Global ETF News Older than One Year
IMF Working Paper-Is High Debt Constraining Monetary Policy? Evidence from Inflation Expectations
June 30, 2023--Summary:
This paper examines whether high government debt levels pose a challenge to containing inflation. It does so by assessing the impact of government debt surprises on inflation expectations in advanced- and emerging market economies. It finds that debt surprises raise long-term inflation expectations in emerging market economies in a persistent way, but not in advanced economies.
The effects are stronger when initial debt levels are already high, when inflation levels are initially high, and when debt dollarization is significant. By contrast, debt surprises have only modest effects in economies with inflation targeting regimes. Increased debt levels may complicate the fight against inflation in emerging market economies with high and dollarized debt levels, and weaker monetary policy frameworks.
Source: IMF
ETFGI reports actively managed ETFs listed globally gathered net inflows of US$15.23 billion during May
June 22, 2023--ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm covering trends in the global ETFs ecosystem, reported today that actively managed ETFs listed globally gathered net inflows of US$15.23 billion during May, bringing year-to-date net inflows to US$58.77 billion.
Assets invested in actively managed ETFs increased by 1.3%, from US$547 billion at the end of April 2023 to US$554 billion, according to ETFGI's May 2023 Active ETF and ETP industry landscape insights report, an annual paid-for research subscription service. (All dollar values in USD unless otherwise noted.)
Highlights
Actively managed ETFs gathered net inflows of $15.23 Bn during May.
Year-to-date net inflows of $58.77 Bn in 2023 are the third highest on record, after year-to-date net inflows of $73.38 Bn in 2021 and year-to-date net inflows of $54.97Bn in 2022.
38th month of consecutive net inflows.
Assets of $554 Bn invested in actively managed ETFs and ETPs industry at the end of May 2023.
Assets increased 13.7% year-to-date in 2023, going from $487 Bn at the end of 2022 to $554 Bn.
Source: etfgi
Trackinsight ETP Flows Report for May 2023
June 21, 2023--The ETP market experienced significant growth in May, with the addition of 40 new products. The total number of funds available now stands at 9,084, providing investors with a wide array of investment options. While this trend may not be surprising, the split between new active-and passively-managed strategies certainly deserves to be recognized.
The launch of 56 actively-managed products and the removal of 16 passively-managed strategies highlight the growing investor appetite for active ETPs.
Fixed Income and Active Equity ETPs led the way in inflows in May. These categories, representing less than 25% of total assets, garnered substantial investor interest, accounting for more than 75% of the total inflows for the month.
Source: trackinsight.com
Assets invested in global exchange traded funds hit record $10.32tn
June 19, 2023--Industry at new peak while most other asset classes are still below their previous highs
Assets invested in global exchange traded funds have hit a record of $10.32tn off the back of rallying stock markets and resilient inflows.
The figure exceeds the $10.26tn mark set at the end of 2021 when markets peaked before Russia's invasion of Ukraine and a global surge in inflation, according to data from ETFGI, a consultancy.
Source: ft.com
IMF Working Paper-The Rise of the Walking Dead: Zombie Firms Around the World
June 16, 2023--Summary:
We build a new dataset of listed and private nonfinancial zombie firms for a large set of Advanced Economies and Emerging Markets over the last two decades. We find that the share of these unproductive and unviable firms has been rising worldwide, especially since the GFC and the Covid-19 pandemic.
We show that, perhaps surprisingly, the incidence of zombification is lower among private firms.
Lower average survival rates of private firms may explain this phenomenon. We find important negative macrofinancial spillovers from zombie firms: nonzombies' financial performance is persistently reduced in industries populated with a greater number of zombies. To mitigate these effects, we document that countries with stronger banks, and tighter macroprudential policies tend to have fewer zombies and stronger nonzombies. Strengthening the banking sector may, however, not be sufficient if insolvency frameworks are not well-prepared to deal with the restructuring or insolvency of firms.
Source: imf.org
The Hidden Wealth of Nations: Groundwater in Times of Climate Change
June 14, 2023--Groundwater is our most important freshwater resource, but the lack of systematic analysis of its economic importance has evaded attention from policymakers and the general public-threatening the resource. The Hidden Wealth of Nations: The Economics of Groundwater in Times of Climate Change report offers new data and evidence that advances understanding of the value of groundwater, the costs of mismanagement, and the opportunities to leverage its potential.
Its findings also reflect on the policy issues policymakers confront when attempting to align the private and social costs of groundwater use. A central message of this report is that groundwater needs to be politically prioritized and should be carefully managed through integrated cross-sectoral action to benefit society, the economy, and the environment.
Source: worldbank.org
World Bank-The Hidden Wealth of Nations : The Economics of Groundwater in Times of Climate Change
June 14, 2023--Untapped or overdrawn, groundwater is a critical asset for poverty reduction, resilient growth, and climate adaptation. It was valued by ancient civilizations, which relied on groundwater for their water supplies, as the Romans did,even when building cities close to rivers. Groundwater today,and more so in the future, will be a foundation for adapting to climate change.
It provides 49 percent of the volume of water withdrawn for domestic use by the global population and around 43 percent of all water withdrawn for irrigation, watering 38 percent of the world’s irrigated land. Its unique economic attributes, including its common-pool nature, area blessing-and a curse. And its characteristics determine its present and long-term uses and possible negative spillovers.
These need to be brought out of the shadows for the resource to yield its potential and be managed adequately.
Source: worldbank.org
Demand grows for Asian investment products that exclude China
June 12, 2023--Asset managers say clients are worried about geopolitical tension and sub-par growth in Chinese economy
Global fund managers say they are rushing to meet client demand for new Asian investment products that exclude China, as investor appetite for the region's largest economy is hit by slowing growth and mounting geopolitical risk.
Fund managers said requests for "ex-China" products included the possibility of "Asian allies" funds that would invest in US-friendly markets and provide clear insulation from Beijing-related geopolitical risk in the region.
Source: ft.com
Leveraged and inverse ETFs are 'like walking into a casino'
June 9, 2023--Providers argue they are useful, but critics say they are being used for short-term gambling
The Foreign & Colonial Government Trust listed on the London stock exchange in 1868 with the explicit aim of allowing small investors to gain exposure to a diversified portfolio of government bonds.
Since then a variety of newer, glossier structures have emerged, from mutual funds to exchange traded funds, but the raison d'être remained the same: to provide a ready-made portfolio of securities to an investor almost irrespective of their means, allowing them to tap into "the only free lunch in investing"-diversification.
Source: ft.com
IMF Working Paper-Restructuring Reforms for Green Growth
June 9, 2023--Summary:
Policymakers across the world are striving to tackle the century-defining challenge of climate change without undermining potential growth. This paper examines the impact of structural reforms in the energy sector (electricity and gas) on enviromental outcomes and green growth indicators in a panel of 25 advanced economies during the period 1970-2020.
We obtain striking results. First, while structural reforms so far failed in reducing greenhouse gas emissions per capita, there is some evidence for greater effectiveness in lowering emissions per unit of GDP. Second, although energy reforms are not associated with higher supply of renewable energy as a share of total energy supply, they appear to stimulate a sustained increase in environmental inventions and patents per capita over the medium term. We also find strong evidence of nonlinear effects, with market-friendly energy reforms leading to better environmental outcomes and green growth in countries with stronger environmental regulations. Looking forward, therefore, structural reforms should be designed not just for market efficiency but also for green growth.
Source: imf.org
