Global ETF News Older than One Year
World Gold Council-Gold-backed ETFs had their strongest inflows since early 2017
May 9, 2018--Global gold-backed ETFs holdings added 72.2 tonnes(t) to 2,481t in April. This is the strongest month of net inflows in more than a year.
Growth in global holdings was led by significant North American and European inflows and supported by a small increase in Asia.
ETF inflows were steady throughout the month even though the gold price retraced early gains, finishing April 1% down, after reaching an intra-day high of approximately US$1,360/oz mid-month.
Source: World Gold Council
World Bank-Europe and Central Asia Economic Update, May 2018: Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain
May 8, 2018--With growth in Europe and Central Asia likely at its peak, this report addresses two questions. How well is the region prepared for an expected slowdown? How well has the economic upswing been used to adjust to the digital revolution? The report specifically focuses on cryptocurrency and blockchain activities in the region.
Source: World Bank
SPDR Blog- April ETF Flows: Will Markets' Sideways Climb Persist?
May 7, 2018--Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport that tests one's strength, endurance, agility and mental control. Such a complex and high-risk activity makes technique critical. The rock's façade may require the climber to move sideways or backwards before advancing to find better footing and form a strong base before pivoting to the next move.
Markets climbed sideways in April, struggling to find their footing and searching for the next catalyst to propel them further up the mountain. Global equities bounced around all month, finishing with a gain of less than 1%, while bonds posted a 0.74% loss. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury Note broke past 3% but ended the month lower.
Source: SPDR.com
DECPG Global Weekly
May 4, 2018--TAKING STOCK
U.S. non-farm job growth rebounded in April; Federal Reserve kept interest rates on hold
Euro Area GDP growth slowed in 18Q1; inflation decelerated in April
Japan's consumer sentiment worsened in April
China's manufacturing PMIs were broadly steady in April
EMDE currencies and stocks fell in April
U.S. non-farm job growth rebounded in April; Federal Reserve kept interest rates on hold. U.S. non-farm payrolls expanded by 164,000 in April, somewhat below expectations, while March numbers were revised up to 135,000 from an earlier estimate of 103,000. The unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent in April after staying at 4.1 percent for six straight months. Meanwhile, average hourly earnings for private-sector workers rose 2.6 percent (y/y), the same pace as in March.
Source: World Bank
World Economic Forum-Maximizing the Return on Digital Investments
May 3, 2018--Digital technologies offer new ways for companies to grow and be more productive. However, it is not completely clear how investments in new technologies impact productivity.
This White Paper addresses that issue by analysing the business value impact of new technology investments and providing recommendations for maximizing that value. It includes an econometric analysis of the productivity impact of new technologies using data from a sample of over 16,000 companies from 14 industries and an analysis, through interviews and workshops with industry leaders, of key enablers and execution principles to maximize the return on digital investments.
view the World Economic Forum-Maximizing the Return on Digital Investments white paper
Source: World Economic Forum
World Gold Council-Gold Demand Trends Q1 2018
May 3, 2018--Soft start to 2018: Q1 demand down 7%
Gold demand of 973.5t was the lowest Q1 since 2008. The main cause was a fall in investment,demand for gold bars and gold-backed ETFs, partly due to range-bound gold prices.
Jewellery demand was steady at 487.7t, as growth in China and the US compensated for weaker Indian demand. Central banks bought 116.5t of gold (+42% y-o-y). Technology demand extended its recent upward trend, growing 4% y-o-y to 82.1t. The total supply of gold increased by 3% to 1,063.5t, primarily due to a modest increase in producer hedging. Mine production was fractionally higher at 770t.
Source: World Gold Council
Liquidity ousts leverage as the big market worry
May 3, 2018--Some say banks' retreat from their role as market makers will amplify the next crisis.
Source: FT.com
BetaShares-Global Market Outlook: Interest rate risk
May 2, 2018--Month in Review- Wall Street lags as yields and $US rise
Global equities rebounded in April, partly unwinding the declines over the previous two months. The rebound came despite a lift in global bond yields and reflected ongoing good growth in earnings and still reasonable valuations that allowed a small drop in the equity-yield-premium over bonds.
The MSCI All-Country Net-Return Index returned 1.8% in local-currency terms, with prices up 1.7%. Forward earnings also rose 1.7%, implying the price-to-forward earnings ratio held steady at 14.9- down from a recent high of 16.4 at end-January. On a month-end basis, this MSCI Index is now down 4.0% from its January peak.
Reflecting a rise in bond yields, the yield on the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index rose 11 basis points to 1.94%. Critically, US 10-year government bond yields rose strongly to briefly touch 3% in the month.
Source: BetaShares
Global Developments Implications for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan Region
May 2, 2018--Full Text
Global growth continued to strengthen in the second half of 2017 and is now estimated at 3.8 percent for the full year, the highest level since 2011 and 0.2 percentage point stronger than forecast in the October 2017 World Economic Outlook (see table). Growth is projected to strengthen further to 3.9 percent in 2018 and in 2019, also 0.2 percentage point higher than anticipated in October.
Stronger prospects for the euro area should benefit the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAP) region, especially oil importers, through higher exports. The region should also benefit from a marginal strengthening of the outlook for China, a key partner for the region. However, the global outlook also entails higher global interest rates as monetary policy continues to normalize in advanced economies. This could increase fiscal vulnerabilities and tighten credit conditions in the MENAP region, especially if the risk that global financial conditions tighten more than expected materializes.
Source: IMF
Progress on Global Energy Goals Slow, but Strong Gains in Countries Show Promise
May 2, 2018--The world is not on track to meet the global energy targets for 2030 set as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, but real progress is being made in certain areas-particularly expansion of access to electricity in least developed countries, and industrial energy efficiency, according to a new report from five international agencies.
Renewable energy is making impressive gains in the electricity sector, although these are not being matched in transportation and heating-which together account for 80% of global energy consumption.
view the 2018 SDG7 Tracking: The Energy Progress Report
Source: World Bank
