Global ETF News Older than One Year
Providers work hard to crack DC market
July 16, 2012--US pension schemes, which are normally slow to embrace new investment products,are starting to show growing enthusiasm for exchange-traded products.
European defined-contribution plans, however, are so far not showing any interest, with cost remaining a significant barrier.
Earlier this year, the market was abuzz with rumours that technology company Apple’s 401(k) retirement scheme, a DC plan, had invested solely in ETFs. The speculation turned out to be untrue, according to sources close to the scheme, but the flurry of excitement it elicited shows that institutional interest in ETFs is growing rapidly.
Source: Financial News
Knight Appoints Ana Concejero Managing Director, Listed Derivatives Sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa
July 16, 2012--Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE Euronext: KCG) today announced that Ana Concejero joined Knight's Listed Derivatives Group as Managing Director responsible for sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), based in London.
Ms. Concejero will focus on client development and opening new markets for the distribution of advisory and liquidity services in the region, reporting to Reginald Browne, Managing Director, Global Co-Head of the Listed Derivatives Group and Albert C. Maasland, Senior Managing Director, Head of International.
"Ana is a skilled and seasoned member of the global ETF community, and she brings a wealth of experience to our team," Mr. Browne said. "Knight has tremendous momentum, and we look forward to building on our U.S. market-leading presence as we expand into new regions."
Source: Knight Capital Group
Kraft Foods Inc. to Join the NASDAQ-100 Index Beginning July 23, 2012
June 13, 2012--Kraft Foods Inc. (Nasdaq:KFT) will become a component of the NASDAQ-100 Index(R)(Nasdaq:NDX),the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index (Nasdaq:NDXE) and the NASDAQ-100 Ex-Tech Sector Index prior to market open on Monday, July 23, 2012.
Kraft Foods Inc. will replace Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (Nasdaq:CTRP).
Kraft Foods Inc. is headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, and has a market capitalization of approximately $69.1 billion. For more information about the company, go to www.kraftfoodscompany.com.
Source: NASDAQ OMX
DCGX Academy: CHINA & US : China GDP at 7.6 Vs 8.1 ,US Jobless Claims drop 26,000 below forecast
July 13, 2012--HIGHLIGHTS
COMMODITIES
Gold Poised for Weekly Drop as Fed talks about risks of stimulus
Copper Swings Between Gains and Losses on China GDP, Loan Data
Oil Declines on China GDP Numbers
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Yen Trades Near 6-Week High Versus
China GDP 7.6% Vs 8.1 Q2 , Forecast 7.7%
US New Job Permits Decline to 26,000 to 350,000 Vs 372,000 Forecast
Pound Falls to Five-Week Low Versus USD on Recession Concern
Source: DCGX Academy:
EPFR Global Fund Data News Release-Flows show investors stepping up search for higher returns
July 13, 2012--The second week of July saw investors move aggressively into fixed income fund groups associated with higher risk and returns as they waited to see how the latest act of the Eurozone crisis
the bailing out of Spain’s banking sector--plays out. Flows into EPFR Global-tracked High Yield and Emerging Market Bond Funds hit 22 and 17 week highs respectively while Mortgage Backed and Municipal Bond Funds extended lengthy inflow streaks. Europe Bond Funds did see a four week outflow streak snapped but redemptions from Europe Equity Funds resumed after a two week hiatus.
Visit http://www.epfr.com for more info
Source: EPFR Global
Projections for 2013 are presented for the first time in Oil Market Report
July 12, 2012--The latest Oil Market Report (OMR) notes June/July price volatility, based on supply-side concerns affecting Iran and Norway, but also ongoing worries over sovereign debt issues in the eurozone.
Prices remain high, although supply ran well ahead of demand during the second quarter of 2012. Stock builds in the OECD have remained muted, suggesting that substantial volumes may have moved into floating storage and/or non-OECD inventory.
Projections for 2013 are presented for the first time, showing modest economic recovery next year could generate demand growth of 1.0 million barrels per day (mb/d), compared to 0.8 mb/d in 2012. Growth in non-OPEC supply (+0.7 mb/d in 2013) plus 0.3 mb/d of incremental OPEC natural gas liquids, should match demand growth, leaving an underlying ‘call on OPEC crude and stock change’ for 2013 that is identical to 2012’s level of 30.5 mb/d.
view the Highlights of the Oil Market Report
Source: International Energy Agency
Agriculture: Increased productivity and a more sustainable food system will improve global food security OECD and FAO publish new Agricultural Outlook
July 12, 2012--While international agricultural commodity markets appear to have entered calmer conditions after record peaks last year, food commodity prices are anticipated to remain on a higher plateau over the next decade, underpinned by firm demand but a slowing growth in global production, according to the latest OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2012-2021.
The report suggests that in addition to population growth, higher per capita incomes, urban migration and changing diets in developing countries, as well as rising requirements for biofuel feedstocks, are underpinning demand pressures. At the same time, agricultural output by developed, exporting countries has been slow to respond to higher prices in the last decade. Higher demand will be met increasingly by supplies that come to market at higher cost. With farmland area expected to expand only slightly in the coming decade, additional production will need to come from increased productivity, including by reducing productivity gaps in developing countries, the report said.
view the summary- OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2012-2021.
Source: OECD
ETFS Precious Metals Weekly: The Recent Gold Price Weakness Explained
July 10, 2012--European financial and economic turmoil has plagued markets for more than two years, yet officials have so far failed to find a comprehensive plan to solve the root causes of the crisis. Europe remains mired in deep recession, Greece is effectively in a depression and-despite measures announced at the June G20 meeting-the risk of Spain and Italy becoming overwhelmed by the crisis remains high.
In this environment most "safe haven" assets have performed well, with G-3 bond yields falling to all time lows earlier this year. The one stand-out exception has been gold, which has performed poorly so far this year. Gold’s poor performance in an environment of high sovereign risk has understandably caused some investors to question its historic "store of value" credentials. In this note we look at some of the key factors that have driven the gold price in recent years, explain what has been behind the relative underperformance of the gold price so far this year, and assess the outlook and likely key catalysts for gold price performance for the rest of the year.
Gold Five Year Price Timeline
Since the beginning of the credit crunch in August 20071, gold has risen 140%, reaching a peak of around
US$1,910/oz on September 5, 2011. Over the period, as the financial crisis has unfolded, engulfing major
financial institutions and countries, investors have sought refuge in the perceived safety of gold and its
properties as an inflation, currency debasement and tail-risk hedge. However, gold has not always behaved
like a safe-haven and its performance has been driven by a variety of factors, as key events have had
diverse effects on investors’ behaviour. Below is a timeline of some of the key events that have had a
significant impact on the gold price over the past five years.
visit www.etfsecurities.com for more info
Source: ETF Securities
BlackRock New Report: ETP Landscape Industry Highlights, H1 2012 ETPs Post Strongest H1 Inflows in History
July 10, 2012--Global ETP YTD overview
First Half 2012 (H1) flows highlights (US$):
Inflows for the first half of 2012 were the largest ever for the global ETP Industry. ETPs attracted net new assets of more than $100bn during the first half of 2012, with particularly strong demand for exposure to income-producing assets
Inflows of $105.0bn during H1 represent a 16% increase on the $90.6bn of flows posted during H1 2011 which held the previous record for the largest flows in H1
As global markets continue to be volatile, investors are using ETPs to capture new and diversified sources of income. Fixed income ETPs attracted $42.0bn in net new assets during H1 in this context, with investment grade corporate bond ETPs seeing inflows of $15.5bn
Fixed income was the main driver of growth attracting 41% of all inflows with $42.0bn on the year, or 114% above 2011’s comparable YTD figure of $19.6bn. Flows into European domiciled fixed income ETPs represented 39% of all EMEA ETP inflows
June was the eighteenth consecutive month in which global fixed income ETPs have attracted net inflows
Other income-focused ETPs, including those providing exposure to high dividend equities, real estate and preferred stocks drew in $17.9bn on a year to date basis in contrast to H1 2011 when the category captured $12.4bn Q2 2012 inflows of $39.6bn were down from Q1 inflows of $65.4bn primarily due to lower equity inflows
June 2012 monthly flow highlights (US$bn)
Equity inflows of $11.9bn in June were on par with May, but composition shifted more toward developed equity. US large-cap equity inflows surged to $5.2 billion after tepid to negative flows in the prior two months
Gold inflows made a comeback in June gathering $2.2bn after two months of outflows. On the flip side, US Treasury ETP (listed globally) inflows surged in May 2012 to $4.5bn and then fell back in June to have outflows of ($132 million). Both asset classes offer some perceived safe haven attributes, but flow trends often diverge
Income-focused ETPs, including those providing exposure to high dividend equities, real estate and preferred stocks drew in $2.3bn in June led by real estate ETPs with $1.2bn
Bond ETP inflows of $5.6 billion in June were driven by investment grade corporate and govt/corp bond funds which gathered $3.2bn and $1.1bn, respectively.
Source: BlackRock Investment Institute
ETFS Precious Metals Weekly: Global Gold ETP Assets Hit Record High on Rising Expectations of QE3
July 9, 2012--Gold ETP holdings hit record high of 77 million ounces as ETP investors anticipate another round of quantitative easing from the
Fed. Although futures market optimism remains weak-net long speculative
positions are hovering near the lowest levels in 3 years- ETP investors
appear to be preparing for gold price performance later this year.
According to Bloomberg data, global ETP gold holdings reached a record high 77mn oz last week, as investors appear to be taking advantage of lower prices to position themselves for another round of Federal Reserve stimulus. Looser monetary policy likely to be dominant driver of gold price in 2012. The US Dollar hit a 2-year high last week versus the Euro, as the deteriorating outlook, particularly for the Eurozone, prompted continued investor deleveraging. US dollar strength has hampered the performance of gold since September 2011, making it less reactive to systemic risk. While politicians have been slow to act, central banks have played a crucial role providing support for the ailing global economy.
This dynamic was highlighted illustrated last week with the ECB cutting interest rates and the BOE increasing its asset purchase scheme in an effort to offset continued policy paralysis at the European government level.
Increasing likelihood of another round of Quantitative Easing from the Fed. Disappointing manufacturing and jobs data in the US last week showed that US economic activity is losing momentum, boosting the likelihood that the US Federal Reserve will introduce with a further round of quantitative easing (QE). While the relationship between gold and the US dollar is not straightforward, following previous episodes of quantitative easing, the gold price has strengthened (and the US Dollar has weakened) when the Federal Reserve has injected liquidity into the financial system.
Gold is likely to be the primary beneficiary of rising expectations of additional liquidity support, as investors have historically looked to gold to help offset the negative effect of rising money supply on a country’s currency. Additionally, with evidence indicating that interest rates will remain at record lows for an extended period, the opportunity cost of holding bullion compared to interest-bearing assets becomes substantially less, increasing gold’s appeal.
visit www.etfsecurities.com for more info
Source: ETF Securities
