Asia gold ETFs buck trend and attract strong inflows
July 21, 2021--Gold exchange-traded funds continue to attract strong inflows in Asia this year as many investors hedge widespread inflation concerns and protect them from uncertainty about the trajectory of pandemics and economic recovery.
As of the end of June, Asia-based gold ETFs recorded a net inflow of $ 1.6 billion, making it the only region to register for a net inflow. Gold ETFs based in China, India and Hong Kong are the main drivers of the influx.
In contrast, according to Morningstar data, outflows from US and European funds were large, with total net outflows of $ 8.5 billion and $ 3.6 billion, respectively, over the same period.
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Source: californianewstimes.com
SGX to launch more ESG products to help steel industry's decarbonisation efforts
July 13, 2021--The Singapore Exchange (SGX) said it will continue to launch trading products to help the global steel industry achieve its decarbonisation goals.
SGX chairman Kwa Chong Seng said the industry's need to tackle climate change has never been greater, given that it accounts for almost a tenth of global greenhouse gas emissions. He was speaking on Tuesday (July 13) at the virtual opening ceremony of this year's Singapore International Ferrous Week.
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Source: straitstimes.com
Thailand Economic Monitor July 2021: The Road to Recovery
July 13, 2021--Key Findings
Successive waves of COVID-19 disrupted the Thai economy in the first half of 2021, but their impact was mitigated by recovering global demand and substantial fiscal support.
The shock of the second wave caused the economy to contract by -2.6 percent in the first quarter of 2021, following a 6.1 percent drop in GDP in 2020-one of the steepest contractions among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states.
A third wave of infections emerged in April 2021 has proven especially severe with strict containment measures reducing mobility and negatively affecting consumption and business sentiment.
Exports of goods have provided substantial support to the Thai economy, driven by recovering global demand for automotive parts, electronics, machinery, and agricultural products.
Economic activity is not expected to return to its pre-pandemic levels until 2022, and the recovery is projected to be slow and uneven.
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Source: worldbank.org
Asian ETF launches outstrip the rest of the world
July 9, 2021--Rising interest in Chinese bond market helps drive regional surge
The number and variety of exchange traded funds in the Asia Pacific region is expanding faster than in the US and Europe, and Asian institutions are increasingly turning to locally listed products for more cost efficient trading during Asian market hours.
Asian institutional investors have traditionally invested in US or European-listed ETFs because of their greater scale and liquidity. However, Asian bourses are now drawing investors with a rising number of ETF launches, which far surpassed those in other regions last year.
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Source: ft.com
Hong Kong's CSOP chases Ark success with China tech ETF launches
June 30, 2021--CSOP Asset Administration, among one of Hong Kong's fastest-growing exchange traded fund issuers, has launched into a product-launching spree to seize the rising demand for thematic publicity to expertise corporations.
The supervisor has additionally set its sights on emulating the recognition of US ETF supplier Ark Funding and has taken its cue from founder Cathie Wooden's strategy of betting closely on revolutionary expertise funding themes, however in this case with a concentration Chinese language corporations.
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Source: cyberbizsource.com
China: Economic Activity Continues to Normalize though Some Risks Remain-World Bank Report
June 29, 2021--China's recovery has broadened as economic activity has continued to normalize. Economic growth in China is projected to reach 8.5 percent this year before slowing to 5.4 percent in 2022, as low base effects dissipate and the economy returns to trend growth.
Improved consumer and business confidence and better labor market conditions will support a shift towards private domestic demand from public investment and exports. On the supply side, the drivers of economic growth are expected to gradually transition from industrial production toward services, according to Beyond the Recovery: Charting a Green and Inclusive Growth Path, the latest China Economic Update released today by the World Bank.
Risks to China's economic outlook are broadly balanced. On the downside, repeated COVID-19 outbreaks could disrupt economic activity, despite efforts to suppress the spread of the virus. Bilateral tensions with key trading partners and financial stability risks associated with high corporate leverage and inflated property markets could also derail growth prospects.
view the World Bank Cina Economic Update-Beyond the Recovery: Charting a Green and Inclusive Growth Path
Source: worldbank.org
Malaysia Economic Monitor June 2021: Weathering the Surge
June 23, 2021--Malaysia has seen a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, affecting households, firms and the overall trajectory of the country's economic recovery
Daily new infections averaged 7,000 cases in the last week of May. By the start of June, average case counts and fatality rates outpaced those of regional peers Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and India, which was the global epicenter for the pandemic earlier in the year.
Hospitals managing COVID-19 are operating at maximum capacity, with dedicated Intensive Care Units operating above 90 percent.
The number of vulnerable households is expected to remain elevated or increase.
Rebounding global conditions provides some relief, despite the effects of the pandemic on the domestic economy
Domestic demand continued its decline in Q1 2021 by -0.9 percent but was cushioned by a relatively lower decline in private consumption at -1.5 percent compared to the previous quarter
view the Malaysia Economic Monitor, June 2021:Weathering the Surge
Source: worldbank.org
Five Things to Know About Thailand's Economy and COVID-19
June 23, 2021--Like many countries, Thailand's economy was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic last year. The country's GDP fell by over 6 percent in 2020 and many workers, especially those related to the tourism sector, lost their jobs.
This was despite decisive action on the government's part to implement a package of fiscal, monetary, and financial policies to mitigate the impact of the virus on the country.
According to the IMF's latest annual assessment or Article IV consultation, Thailand's economy is forecast to grow at 2.6 percent in 2021, and a surge in COVID-19 infections in the country and the region since the beginning of the year highlights the uncertainty about the path of the pandemic and the importance of continued efforts to contain the spread of the virus for a strong and durable recovery.
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Source: IMF
BetaShares Australian ETF Review-May 2021: ETF Industry Grows Exponentially While LICs Stagnate
June 20, 2021--The Australian ETF industry continued its strong growth in May, once again aided by sharemarket appreciation and robust net inflows. In this edition of the ETF Review, we also check in on the relative growth of the Australian ETF v. Listed Investment Company (LIC) industries-it's certainly a tale of two cities!
Market cap
ASX Exchange Traded Product market cap: $111.7B1-all time end-of-month high
Market cap change for month: 2.7%, $2.9B
Market cap growth for the last 12 months: 75%, + $47.7B - fastest yearly growth ($ terms) on record
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Source: betashares.com.au
Tokyo Stock Exchange weighs extending hours to lure foreign money
June 17, 2021--Japanese bourse eyes domestic retail and overseas investors in global push
The Tokyo Stock Exchange is planning to extend trading hours beyond the current 3 p.m. so that it can stay open longer for investors in European and U.S. time zones, Nikkei learned on Monday.
The plan, which also provides more opportunities for domestic retail investors who trade after work, will be limited to the spot-trading of stocks. The exchange will discuss the plan with financial companies.
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Source: asia.nikkei.com