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Risks in the Financial System Report
January 22, 2010--Finansinspektionen warns that there are several potential risks that must be carefully monitored. One of the risk areas highlighted in the new report, Risks in the Financial System, and the object of a review by FI is the mortgage market.
FI believes that mortgage credit losses do not constitute a threat to the stability of the banks. However, heavily borrowed households may suffer when interest rates rise if the banks do not carry out comprehensive credit checks.
Micro loans, often called SMS loans, are another threat for consumers. Companies that offer micro loans do not fall under FI's control and thereby are not subject to supervision. FI believes that legislation in this area must be reviewed.
The results of the new stress tests conducted by FI during the fall show that the Swedish banks can withstand sustained major credit losses in the Baltics and that their capital buffers are stronger now than they were in the spring.
In order to gain an overview of the current global financial risks, FI created a panel of internationally renowned experts. The panel emphasised that the commercial real estate sector is a source of risk and indicated that this sector can cause large credit losses in the future, both in Europe and the USA. It is the opinion of the panel that there are still significant risks in Eastern Europe.
view the Risks in the financial system November 2009
Source: Finansinspektionen
IOSCO completes global framework to fight against cross-border market abuse
January 22, 2010--IOSCO completes global framework to fight against cross-border market abuse The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has announced that it has achieved its goal, set in 2005, of having its eligible membership sign onto or committed to sign the Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding concerning Consultation, Cooperation and the Exchange of Information (MMoU).
The goal was achieved at the last meeting of the Chairs of the Executive, Technical and Emerging Markets Committees, at the conclusion of which the Conseil du Marché Financier of Tunisia was invited to become the latest full signatory to Appendix A of the MMoU. From IOSCO’s eligible membership of 115 securities regulators, 96% now meet the requirements needed to become signatories to the MMoU, or have made the necessary commitment to seeking national legislative changes to allow them to do so in the near future.
The 64 full MMoU signatories can now request and share confidential information in the pursuit of cross-border securities offences. IOSCO’s rigorous expert assessments found that these jurisdictions are fully compliant with the cooperation and enforcement requirements of the MMoU.
The majority of the remaining eligible IOSCO members, a further 46, have indicated their commitment to seeking the changes necessary to become signatories. A small number of members have yet to formally enter the process and are likely to receive technical assistance to help them meet the minimum requirements.
view the Memorandum of Understanding concerning Consultation, Cooperation and the Exchange of Information
Source: IOSCO
DB Index Research -- Weekly ETF reports -- Europe
January 21, 2010--Highlights
ETF Volume
Exchange based Equity ETF turnover declined by 2.8% on the previous week. Daily turnover for the previous week was E1.1bn. European fixed income ETF turnover rose by 5.8% to E207.5m.
n exchange based bond ETFs, db x-trackers II EONIA TR Index ETF has the highest daily turnover of E18.30m. Among the Equity ETFs, iShares DAX (DE) has the highest daily turnover of E52.71m.
There were 23 new listings last week. CASAM issued thirteen new ETFs on NYSE Euronext Paris followed by Credit Suisse AM which issued seven new ETFs on Swiss Stock Exchange. UBS issued two new ETFs on Swiss Stock Exchange and ETFlab launched one new ETF on Deutsche Borse. All the new listings were primary listings.
European Regional ETFs remained at the top position as leading product area with total turnover of E342m with 31.93% of total ETF turnover followed by Country ETFs with total turnover of E248m accounting for 23.15% of total ETF turnover. The DAX ETFs remain the dominant country products with total average daily volume of E123m across the fourteen listed products and accounting for 11.4% of all equity ETF volume.
DJ Euro STOXX 50 ETFs accounted for 15.4% of turnover trading E165m per day with liquidity split across 17 ETFs and 44 different listings on 9 exchanges.
Market Share
The Deutsche Borse XTF platform has the largest market share with 37.7% of total turnover. The Euronext NextTrack platform has 18.3% market share. The LSE’s combined Italian Exchange and London market share is now 28.0%.
Assets under Management (AUM)
Total European Equity related AUM declined by 1.6% to E115.7bn during last week. AUM for DJ Euro STOXX 50 ETFs was E22.9bn accounting for 20.0% of total European AUM. Fixed Income ETF AUM remained at about the same level at E36.4bn.
Overall, the largest ETF by AUM was Lyxor ETF DJ Euro STOXX 50, an Equity based ETF, with AUM of E5.2bn. The largest Fixed Income ETF by AUM was the iShares € Corporate Bond with AUM of E3.3bn.
To request a copy of the report
Source: Aram Flores and Shan Lan -DB Index Research
FSA Chairman calls for close engagement between accounting standard setters and prudential regulators of banks
January 21, 2010--FSA chairman, Lord Turner, today called for close engagement between global accounting standard setters and those responsible for prudential regulation of the banking sector to address issues arising from the unique systemic nature of banks.
Financial Services Authority (FSA) chairman, Lord Turner, today called for close engagement between global accounting standard setters and those responsible for prudential regulation of the banking sector to address issues arising from the unique systemic nature of banks.
Speaking today at a conference hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) in London, Adair Turner, said: “No other sector of the economy is remotely comparable to banking in its capacity to be a driver of economic volatility rather than a victim of it.” As a result, he argued that banks must be viewed differently from any other sector of the economy, including the rest of the financial sector, and that accounting standards relevant to banks need to reflect these differences.
He highlighted two aspects of existing bank accounting practice which contribute to the problem of procyclicality and are, therefore, intrinsically tied to macro-prudential and macroeconomic concerns:
First, the accounting treatment of loan losses within the banking book. This bases loan loss provisions on evidence of already current credit impairment and does not allow for reasonable judgements on future potential losses. And second, the ‘fair value’ valuation approach (predominantly ‘mark-to-market’) in the trading book, which recognises unrealised gains or losses and which, especially when applied to illiquid securities, can drive harmful volatility in both upswings and downswings.
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Source: FSA
GAM unit hoping to list physically-backed base metals ETFs by year end -source
The exchange traded funds will be listed on the Swiss exchange
January 21, 2010--GAM Holding (GAMH.VX) unit Swiss and Global Asset Management (S&G) plans to list some of the first physically-backed base metals exchange traded funds by the end of the year, a source close to the asset manager said.
The ETFs, to be listed on the Swiss exchange, will buy physical quantities of copper, zinc, aluminium and nickel to gain exposure to spot market prices rather than futures contracts, where prices can diverge sharply from spot prices, the source said.
As a result of this divergence, asset managers say, commodities ETF investors can find their returns vary widely from those of the underlying commodity.
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Source: MineWeb
Government moves to support UK Islamic finance industry
January 21, 2010--The Treasury has introduced measures in Parliament to support Islamic finance and the issuance of corporate sukuk within the UK.
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 Order 2010, will help to provide a level playing field for corporate sukuk within the UK. The Order provides clarity on the regulatory treatment of corporate sukuk, reducing the legal costs for these types of investments and removing unnecessary obstacles to their issuance.
Sukuk are a broad class of financial instruments designed to replicate the economic function of bonds, but with a structure which complies with Islamic principles. Although there is an obvious appeal to the Muslim community, sukuk can be issued and bought by everyone.
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP said:
“The Government’s objectives on Islamic finance are to enhance the UK’s competitiveness in financial services by maintaining the UK’s position as a Western leader for international Islamic finance; and to ensure that everybody, irrespective of their religious beliefs, has access to competitively priced financial products.”
“This measure is another important step in the development of the Islamic finance sector in the UK and will help to provide a level playing field for Islamic financial products in this country. It is good news for the UK economy and for our Islamic finance industry.”
view the Impact Assessment of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2010
Source: HM Treasury
January 2010: Flash Consumer Confidence Indicator
January 21, 2010--In January 2010, the DG ECFIN flash estimate of the consumer confidence indicator signals an improvement for the EU aggregate (up to -13.3 from -14.3 in December) and a broadly unchanged level for the euro-area aggregate (-15.8 compared with -16.1 in December).
The Economic Sentiment Indicator continues to recover
The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) rose once again in December to 92.0 (+4.1 points) in the EU and to 91.3 (+2.5) in the euro area. It has improved in both areas for nine consecutive months since its trough in March 2009, though it still remains below its long-term average.
view tables
Source: European Commission Economic and Financial Affairs
FSA outlines concerns about firms' handling of clients' money and assets
January 21, 2010--The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has sent a letter and report to the chief executive officers (CEOs) of major insurance brokers and investment firms which are able to hold money or assets on behalf of clients. The letter draws attention to the FSA’s concerns over the handling of clients’ money and assets
It follows a letter sent to firms in March 2009, which explained the obligations a firm has to protect clients’ money and assets and set out the FSA’s intention to conduct further firm visits during 2009.
Subsequently the FSA visited a range of firms and found a number of failings. As a result, the FSA took the decision to write to chief executives with an accompanying report containing details of visit findings, and highlighting some of the weaknesses discovered.
These included:
poor management oversight and control;
lack of establishment of trust status for segregated accounts;
unclear arrangements for the segregation and diversification of clients’ money; and
incomplete or inaccurate records, accounts and reconciliations.
The FSA has already taken measures against a number of the firms that it visited, including referring two firms to enforcement, freezing a firm’s assets and commissioning skilled persons reports.
Sally Dewar, managing director of risk, said:
"The client asset rules are a key protection for consumers. It is simply unacceptable that firms are not ensuring that consumers get the appropriate protection. We have pointed out our concerns to firms and will be following up these concerns with further visits this year."
The report also includes examples of how firms should meet FSA expectations in relation to compliance with its requirements. Over the course of the year, the FSA will be increasing its visits to firms to assess how well these are being met.
view Client Money & Asset report
Source: FSA.org
World Bank Turkey Country Director Ulrich Zachau has spoken highly of the Turkish economy’s outlook for 2010, noting that it is undergoing a process of recovery.
January 20, 2010--World Bank Turkey Country Director Ulrich Zachau has spoken highly of the Turkish economy’s outlook for 2010, noting that it is undergoing a process of recovery.
The recovery started last year, Zachau said and went on: “Even though the official numbers haven’t been disclosed yet, the growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2009 seems to be on the positive side compared to the same period a year ago. The fundamentals of the Turkish economy are still sturdy.”
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency on Wednesday, the World Bank official shared his remarks regarding the Turkish economy’s performance in 2009 and its possible course this year. Zachau reiterated the World Bank’s official expectation of around a 3 to 4 percent growth rate in 2010 for Turkey, especially fueled by a reinvigoration in domestic consumption.
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Source: Todays Zaman
Index Linked Notes, New Investment Product On The Spanish Stock Exchange
Three issues by Barclays Bank to start trading
January 20, 2010--
The Spanish Stock Exchange today begins trading the first 3 issues of INDEX LINKED NOTES by Barclays Bank, namely: Bono Europa 3, Bono Europa 5 and Bono Memoria. The first two are linked to the Euro Stoxx 50 underlying asset and the third is linked to a basket made up of the S&P 500 and the Euro Stoxx 50 indices.
The INDEX LINKED NOTES, a new investment product launched on the Spanish Stock Exchange, are a type of structured bonds that can deliver a return if certain conditions set depending on the trends followed by the underlying indices are met.
The INDEX LINKED NOTES are traded on the SMART-Warrants platform in accordance with the regulations of the Warrants, Certificates and Other Products trading segment.
RENTA 4 Sociedad de Valores will act as the specialist intermediary.
Source: Bolsa de Madrid
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