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South Korea’s Economic Growth Weakens as Exports Sink on Europe: Economy
January 25, 2012--South Korea’s economy grew the least in two years in the fourth quarter as exports sank because of Europe’s sovereign debt crisis and a faltering global expansion.
Gross domestic product expanded 0.4 percent from the third quarter, when it gained 0.8 percent, the central bank said in Seoul today. That was less than the median 0.5 percent estimate of 10 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. From a year earlier, growth was 3.4 percent.
A U.S. Federal Reserve pledge yesterday to keep interest rates low through at least late 2014 and a report showing a contraction in the U.K. economy highlighted the global weakness that has triggered monetary easing in Asia.
Change in Launch Date for OSE DJIA Futures
January 24, 2012--Osaka Securities Exchange Co., Ltd. (OSE) planned to launch trading in OSE Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures on Monday, February 27, 2012. However, considering the status of the preparations in various areas for the launch of trading, etc., OSE has decided to change the launch date.
OSE will announce later the new launch date well in advance, considering the progress of preparations, etc.
Meanwhile, Nikkei 225 Volatility Index Futures will be launched, as scheduled, on February 27, 2012.
DB - Equity Research - Asia Pacific ETF Weekly Review: ETP AUM moves closer to $100bn amid market rally
January 23, 2012--Market Review
Equity market rally continued over the last week in Asia-Pacific markets as falling European borrowing costs released some pressure from the debt crisis and economic reports showed improved U.S. economy data.
In all, Japan (Nikkei 225) gained 3.13%, Korea (KOSPI2) increased by 4.62%, China (CSI 300) advanced by 4.58%, Hong Kong (HSI) climbed by 4.72%, Singapore (FSSTI) rose by 2.07% and Australia (S&P/ASX 200) grew by 1.04% over the previous week.
New Launch Review
Last week, two new ETFs were launched in Asia-Pacific market. Mirae Asset MAPS Global Investments listed one Equity ETF and Samsung Asset Management listed one Fixed Income ETF on Korea Stock Exchange tracking FnGuide Consumer Index and Long Term Korea Treasury Bond Futures Index respectively.
Turnover Review
Asia-Pacific ETP turnover totaled $6.8bn during last week, 7.1% up from the previous week’s total. South Korea continues to be on top of the turnover ranking with $2.5bn, followed by China ($2bn), Hong Kong ($1.3bn), Japan ($0.7bn), and Taiwan ($0.1bn). Among Equity ETFs, Emerging Country, Leveraged Strategy, Asia Pac Developed Country, and Short Strategy ETFs had total turnover of $3.4bn, $1.1bn, $1bn and $0.8bn respectively. Under the Commodity asset class, turnover in Gold ETPs totaled $117m for the last week.
Assets Under Management Review
Last week, Asia-Pacific ETP AUM reached $96.9bn after an increase of 3.6% over the previous week. On a year to date basis, Asia-Pacific ETP market is up by $6.2bn or 6.8% above last year’s closing.
DB - Equity Research -Asia-Pac ETF+ Monthly Directory : December 2011 ETPs
January 23, 2012--his document includes all Asia-Pacific listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded commodities (ETCs). The directory is organized by country and asset-class-related sub sections. Within each sub section it has been sorted by ETP issuer by alphabetical order and by AUM in descending order.
A number of key information per product has been included in order to enable the reader to get an overview in their respective area of interest.
Among the key numeric information we include avg. daily turnover, assets under management, and cash flows (all in $US). If you have any questions for any of the products listed, or any suggestions on how to improve the directory going forward, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
SFC explains how credit rating affects issuance, trading of warrants, CBBCs
January 20, 2012--In the latest issue of InvestEd Intelligence, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) reminds those who invest in derivative warrants and callable bull/bear contracts (CBBCs) to stay abreast of the issuer’s credit worthiness and understand how a credit rating downgrade may affect their investments.
When downgraded to a notch below the top three investment grades of credit rating agencies (CRAs) recognised by the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Ltd (SEHK), issuers of derivative warrants and CBBCs listed locally may not be allowed to offer new issues (Note 1). These issuers will continue to provide liquidity to investors unless they go into default or become insolvent.
India to launch $35bn of public investments
January 19, 2012--India is to launch a $35bn wave of public sector investment to reverse a decline in the fast-growing economy’s growth rate and return it closer to double digits, according to the prime minister’s office.
The emergency stimulus measures are in response to widespread criticism of policy paralysis in New Delhi and a dramatic fall in economic growth to 7 per cent from an earlier 9 per cent
Tokyo Commodity Exchange: Important Notice For Customers Dealing In Nikkei-TOCOM Commodity Index Futures
January 19, 2012--The Contract Day Transaction of Nikkei-TOCOM Commodity Index Futures will be terminated at 15:30 on Wednesday, February 29, 2012.
In this regard, customers who have outstanding positions, or plan to trade the Contract Day Transaction of Nikkei-TOCOM Commodity Index Futures, are strongly advised to be aware of the following points and take necessary actions.
1.The Contract Day Transaction of Nikkei-TOCOM Commodity Index Futures will be terminated at 15:30 on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. 2.With regard to remaining positions of the Contract Day Transaction at the termination time, all positions will be automatically settled against the Settlement Index Point for the day, and you will not be able to retain any position after the termination of the Contract Day Transaction of Nikkei-TOCOM Commodity Index Futures.
Please be noted that you can continue to trade the Contract Month Transaction of Nikkei-Commodity Index Futures (contract with an expiry) launched on May 2nd, 2011.
Japan's bankers join government in voicing Volcker rule concerns
January 19, 2012--The head of Japan's main banking lobby group said Thursday his association will send a letter to the U.S. government expressing concern about the possible impact of the Volcker Rule on trading in Japanese government bonds, following similar worries raised by Japan's Financial Services Agency and the Bank of Japan.
"We'll express our similar concerns as public comments [to the U.S. authorities]," Katsunori Nagayasu, chairman of the Japanese Bankers Association, said at a regular news conference.
Last week, Japanese regulators sent a letter to the U.S. government asking it to give "due consideration" to how it implements the Volcker Rule, which aims to limit some proprietary trading by banks in the U.S.
KRX To List A 10-Year KTB ETF
January 18, 2012--The Korea Exchange, Inc. (KRX) is going to list KODEX 10-year KTB ETF, which starts trading from January 20, 2012.
The underlying asset of the new ETF is F-LKTB index that tracks the nearest month contract of 10-year KTB Futures (10-year maturity, annual coupon rate of 5% and semiannual interest payment). The ETF will be managed by Samsung Asset Management.
With the listing of the new ETF, the total number of ETFs listed this year would be four, bring the total number of the ETFs listed on the KRX to 110.
China Strategy: tackling uncertainties
January 18, 2012--An uncertain outlook calls for policy flexibility
Despite a relatively strong 4Q2011, we are still concerned about the huge uncertainty in the euro zone, and its
significant spillover to China and other Asian economies.
Luckily, if such downside risks materialize, China does have the capacity to ease more aggressively—including possible interest rate cut, particularly in 2Q when inflation is
expected to drop sharply (see page 2: An Interest Rate Cut: Can? Should? Will?).
China has somewhat eased already, and the uncertainty overhanging on our baseline scenario of a soft-landing calls for more flexible and forward-looking policy responses.
China’s energy, property, internet, utilities, and Macau gaming are likely to outperform
With inflation trending down and policy being more supportive of growth, we believe that investment opportunities lie in the following sectors. We see possible domestic oil price/tariff hikes and continued energy reforms benefiting the energy and the utility sectors. In addition, the property sector is likely to see a turning point in 2Q as China’s policy focus has shifted from tight to gradual relaxation, and similarly Macau gaming will benefit too. Bedsides, after severe sell offs in late 2011, value has emerged in the Internet sector while the long-term trend of Internet as the more vibrant sector of the telecommunication value chain remains intact.
