Deutsche Bank to Integrate DB X Trackers Into DWS, FTD Reports
March 1, 2012--Deutsche Bank AG (DBK), which is selling most of its asset management operations, plans to integrate its DB X-Trackers unit into the parts of its DWS mutual fund business
that it is keeping, Financial Times Deutschland reported in a preview of a story that will be published tomorrow, without saying where it obtained the information.
Three new SPDR equity index ETFs launched on Xetra
February 29, 2012--Three new exchange-listed equity index funds issued by SPDR (State Street Global Advisors) have been tradable on Xetra since Wednesday.
ETF name: SPDR S&P Euro Dividend Aristocrats ETF
Asset class: equity index ETF
ISIN: IE00B5M1WJ87
Total expense ratio: 0.30 percent
Distribution policy: distributing
Benchmark: S&P Euro High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index
ETF name: SPDR S&P UK Dividend Aristocrats ETF
Asset class: equity index ETF
ISIN: IE00B6S2Z822
Total expense ratio: 0.30 percent
Distribution policy: distributing
Benchmark: S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index
Both these equity index ETFs from SPDR focus on companies with high dividend yields which have continually pursued a rising dividend policy for at least the last ten years. The SPDR S&P Euro Dividend Aristocrats ETF tracks the performance of 40 companies in the euro zone, whereas the SPDR S&P UK Dividend Aristocrats ETF focuses on 30 companies based in the UK. The selection of the high-dividend companies is based on the S&P Europe Broad Market Index.
ETF name: SPDR FTSE UK All Share ETF
Asset class: equity index ETF
ISIN: IE00B7452L46
Total expense ratio: 0.30 percent
"I believe that we should add something to the Commission proposal. It is a complex piece of work to explore some aspects and hold on to the details to avoid unexpected and unwanted effects", said Parliament's rapporteur on the reform plans Leonardo Domenici (S&D, IT). He also stressed that "we have to come up with new answers to the sovereign debt problem".
Prohibiting "unsolicited" sovereign debt ratings The Kay Review of UK Equity Markets and Long-Term Decision Making ESMA publishes the responses received to the consultations on certain aspects of the MiFID requirements for suitability and compliance Clearstream and BNP Paribas Securities Services launch innovative collateral management cooperation Customers gain a double benefit: they will retain their asset portfolios within BNP Paribas’ proven and established custody network while Clearstream’s collateral management engine allocates, optimises and substitutes collateral on a fully automated basis across the books of BNP Paribas. This partnership offers clients the advantage of Clearstream’s world-leading collateral management service coupled with BNP Paribas’ highly-regarded agent bank service. Pooling collateral across the globe in one central hub while allowing collateral to remain in its custody location-i.e. agent banks or CSDs – brings cost savings and security to the client. Collateral consolidation enables the financial industry, and in particular sell-side firms, to reduce operational risks, operational costs and opportunity cost resulting from collateral fragmentation. Additionally, mutual clients of BNP Paribas and Clearstream will benefit from pooling and optimising collateral positions held in custody across the two organiqations against the rapidly expanding range of exposures covered by Clearstream’s Global Liquidity Hub.
European Fund Market Review 2012
As in previous years, underpinning this report are a series of charts and tables
that give a detailed view of the industry and how its constituent parts-the companies, products and markets — vary so dramatically, even as the overarching regulatory framework makes 'the international' nature of the European funds business one of its most distinguishing features. But first some comments on both recent activity and historical trends.
Net sales of long-term funds (i.e. excluding money market funds) in 2010
(€305.8bn) exceeded not just those of 2009 (€257.7bn), but also the level
achieved in pre-crisis 2006 (€265.9bn). Expectations were therefore high when
the first half of 2011 saw inflows of €96.1bn, but this was followed by outflows of €155.9bn, so that the year as a whole ended in the red (-€59.8bn) for only the second time in a decade (2008 total was -€391.4bn).
With more than 80% of money market fund assets either in predominantly
institutional cross-border products or in France, drawing out wider conclusions
from European activity in this asset class is not straightforward. What is clear, though, is that interest in these funds has not boosted net sales for the industry, with money market funds suffering outflows of €10.7bn in 2011. Having said this, in a market such as Switzerland redemptions from these funds accompanying
inflows into long-term products have continued for the third year in a row and suggest that investors here have been, at least slowly, increasing their appetite for risk.
reduce reliance on agency ratings, and eliminate conflicts of interest that could influence them, said rapporteur Leonardo Domenici (S&D, IT), in the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee's first debate on the plans on Wednesday.
February 29, 2012--Interim Report:
On 29 February 2012 Professor John Kay published the Interim Report of his independent review to examine investment in UK equity markets and its impact on the long-term performance and governance of UK quoted companies. The Interim Report summarises the responses to the review's call for evidence and presents a broad discussion of the issues raised.
The comments and proposals discussed in the report signal areas of interest for the final report but do not represent its provisional conclusions. Professor Kay is not making any recommendations at this stage. He will present his final report, including recommendations for action, to the Secretary of State for Business in the summer.
February 29, 2012--The responses to the consultation paper on certain aspects of the MiFID requirements for suitability are available here.
The responses to the consultation paper on certain aspects of the MiFID requirements for the compliance function are available here.
February 29, 2012--Clearstream introduces Liquidity Hub Connect, a new service for agent banks-Unique model:client assets remain with BNP Paribas Securities Services while Clearstream manages global collateral allocation, optimization and exposure coverage-Existing quad-party collateral management venture is being strengthened and integrated in the Global Liquidity Hub-Cooperation will reduce operational risk and bring down collateral fragmentation costs for clients
Clearstream: Clearstream and BNP Paribas Securities Services (BNP Paribas) have signed a letter of intent to intensify their cooperation on collateral management: BNP Paribas customers will be able to consolidate their collateral holdings, via Clearstream's Global Liquidity Hub, to cover their global exposures from a single optimised collateral pool.
February 29, 2012--"It was a game of two halves" is a footballing cliché in the UK, but was particularly apt for the European funds industry in 2011. The stock market falls that began in July not only ended the healthy sales activity that had started the year, but triggered a tidal wave of redemptions that rolled through the industry.
While these outflows ebbed slightly in the final quarter of the year, there were few
who did not feel the cold chill of investors withdrawing from mutual funds by the year-end.