth view
Lowers 2013 forecast oil demand growth by 40,000 bpd
Saudi Arabia tells OPEC its output in March was flat
OPEC pumping just 190,000 bpd above official target
IEA's oil report due on Thursday
April 10, 2013--OPEC on Wednesday trimmed its forecast for global growth in oil demand in 2013, becoming the second of the world's closely watched oil forecasters this week to predict weaker consumption.
The move by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in a monthly report follows a similar downward revision to oil demand growth in 2013 by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Tuesday.
Source: Reuters
Investors pull out of gold ETFs in Q1
April 4, 2013--Global commodity exchange-traded funds recorded multi-billion dollar outflows for the first quarter of 2013, but the near-default of Cyprus last month is expected to increase appetite for gold funds in the second quarter, according to fund provider ETF Securities.
Global commodity ETFs experienced outflows of $8.64bn in the first quarter, fuelled by $9.16bn of outflows in gold, as increased investor risk appetite saw movement into equities, according to ETF Securities.
Source: Financial News
Emerging Markets Dump Euro Reserves
March 31, 2013--The euro's challenge to the international status of the U.S. dollar has been set back a generation as new data shows developing countries dumping the European currency from their official reserves.
Central banks in developing countries sold €45 billion of euros in 2012, according to data compiled by the International Monetary Fund, cutting their holdings of the currency by 8 percent.
Source: CNBC
Global economy is improving but Europe lags behind, says OECD
March 28, 2013--Global economic activity is picking up, but the continuing crisis in the euro area is delaying a meaningful recovery, the OECD said in its latest Interim Economic Assessment.
The Assessment, presented in Paris by Chief Economist Pier Carlo Padoan, says that the G7 economies are expected to grow at an annualised 2.4 per cent rate in the first quarter of 2013 and at a 1.8 percent rate in the second. It notes that financial markets are out-pacing real activity, which has been held back by weak business and consumer confidence, and highlights the risk that asset prices may rise beyond levels justified by fundamentals.
view the OECD Interim Economic Assessment
Source: OECD
Create Your Better Life Index
March 27, 2013-The Better Life Index allows citizens to compare well-being across 36 countries based on 11 dimensions in the areas of material living conditions and quality of life.
The updated version integrates data on gender and inequality and strengthens existing topics.
Source: OECD
Basel Committee issues consultative document on recognising the cost of credit protection purchased
March 22, 2013-- Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has today published a proposal that would strengthen capital requirements when banks engage in certain high-cost credit protection transactions.
The Committee has previously expressed concerns about potential regulatory capital arbitrage related to certain credit protection transactions. At that time it noted that it would continue to monitor developments with respect to such transactions and would consider imposing a globally harmonised minimum capital Pillar 1 requirement if necessary. After further consideration, the Committee decided to move forward with a more comprehensive Pillar 1 proposal.
Source: BIS
IOSCO Consults on Regulatory Issues Raised by Changes in Market Structure
March 21, 2013--The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published today a Consultation Report on Regulatory Issues Raised by Changes in Market Structure, which identifies possible outstanding issues and risks posed by existing or developing market structures.
It also provides recommendations to address these potential risks.
At its summit meeting in 2010, the G20 requested that IOSCO 'develop recommendations to promote markets' integrity and efficiency to mitigate the risks posed to the financial system by the latest technological developments.” This consultation report forms part of IOSCO´s response to that request.
view the Regulatory Issues Raised by Changes in Market Structure-Consultation Report
Source: IOSCO
Happiness is...
March 20, 2013--"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way"-so wrote Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy at the start of his novel Anna Karenina in 1873. It is clearly a thought that resonates with people as it is one of the most quoted lines from the author.
But is it really true? Or are we all, as human beings, in fact happy in our own individual way? And if so, how can governments capture how we feel to guide their policy making?
An important question to ponder as we celebrate the world’s first “International Day of Happiness” on March 20, 2013. The economic, financial and social crisis that erupted in 2008 has led people to question the fundamental underpinnings of our societies and how they are governed. The discovery that the preceding boom years, far from benefiting everyone, in fact saw a widening gap between rich and poor in our societies, helped feed the idea that GDP is not an adequate measure of success in modern societies.
view the OECD report-OECD Guidelines on Measuring Subjective Well-being
Source: OECD
