QDII 2 unveiled in landmark China opening
April 11, 2014--A scheme to link the Hong Kong and Shanghai exchanges and allow institutions and wealthy individuals to trade cross-border is broadly welcomed.
The launch is expected in six months, potentially alongside mutual recognition of funds.
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Source: Asian Investor
Time For South Asia to Focus Attention on Domestic Risks, World Bank Says
With external vulnerability receding, time to refocus on reforms
April 9, 2014--The World Bank said today it was cautiously optimistic about economic prospects in South Asia in 2014 because of growing exports and investment as it emphasized that the risks to growth were becoming more domestic, including an increasingly vulnerable banking sector.
In its twice-a-year "South Asia Economic Focus", the World Bank forecast that economic growth would rise to 5.8% in 2015 from 5.2% this year and 4.8% last year. South Asian countries -which include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka- appeared to have largely recovered from last year's financial turmoil caused by changes in US Federal Reserve monetary policy. Many were rebuilding currency reserves while curbing current account deficits.
view the World Bank South Asia Economic Focus Spring 2014 report
Source: World Bank
Malaysia's i-VCAP to boost Islamic ETF with foreign stocks
April 8, 2014--I-VCAP Management, Malaysia's only asset manager offering Islamic exchange-traded funds, will this year launch its first product that includes foreign equities to attract new investors.
The new Islamic ETF will be pegged to a regional index and serve investors looking for a more convenient and affordable way into sharia-compliant stocks in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, i-VCAP said.
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Source: Reuters
Barclays El-Asmar to depart
April 8, 2014--Philippe El-Asmar, head of global equities distribution and head of distribution Asia Pacific at Barclays in Hong Kong, will leave the firm at the end of April.
Patrick Kwan, head of global financing risk solutions at the firm, also in Hong Kong, will assume El-Asmar's duties, while retaining his current role. The reason for El-Asmar’s departure could not be determined.
East Asian Economies Expected to Grow at a Stable Pace in 2014
Structural Reforms Key to Long-Term Growth and Prosperity
April 7, 2014--Developing countries in the East Asia Pacific region will see stable economic growth this year,bolstered by a recovery in high-income economies and the market's modest response so far to the Federal Reserve's tapering of its quantitative easing,according to the East Asia Pacific Economic Update released today by the World Bank.
Developing East Asia will grow by 7.1 percent this year,largely unchanged from 2013,the report says. As a result,East Asia remains the fastest growing region in the world,despite a slowdown from the average growth rate of 8.0 percent from 2009 to 2013. In China,growth will ease slightly,to 7.6 percent this year from 7.7 percent in 2013. Excluding China,the developing countries in the region will grow by 5.0 percent,slightly down from 5.2 percent last year.
view the World Bank
East Asia Pacific Economic Update
April 2014
Source: World Bank
ETF/ETN Monthly Report for Mar 2014
April 4, 2014--Daily average trading value surpassed JPY 100 billion for the fifth consecutive month
The ETF/ETN market remained vibrant in March 2014, with a daily average trading value of about JPY 119.2 billion and monthly trading value reaching about JPY 2.38 trillion.
Leveraged ETFs continued to be a driving force in the market, with NEXT FUNDS Nikkei 225 Leveraged Index Exchange Traded Fund (1570) sustaining its more than 60% share of ETF/ETN market trading value.
NEXT FUNDS Russia RTS Linked Exchange Traded Fund (1324) also saw considerable gains in trading.
view the Tokyo Stock Exchange ETF/ETN Monthly Report for Mar 2014
Source: TSE (Tokyo Stock Exchange)
ETF License Application for TOPIX Double Inverse (-2x) Index
April 2, 2014--The TSE is now accepting license applications for ETFs based on this index as follows:
Indices for ETF License Application
TOPIX Double Inverse (-2x) Index
2.License Coverage Area
Japan
3.License Application Period
From April 2nd to April 15th of 2014
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Source: TSE (Tokyo Stock Exchange)
Singapore Exchange mulls starting physical gold trading
SGX may join peers in South Korea and China in offering physical bullion trading as Asian demand increases, drawing supplies out of Europe.
March 27, 2014--Singapore Exchange Ltd., Southeast Asia's biggest bourse operator, is considering starting physical gold trading, according to three people with direct knowledge of the matter.
The plan would include bullion deliveries into and out of the Southeast Asian country, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the issue is confidential. SGX declined to comment in an e-mailed statement.
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Source: MineWeb
Futures tracking new Nikkei index to trade on OSE
March 26, 2014--Japan Exchange Group, operator of Asia's largest bourse, said Tuesday that it will launch futures products based on the recently created JPX-Nikkei Index 400 stock average on its Osaka Exchange this fall.
Come October or November, investors will be able to use the index-linked futures to hedge against risks associated with stock market fluctuations, helping them limit losses in the event of a downturn.
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Source: Asian Review
Japanese investment in foreign securities hit new high in 2013
March 26, 2014--The value of outstanding Japanese investment in foreign securities rose 18% to reach a record 478 trillion yen ($4.63 trillion) at the end of last year, Bank of Japan data released Tuesday shows.
Institutional and retail investors alike took their funds abroad in light of the yen's softening and low interest rates at home. At the same time, anticipation that Japan may break free from years of deflation has prompted a resurgence in foreign capital inflows as well.
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Source: Asian Review
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