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Hong Kong slips down the IPO rankings
June 20, 2012--Hong Kong's crown has slipped. After leading the world by the amount raised from initial public offerings from 2009 to 2011, the Chinese city is this year set to tumble down the global rankings.
Just $3.2bn has been raised from new listings in Hong Kong this year, according to Dealogic, down from $35.4bn for the whole of 2011 and a record $67.8bn in 2010. Nasdaq and the New York and Shanghai stock exchanges are leading the pack so far in 2012, with Hong Kong in seventh place.
ETFs stable despite market volatility
June 18, 2012--The number of units on issue in the Australian exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry was stable last month, primarily due to new money flowing into several ETFs across a number of asset classes this month, according to BetaShares' Australian ETF Review for May.
While market cap shrunk slightly to $5.2 billion, BetaShares believes the drop can be attributed to market forces, with equity markets down seven per cent during May.
Accordingly, the most popular products for the month were the high interest cash ETFs which attracted just over $20 million in funds, along with high dividend ETFs which, combined, attracted approximately $18 million.
DB-Equity Research-Asia-Pac-ETF Market Weekly Review:ETP assets added $4bn during last week's rally
June 18, 2012--Market Review
Last week, all the markets in the Asia-Pacific region were in positive territory except Australia. From north to south, Japan (Nikkei 225) climbed 1.30%, Korea (KOSPI2) gained 1.18%, China (CSI 300) advanced by 1.73%, Hong Kong (HSI) increased by 3.95%, Singapore (FSSTI) was up by 2.67%, while Australia (S&P/ASX 200) declined by 0.16% over the previous week.
New Launch Review
Twelve new products were launched in the Asia-Pacific ETP market during last week. ETF Securities Ltd listed ten commodity ETCs on Australian Securities Exchange offering exposure to Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index, and nine subindices representing the commodity sectors - agriculture, copper, corn, natural gas, grains, industrial metals, energy, crude, and wheat. CIMB-GK Securities Pte Ltd listed two cross currency equity ETFs on Singapore Exchange offering exposure to FTSE/ASEAN 40 Index and S&P Ethical Pan Asia Select Dividend Opportunities Index.
Turnover Review
Asia-Pacific ETP turnover totaled $4.6bn for last week, 14% down from the previous week’s total. South Korea continued to be on top of the turnover ranking with $1.8bn, followed by China ($1.3bn), Hong Kong ($0.8bn), Japan ($0.5bn), and Australia ($0.1bn). Among Equity ETFs, Emerging Country, Leveraged Strategy, Short Strategy, and Asia Pac Developed Country ETFs had total turnover of $2.1bn, $0.8bn, $0.6bn, and $0.6bn respectively. Under the Commodity asset class, turnover in Gold ETPs totaled $82m for the last week.
Assets Under Management Review
Last week, Asia-Pacific ETP AUM increased by $3.9bn and ended at $107bn. On a year-to-date basis, Asia-Pacific ETP market is up by $19bn or 21% above last year’s closing.
7 ETFs simplify investing further with SGD pricing
June 15, 2012--Effective today, three ETFs that track equity indices and four ETFs that track fixed income instruments begin dual currency trading with SGD priced counters, in addition to the existing USD trading counters.
SGD pricing can assist those investors that use these ETFs along with other SGD denominated markets to execute portfolio strategies and cash equalisation strategies.
Investors can now have the flexibility to buy and sell these ETFs in USD or SGD.
Corporate actions such as dividend distribution will always be given in the primary currency of the listed security. Thus, distribution of those ETFs that pay out dividends will be in USD.
Effective today, Singapore Exchange (SGX) offers dual currency trading for seven ETFs, which includes three equity index ETFs and four fixed income ETFs. This allows investors to trade US dollar denominated ETFs in Singapore dollars. The seven ETFs are not new ETFs per se, rather they are the same ETFs, with a counter priced in SGD in addition to a counter priced in USD.
Thai Bourse To List First Thai ETF Based On Hang Seng Index
June 15, 2012--The Stock Exchange of Thailand's (SET) will list KTAM Hong Kong ETF Tracker, or HK, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) managed by Krung Thai Asset Management pcl (KTAM) on June 19. It is Thailand's first ETF based on Hang Seng index.
HK invests in Tracker Fund of Hong Kong, a Hong Kong-listed ETF designed to provide investment results that closely correspond to the performance of the Hang Seng index, which measures the performance of largest and most liquid companies listed in Hong Kong.
SET President Charamporn Jotikasthira, said: “Hong Kong is Asia’s third biggest stock exchange, the world’s seventh largest stock exchange, and the key channel for investing in China. This ETF should be a good investment option for Thais who want to diversify into overseas markets. HK, then, will be a convenient and fast channel for investment in Hong Kong, creating returns by tracking the Hang Seng index with easy trading through local broker. In addition, this ETF has policy to pay dividend of up to four times a year
IMF Working Paper-Global and Regional Spillovers to Pacific Island Countries
June 14, 2012--Summary: Regional integration of Pacific Island countries (PICs) with Australia, New Zealand, and emerging Asia has increased over the last two decades. PICs have become more exposed to the region's business cycles, and spillovers from regional economies are more important for PICs than from advanced economies outside the region. While strong linkages with Asia would help in the event of a global downturn, PICs remain particularly vulnerable to global commodity price shocks.
In this paper, we use a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) for each PIC to gauge the impact of global and regional growth spillovers. The analysis reveals that the impact on PICs’ growth from an adverse oil shock would be substantial, and in some cases even larger than from a negative global demand shock. We also assess the spillovers to the financial sector from the deterioration of the global outlook. PICs should continue to rebuild policy buffers and implement growth-oriented structural reforms to ensure sustained and inclusive growth.
view the IMF Working paper-Global and Regional Spillovers to Pacific Island Countries
India's Gold ETF Assets Nearly Double in May
June 14, 2012--The assets held under India's gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) nearly doubled year on year to $1.85 billion (INR 103.12 billion) as of May 31, 2012.
The assets were valued at $981 million (INR 54.63 billion) a year earlier, according to the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).
Total assets under gold ETFs were at $1.83 billion (INR 102.18 billion) in April 2012, AMFI data showed.
Hong Kong to offer renminbi loans to banks
June 14, 2012--Hong Kong's central bank will start providing Chinese currency loans to the city's banks on Friday to prevent a shortage of liquidity from destabilising the offshore renminbi market.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced on Thursday that it would offer one-week renminbi loans in exchange for high-quality collateral such as Chinese government bonds.
ETFGI Asia Pacific (Ex-Japan) ETF/ETP industry insights-May 2012
June 13, 2012--Summary for Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) listed ETFs
At the end of May 2012, the Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) ETF industry had 364 ETFs, with 472 listings, assets of US$65.4 Bn, from 82 providers on 14 exchanges.
Assets
ETF assets have increased by 8.5% from US$60.3 Bn in April 2012 to US$65.4 Bn in May 2012.
YTD through end of May 2012, ETF assets have increased by 20.2% from US$54.4 Bn to US$65.4 Bn.
Flows
In May 2012, ETFs saw net inflows of US$8.1 Bn. YTD through end of May 2012, ETFs saw net inflows of US$7.9 Bn.
Huatai-PineBridge Fund Management gathered the largest net inflows in May with US$4.1 Bn, followed by Harvest Fund Management with US$2.8 Bn and Polaris with US$0.5 Bn net inflows.
Huatai-PineBridge Fund Management gathered the largest net inflows YTD with US$4.1 Bn, followed by Harvest Fund Management with US$2.8 Bn and Samsung Investment Trust Management with US$0.7 Bn net inflows.
iShares experienced the largest net outflows in May with US$0.3 Bn. China Asset Management experienced the largest net outflows YTD with US$0.5 Bn, followed by Polaris with US$0.3 Bn and Woori Asset Management with US$0.1 Bn net outflows.
Summary for Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) listed ETFs/ETPs
Including other Exchange Traded Products (ETPs), at the end of May 2012, the Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) ETF/ETP industry had 384 ETFs/ETPs, with 495 listings, assets of US$67.9 Bn, from 88 providers on 14 exchanges.
Assets
ETF/ETP assets have increased by 7.6% from US$63.1 Bn in April 2012 to US$67.9 Bn in May 2012.
YTD through end of May 2012, ETF/ETP assets have increased by 19.2% from US$56.9 Bn to US$67.9 Bn.
Flows
In May 2012, ETFs/ETPs saw net inflows of US$7.9 Bn. YTD through end of May 2012, ETFs/ETPs saw net inflows of US$7.8 Bn.
Huatai-PineBridge Fund Management gathered the largest net inflows in May with US$4.1 Bn, followed by Harvest Fund Management with US$2.8 Bn and Polaris with US$0.5 Bn net inflows. Huatai-PineBridge Fund Management gathered the largest net inflows YTD with US$4.1 Bn, followed by Harvest Fund Management with US$2.8 Bn and Samsung Investment Trust Management with US$0.7 Bn net inflows.
iShares experienced the largest net outflows in May with US$0.3 Bn. China Asset Management experienced the largest net outflows YTD with US$0.5 Bn, followed by Polaris with US$0.3 Bn and Citigroup with US$0.3 Bn net outflows.
IMF-2012 Article IV Consultation with Japan
June 12, 2012--The Japanese economy has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability in the aftermath of the Great East Japan earthquake and is now experiencing a recovery. Risks, however, have shifted decidedly to the downside, with the turmoil in Europe intensifying and other advanced and key emerging market economies showing signs of slowing.
Moreover, to address the longstanding challenges of high public debt, low growth, and deflation, Japan needs to move forcefully on many fronts to take advantage of synergies among policies. The immediate priority is passage of the current tax and social security reform, which would bolster confidence and help create a more conducive environment for monetary easing. It would also help maintain financial sector stability, given increased fiscal and financial sector linkages. An exit from deflation and accelerated structural reforms would raise growth and support fiscal adjustment. This statement summarizes the findings of the Article IV consultation and the recent Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) Update.
