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Mainland investors help ETFs grab record share of Hong Kong trading
August 17, 2023--ETF Connect scheme boosts Chinese participation despite falling Hong Kong stock trading
The average daily turnover of Hong Kong-listed exchange traded funds rose to a record high of 15.5 per cent of the stock market's total turnover in July at HK$15.9bn ($2.04bn), according to Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) data analysed by Ignites Asia.
The new high was driven by mainland Chinese investors piling into the market since the Hong Kong-China ETF Connect scheme was established a year ago.
It also follows the introduction of a higher stamp duty for stock trading that has affected turnover volumes.
ETF trading on the bourse rose to 15.5 per cent of the average daily trading last month, up from about 9.8 per cent in July 2022 and 4.6 per cent in July 2021.
Japan's Economy Grows at 6% Pace in Second Quarter
August 14, 2023--Exports rise and surge in foreign visitors helps lift spending
Japan's economy expanded at a much faster pace than expected in the April-June quarter thanks to robust exports, outpacing growth in the U.S. and China.
Japan's gross domestic product increased 1.5% in the three months to June from the previous quarter, beating economists' expectations.
Surge of inflows into China ETFs fuel state buying speculation-reports
August 14, 2023--Four ETFs attract $4.4bn
-Four China ETFs attracting $4.4bn in inflows in just over a week has reportedly prompted speculation that state-affiliated institutions may be intervening to support the economy.
Figures from Z-Ben, a Chinese consultancy, cited in a report by the FT revealed the four ETFs, which track China's CSI 300 index, now hold assets under management exceeding $25bn, following a surge of inflows over an eight-day period.
The largest ETF, Huatai-PineBridge CSI 300 ETF, has now surpassed $13.8bn, or CNY 100bn, making it the first non-money market ETF to do so in the region.
Vietnam's Economic Growth Slows Due to Global Headwinds and Internal Constraints
August 10, 2023--Effective public investment is crucial for long-term growth
A challenging external environment and weaker domestic demand is leading to a slowdown in economic growth in Vietnam.
But the economy will pick up pace over the second half of this year, and the following years, according to the World Bank's latest economic update entitled "Making Public Investment Work for Growth".
The report shows that Vietnam's economic growth slowed from 8% in 2022 to 3.7% in the first half of 2023. It forecasts a moderate growth of 4.7% in 2023, gradually accelerating to 5.5% in 2024 and 6.0% in 2025. A proactive fiscal policy supporting short-term demand, removing barriers to the implementation of public investment, and addressing infrastructure constraints can help the economy achieve these targets and promote long-term growth.
Pacific Recovery Picks Up Amid Uncertain Global Outlook
August 8, 2023--Benefits of labor migration can be maximized with investments in education, support for reintegration, and improving economic opportunities at home.
Despite uncertainty about the outlook for inflation and interest rates in major economies and trading partners, developing Pacific economies are expected to grow in 2023 and 2024 due to a recovery in tourism, post-disaster rebuilding, and infrastructure construction, a World Bank report released today says.
Pacific growth is expected to pick up to 3.9 percent this year from 2 percent in 2022 and then moderate to 3.3 percent next year as the initial post-COVID-19 rebound dissipates and as the region moves towards its long-term trend growth of 2.6 percent, according to the Pacific Economic Update: Recovering in the Midst of Uncertainty.
Dissecting the Bank of Japan's ETF splurge
August 7, 2023--Why isn't the Topix toppier?
The most unorthodox bit of the Bank of Japan's unorthodox monetary policy is its purchases of Japanese equity ETFs, amassing a portfolio that booked at about JPY37tn ($260bn) at the end of July.
It's far from the only weird legacy of a weird decade for monetary policy. The Swiss National Bank has amassed in $214bn global stocks, for example, while the Federal Reserve in March 2020 started buying some bond ETFs. And then there's Turkey, which, well, keeps being Turkey.
IMF Working Paper-Fiscal Policy and the Government Balance Sheet in China
August 4, 2023--Summary:
In this paper, we present the most comprehensive estimates of China's government balance sheet to date. Based on these estimates, we show how major shifts in fiscal policy over the last two decades have shaped the health of the public sector prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. We find that, at US$12.5 trillion, China has the largest stock of financial assets in the world.
However, its net financial worth as a percent of GDP-though still higher than the large majority of countries-has declined over the last decade. This trend can be traced back to the turn of the century when China undertook a major restructuring of its state-owned enterprises but left important shortcomings in the intergovernmental fiscal system unaddressed. Compounding these risks, reform momentum stalled in the aftermath of the global financial crisis leading to high leverage and falling profitability among state-owned enterprises.
Malaysia's first fund investing in an inverse ETF faces hurdles
July 21, 2023--Maybank AM fears promoting the ability to capitalise on a US market downturn could send the wrong signals
Maybank Asset Management is gearing up to launch Malaysia's first mutual fund that invests in an inverse exchange traded fund amid persistent gloomy market outlooks that have kept investors largely on the sidelines since last year.
But the firm, which will target sophisticated investors due to regulation on the sale of complex products, is wondering about how to promote the new strategy, given the potential for mixed signals to investors -essentially that the manager is forecasting even choppier markets.
ETF Review: Industry breaks $150 billion barrier (June 2023)
July 19, 2023--Australian ETF Industry breaks $150 billion barrier
The Australian ETF industry ended the financial year on a high, reaching the $150 billion mark in total assets under management after recording robust growth for the half year, a particularly strong result considering the tough conditions being faced in the asset management industry more broadly.
We would very much categorise the Australian ETF industry as an 'absolute/relative' story at the moment: On an absolute basis the industry is growing more slowly than the 2 years preceding this one, with investors being far more guarded about investment allocations. On a relative basis, however, the Australian ETF industry has never been in a stronger position, particularly when compared to the unlisted active funds which have been plagued by outflows in recent times.
China Growth Disappoints as Beijing Hints at Muted Stimulus
July 16, 2023--GDP growth was weaker than expected in second quarter
Citigroup says China's official growth target now at risk
China's economic recovery lost momentum in the second quarter, putting Beijing's growth target for the year at risk and adding to concerns about a slowdown in the world economy.
Gross domestic product grew at a slower-than-expected pace of 6.3% in the second quarter compared with a year earlier, when dozens of Chinese cities were in lockdown, but just less than 1% from the first quarter. Deflation is a major risk now, the data showed, with economy-wide prices declining for the first time since 2020, while youth unemployment climbed to above 21%.
