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Northern Trust-Monthly Market Review:
October 3, 2011--This month's highlights include:
IRISH FUND HIGHLIGHTS
Irish funds recorded the highest level of net inflows in Europe in the first half of the year, according to the latest EFAMA statistics. The quarterly report revealed that
Ireland saw net inflows of EUR 39 billion in the first six months of 2011-some EUR 7 billion more than the next closest domicile. This news from EFAMA also means that Ireland’s market share has increased to 13 per cent compared to 11.5 per cent in
2010.
Ireland has been synonymous with cross-border UCITS since their inception
under the 1985 UCITS Directive. Over the past 10 years the net assets of Irish UCITS have grown by 422 per cent. IFIA 5 September
DISTRIBUTION
US fund houses are beating their European rivals in terms of inflows, accounting for 70 per cent of estimated European net sales in the first six months of the year, according to figures from Lipper. So reports FTfm. US firms represented €63bn of the €90.7bn in European net sales, with the vast majority coming from cross-border activity. In the first half of last year, they accounted for only 40 per cent of net sales. Ed Moisson, head of UK and cross-border research at Lipper, says exchange-traded funds and global bond vehicles made up a big part of inflows, according to FTfm. Ignites Europe 5 September.
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS
UBS is to blame for the shock $2.3bn (€1.7bn) loss from unauthorised trades at the Swiss bank, rather than the way ETFs are structured, experts say. Ben Johnson, director of European ETF research at Morningstar, says: “This episode highlights a lack of adequate risk controls at UBS, not any risks specific to ETFs. “Regardless of the actual instrument involved in this incident, it is not the vehicle that is at fault. Responsibility for this loss lies with the person that incurred it.” Losses were initially stated to be just under $2bn but have now been revised up to $2.3bn. Ignites Europe 19 September
Total European ETP assets decreased by 5.5% and ended the previous week at EUR218.5 billion. Equities lost close to EUR9 billion to end the week with EUR127.4 billion in assets. Overall commodity assets ended the week with EUR44.7 billion while Fixed income ETF assets declined by close to EUR300 million to end the week at EUR44.3 billion. ETF Express 29 September
Eurozone private sector hits worst slump in 2 years: survey
October 3, 2011--The eurozone's private sector economic activity contracted in September, falling to its worst level in more than two years, a closely-watched survey showed on Monday.
The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), compiled by London-based research firm Markit, dropped to 48.5 points last month compared to 50.7 points in August.
UK's cure for slow economy: drive faster
September 30, 2011--The British government has come up with a literal cure for economic slowdown - it wants drivers to drive faster on the nation’s motorways.
“Now it is time to put Britain back in the fast lane of global economies and look again at the motorway speed limit which is nearly 50 years old, and out of date thanks to huge advances in safety and motoring technology,” Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said.
The speed limit on Britain’s motorways is 70 miles per hour (120km), lower than in many countries in continental Europe.
“Increasing the motorway speed limit to 80 mph would generate economic benefits of hundreds of millions of pounds through shorter journey times. So we will consult later this year on raising the limit to get Britain moving,” Hammond said.
Euro inflation jumps sharply to 3.0%
September 30, 2011-Eurozone inflation soared to 3.0 percent in September, official figures showed Friday, just days before outgoing European Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet chairs his last policy meeting.
The EU said the annual rate of price rises across the 17-nation currency area in September was 3.0 percent, a dramatic rise from 2.5 percent in August after Brussels said it had peaked, and well above the ECB's target of below but close to 2.0 percent.
An increase was expected after major economy Germany announced a spike to 2.8 percent but the figure was still a surprise just two weeks after the European Commission said inflation "seems to have peaked in the second quarter of 2011."
German vote on euro fund fails to dispel unease
September 30, 2011--Unease over the eurozone's ability to chart a course out of its debt crisis lingered Friday, despite an overwhelming vote by German lawmakers to boost the bloc's bailout fund.
Stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic greeted the news with relief as Chancellor Angela Merkel survived a vote that proved a hard-fought test of her political authority as the world looks to her to defuse the debt problem.
But Asian markets were gloomy Friday, with analysts saying the German move had not assuaged doubts that European policymakers were on track to surmount the crisis that threatens to hobble the global economy.
EU says Turkish economy successful during global crisis
September 30, 2011--The European Union will declare that Turkey's economic policies have proven successful during the crisis in her annual report, to be released on Oct. 12. The economic part of the progress report, seen by Today's Zaman, will praise the performance of the Turkish economy while the EU, the world's largest economy, is still struggling to contain the Greek crisis in a bid to save her ailing economies.
“Overall, the economy expanded rapidly in 2010 and in the first quarter of 2011, mainly driven by strong domestic demand,” said the draft. Despite the strong showings of the Turkish economy, the draft says Turkey's gross domestic product (GDP) per inhabitant stands at 48 percent of the EU average in 2010.
ESMA publishes updated list of measures adopted by competent authorities on short selling
September 29, 2011--ESMA today published an update regarding the measures taken by EU competent authoritites regarding short selling.
This update includes measures taken by France, Greece, Italy and Spain.
EU launches legal action against states over energy markets
September 29, 2011-- The EU said Thursday it has launched legal action against 18 of its 27 member states over a failure to implement bloc law domestically in a bid to open up gas and electricity markets.
Infringement proceedings against the 18 were launched for a failure to sufficiently liberalise gas distribution markets and ensure open access to pipelines in order to lower prices for businesses and consumers.
The same first step towards court action was taken against 17 of these countries for restrictions in access to electricity grids.
Europe presses ahead with controversial financial tax
September 29, 2011--Europe went ahead with landmark proposals to tax the financial sector on Wednesday, ignoring US opposition in a move also sure to provoke a row with London which fears capital flight from the City.
On the drawing-board for more than a year, the idea was given fresh impetus last month when given the nod by Europe's power couple, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The plan will go before all 27 European Union heads of state and government at an October 17-18 summit, and also be put to a summit of G20 leaders in Cannes on November 3-4.
Chorus of boos greets European Commission's draft 'Tobin tax'
September 29, 2011--The European Commission's recent proposal for a 'financial transaction tax' – or 'Tobin' tax, after Nobel Laureate economist James Tobin – has been greeted by a chorus of boos from industry experts, who have questioned the plan's focus, feasibility, consequences, scope and motives.
On Thursday, the Commission published a draft proposal to make the financial sector "pay its fair share", reduce "competitive distortions" and discourage "risky trading activities".
