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China's factory activity contracts for first time since April 2020
August 31, 2021--China's factory activity slipped into contraction in August for the first time in nearly 1-1/2 years as COVID-19 containment measures, supply bottlenecks and high raw material prices weighed on output in a blow to the economy.
The slowdown in the manufacturing sector underscores the fragility of the ongoing economic recovery and the impact of strict coronavirus curbs in the country, backing expectations Beijing will roll out more support measures to revitalise growth.
ETF Securities Releases Semiconductors ETF in Australia-Enabling Investors to Participate in this Indispensable Industry
August 31, 2021--The ongoing semiconductor shortage caught many businesses off guard as production of chips slowed down during the global pandemic. From domestic appliances to cars,almost every technological device relies on semiconductors,and the global shortage has taken its toll: car manufacturers idled their production lines[1] or- on the more creative side-utilized dummy chips in their production,which will be replaced by functional semiconductors as soon as the capacity allows it[2].
While there is a shortage,demand for semiconductor technology increases in the light of a global 5G rollout,interconnectivity,and smarter consumer technology. Major Australian issuer ETF Securities now releases an ETF,the ETFS Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI). This fund is the first Australian passive investment product in that space.
In its market forecast,the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) expects the worldwide semiconductor market growth to rise from 6.8 percent in 2020 to a staggering 19.7 percent in the year 2021,which corresponds to a market size of US$ 527 billion. For 2022,WSTS expects growth by 8.8 percent.[3] Enjoying tailwinds,companies active in the semiconductor business can be expected to outperform for the foreseeable future.
Vietnam's economy is forecast to grow by about 4.8 percent in 2021: WB
August 24, 2021--Vietnam's GDP is expected to expand by about 4.8 percent in 2021, although it has posted a robust economic performance in the first half of this year. This forecast, two percentage points lower than the projection made by the World Bank Group in December 2020, accounts for the negative impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 wave on economic activity.
The forecast was made in the latest edition of Taking Stock- the World Bank's biannual update on Vietnam's economic performance released today- highlighting the economic pains associated with the most recent COVID-19 outbreak. The mobility measures adopted by the government to contain the pandemic have hit the economy domestically.
view the Taking Stock:Digital Vietnam -The Path to Tomorrow report
Japan's economy rebounds in Q2, COVID clouds outlook
August 15, 2021--Japan's economy rebounded more than expected in the second quarter after slumping in the first three months of this year, data showed, a sign consumption and capital expenditure were recovering from the coronavirus pandemic's initial hit.
But many analysts expect growth to remain modest in the current quarter as state of emergency curbs reimposed to combat a spike in infections weigh on household spending.
The world's third-largest economy grew an annualised 1.3% in April-June after a revised 3.7% slump in the first quarter, preliminary gross domestic product (GDP) data showed on Monday, beating a median market forecast for a 0.7% gain.
China Signals Its Regulatory Crackdown Will Go On for Years
August 11, 2021--Authorities release five-year plan to strengthen rule of law
Calls for greater law enforcement across a range of sectors
China released a five-year blueprint calling for greater regulation of vast parts of the economy, providing a sweeping framework for the broader crackdown on key industries that has left investors reeling.
The document, jointly issued late Wednesday by the State Council and the Communist Party's Central Committee, said authorities would "actively" work on legislation in areas including national security, technology and monopolies. Law enforcement will be strengthened in sectors ranging from food and drugs to big data and artificial intelligence, the document said.
ASX Investment Products Monthly Update-July 2021
August 8, 2021--In July 2021, total assets under management of all ASX Investment Products increased from $410.65b to $423.05b.
ETPs were up 2.6% (up from $113.52b to $116.5b), mFunds were up 1.1% (up from $1.74b to $1.76b),
LICs & LITs were up 2.1% (up from $58.34b to $59.54b), AREITs were up 0.5% (up from $155.1b to $155.9b) and Infrastructure Funds were up 9.0% (up from $81.97b to $89.35b).
ASX also welcomed 1 new ASX Investment Product in the month of July.
IMF Staff Country Report-Philippines: Selected Issues
August 6, 2021--POTENTIAL OUTPUT AND SCARRING EFFECTS1
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a major economic downturn in the Philippines that could inflict longer-lasting adverse effects on the economy. These scarring effects reflect persistent pandemic effects on tourism and a few other service sectors, lower investment, skilllosses from high un-and underemployment, and increases in poverty.
Expansionary fiscal policy to stimulate demand and investment, measures to resolve a possible corporate debt overhang after the pandemic, and labor market policies to encourage sectoral reallocation would help to mitigate the extent of economic scarring.
A. Recent Developments1.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a major economic downturn in the Philippines, although a rebound is now underway. Economic activity was negatively affected by the disruption to supply from the pandemic and containment measures. Real GDP in2020 decreased by 9.6percent and unemployment rate rose to 10.4 percent in 2020 from 5.1 percent in2019.With the easing of containment measuresand policy support, economic recovery started in the second half of 2020. However, the COVID-19 impact has not yet been reversed, and a second wave of COVID-19 infections emerging in 2021 has slowed down the recovery. The real GDP level in the first quarter of 2021was still 4.2 percent lower than it was in the same quarter of last year. The unemployment rate also remained at 8.2 percent in first five months of 2021.
Indxx Licenses SPAC & NextGen IPO and US Green Infrastructure Indices to Korea Investment Management Co. for two Exchange Traded Funds
August 5, 2021--Indxx is pleased to announce the licensing of their Indxx SPAC & NextGen IPO Index and the Indxx US Green Infrastructure Index to Korea Investment Management Co. for two Exchange Traded Funds. The indices will serve as the underlying benchmarks for the KIM KINDEX US SPAC&IPO INDXX ETF and KIM KINDEX US Green Theme INDXX ETF, respectively.
Both funds are listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX). The Indxx SPAC & Next Generation IPO Index (Ticker:ISPACP) benchmarking the KIM KINDEX US SPAC & IPO INDXX ETF (Ticker:391590 KS Equity), seeks to accurately and comprehensively increase exposure to newly listed Special Purpose Acquisitions Corporations ("SPACs"), ex-warrant and initial public offerings derived from SPACs since August 1, 2017.
China green energy ETFs deliver best performance in first half
August 3, 2021--China's Green Energy ETFs surpassed other thematic and broad ETF strategies in early 2021 in signs of an economic shift to greener energy and more environmentally friendly consumer products.
According to Wind Info data, ETFs investing in green energy dominate the list of China's best performing ETFs in the first six months of the year, with seven out of ten ETFs dominated green energy.
Delta Variant Stalls Asia's Economic Recovery After Early Rebound
August 2, 2021--Rising Covid-19 cases and slow progress on vaccinations begin to paralyze region that had kept virus in check
Asia is emerging as a weak link in an otherwise strong global economic recovery, as new pandemic restrictions restrain manufacturing in some countries and the exports that have powered the recovery in China show signs of slowing.
With progress on vaccinations slower than in the West, Asia is hitting new pandemic highs driven by the Delta variant of the coronavirus. The spread of the virus is threatening to hurt consumer confidence and erode the advantage of many Asian economies as manufacturing powerhouses.
