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EU greenhouse gas emissions: more than half way to the '20 % target by 2020'
June 4, 2010--The European Union's greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory report, compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA), shows that emissions have not only continued their downward trend in 2008, but have also picked up pace. The EU-27's emissions stood 11.3 % below their 1990 levels, while EU-15 achieved a reduction of 6.9 % compared to Kyoto base-year levels.
'The GHG inventory report shows that the EU is well on track to meet its emission reduction targets with domestic policy measures only. Our policies and tools seem to be working' said Professor Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the EEA. 'Although we are expecting an even sharper decline in 2009, caused mainly by the recession, we need to ensure that the downward trend in emissions continues and that Europe boosts its climate investments, with the ultimate aim of achieving a more resource-efficient economy.'
The combination of high coal and carbon prices accompanied by a drop in natural gas prices in 2008 induced heat and electricity producers to replace more polluting coal by gas and as a result, reduce their GHG emissions. The use of biomass and other renewable sources (wind and hydroelectric power) has also increased significantly in 2008. The economic recession, which started during the second half of the year, also contributed to emission reductions from several sectors including the manufacturing and construction, and road transport sectors. Road transport emissions were also affected by high oil prices, the continued decline in gasoline consumption and a reversal of the upward trend in diesel sales.
view the Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory 1990 – 2008 and inventory report 2010
Basic resources ETF rallies 11 per cent
June 4, 2010--Basic resource related exchange-traded funds in basic resources, steel and coal saw a sharp jump in returns of between four per cent and 11 per cent last week as equity markets rebounded, breaking several weeks of successive falls.
The report by ETF Securities shows that 2x long equity ETFs all posted strong gains last week on the snap back in global equities, led by a six per cent rise in the ETFX CAC 40 2x Long Fund.
Stronger growth, employment and housing data in the US, coupled with speculation that Chinese authorities may pare back tightening measures in the face of a more uncertain EU growth outlook helped markets look past ongoing uncertainties in debt and fiscal outlook for European economies.
Deutsche Börse: HeidelbergCement replaces Salzgitter in DAX
HeidelbergCement replaces Salzgitter in DAX
Deutsche Börse reviews index composition/
Changes are effective as of 21 June 2010
June 4, 2010--On Friday, Deutsche Börse has decided on changes in its equity indices:
HeidelbergCement will be included in DAX® and will replace Salzgitter. The
inclusion was triggered by the so-called Fast Entry rule.
The company
ranked
22nd both in terms of market capitalization and stock-exchange turnover.
Salzgitter will be included in MDAX®. In addition Kabel Deutschland and Brenntag will replace Pfleiderer and MLP in MDAX. Pfleiderer, MLP as well as Tom Tailor will be included in SDAX®. VBH, Villeroy & Boch and Dyckeroff will leave the index accordingly.
All changes will take effect on 21 June 2010.
First estimates for the first quarter of 2010-Euro area and EU27 GDP up by 0.2%
+0.6% and +0.5% respectively compared with the first quarter of 2009
June 4, 2010--GDP increased by 0.2% in both the euro area1 (EA16) and the EU271 during the first quarter of 2010, compared with the previous quarter, according to first estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the fourth quarter of 2009, growth rates were +0.1% in the euro area and +0.2% in the EU27.
Compared with the first quarter of 2009, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27, after -2.1% and -2.3% respectively for the previous quarter.
Variation in components of GDP
During the first quarter of 2010, household2 final consumption expenditure fell by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU27 (after +0.2% in both zones in the previous quarter). Investments decreased by 1.1% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU27 (after -1.3% and -1.6% respectively). Exports increased by 2.5% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU27 (after +1.7% and +1.9%). Imports increased by 4.0% in the euro area and by 3.4% in the EU27 (after +1.2% and +1.6%).
US and Japanese GDP
In the United States GDP increased by 0.8% during the first quarter of 2010, after +1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2009. In Japan GDP increased by 1.2% in the first quarter of 2010, after +1.0% in the previous quarter.
Compared with the first quarter of 2009, GDP increased by 2.5% in the United States (after +0.1% in the previous quarter) and by 4.2% in Japan (after -1.4%).
NASDAQ OMX Nordic: Semi-Annual Review Of OMX Copenhagen 20 Index
June 3, 2010--The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ) announced today the result of the semi-annual review of the OMX Copenhagen 20 Index (NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen: OMXC20), which will become effective with the market open on Monday, June 21, 2010.
As a result of the re-ranking NASDAQ OMX will add Coloplast to the OMXC20 Index and remove Genmab.
The OMXC20 Index is the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen's tradable index. It was introduced July 3, 1989 as an underlying instrument for futures and options. The OMXC20 Index has a base value of 100 and is weighted in terms of free floated market value. CESR Publishes Responses Received To The Consultation On CESR’s Guidelines On Risk Measurement And The Calculation Of Global Exposure And Counterparty Risk For UCITS Hedge funds now regularly trading in European sector ETFs
This represented 76 per cent of Cascade’s reported European sector activity, dwarfing the turnover on competing products. UK official holdings of International Reserves Approval of new Regulation will raise standards for the issuance of credit ratings used in the Community
Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said: “The Commission has long insisted that profound changes were necessary to the framework in which the credit rating industry operates. With this Regulation, the EU is setting an example to be followed and matched. Today we are satisfied that as a result of intense cooperation between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission this state-of-the-art regulatory regime has been adopted swiftly. We expect the conduct of the credit rating agencies to be significantly improved as a result of this Regulation, with clear benefits to the integrity and stability of the financial markets.”
This directly applicable Regulation puts in place a common regulatory regime for the issuance of credit ratings thus responding to the need for restoring market confidence and increasing investor protection. Volume of retail trade down by 1.2% in both euro area and EU27
Among the Member States for which data are available, total retail trade fell in fourteen and rose in five. The highest decreases were observed in Poland (-8.7%), Denmark (-8.6%), Slovakia (-3.6%) and Spain (-2.1%), and the largest increases in Belgium (+1.8%) and Germany (+1.0%).
Annual changes
In April 2010, compared with April 2009, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 1.8% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU27. The non food sector declined by 1.1% in the euro area, but rose by 0.1% in the EU27.
June 3, 2010--CESR has published Responses Received To The Consultation On CESR’s Guidelines On Risk Measurement And The Calculation Of Global Exposure And Counterparty Risk For UCITS.
view responses
June 3, 2010--Source says the use of sector exchange-traded funds by hedge funds now represents a meaningful slice of overall sector investing in Europe.
The London based ETF provider says total turnover on its European sector ETFs reached EUR5.9bn in April, according to Cascade, Clearstream’s German settlement system.
June 3, 2010--UK OFFICIAL HOLDINGS OF INTERNATIONAL RESERVES
Part I: UK Government Foreign Currency Assets and Liabilities – May 2010
1. The UK Government’s net reserves rose by $731 million in May 2010, bringing the end-May total to $34,361 million (£23,766 million1) compared with $33,629 million (£21,961 million2) at end-April 2010.
view more
June 3, 2010-The European Commission has welcomed the respective approvals from the European Parliament and from the Council on the proposed Regulation on credit rating agencies (CRAs). The Regulation will have a major impact on the activity of credit rating agencies, which issue opinions on creditworthiness of companies, governments and sophisticated financial structures. Credit rating agencies will be expected to comply with strict standards of integrity, quality and transparency and will be subject to ongoing supervision of public authorities. Users of credit ratings in the EU will be in a better position to decide if the opinions of a specific credit rating agency are trustworthy and to what extent those opinions should impact their investment choices.
Commission President José Manuel Barroso said: "Today's approvals of the Commission's proposals on credit rating agencies are the latest example of the EU leading the world in responding to the economic and financial crisis, restoring confidence and preventing a repeat. Our G20 partners agreed in London to move in the same direction the EU has taken today. The Regulation will help give investors the information, integrity and impartiality they need from credit rating agencies if they are to make prudent investment decisions that create growth and jobs instead of bubbles of excessive risk."
June 3, 2010--In April 2010, compared with March 2010, the volume of retail trade1 decreased by 1.2% in both the euro area2 (EA16) and the EU272. In March3 retail trade rose by 0.5% in both zones.
In April 20104, compared with April 2009, the retail sales index declined by 1.5% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU27.
Monthly changes
In April 2010, compared with March 2010, “Food, drinks and tobacco” fell by 1.1% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU27. The non food sector decreased by 1.1% and 1.2% respectively.
