IMF-Global Financial Stability Report October 2017: Is Growth at Risk?
October 11, 2017--The October 2017 Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) finds that the global financial system continues to strengthen in response to extraordinary policy support, regulatory enhancements, and the cyclical upturn in growth.
Global bank balance sheets are stronger because of improved capital and liquidity buffers, amid tighter regulation and heightened market scrutiny. However, some banks are still grappling with legacy issues and business model challenges, where progress has been uneven.
The environment of continuing monetary accommodation-necessary to support activity and boost inflation-may lead to a continued search for yield where there is too much money chasing too few yielding assets, pushing investors beyond their traditional habitats. As the search for yield intensifies, vulnerabilities are shifting to the nonbank sector and market risks are rising.
view the IMF-IMF-Global Financial Stability Report October 2017: Is Growth at Risk?
Source: IMF
Preqin-Women Represent 19% of Alternative Assets Employees
October 11, 2017--Average proportion of women among senior staff is 11% across the industry
Preqin's latest overview of women in alternative assets finds that just under one in five employees at fund management firms are female*. This rate varies widely by role, and consistently declines according to seniority. The highest proportion of women is seen among junior employees, where they constitute 29% of the workforce.
However, in each asset class the representation of women falls according to seniority, and overall senior alternative assets staff consist of 11% women. In the same way, women are best represented in investor relations/marketing teams, as high as 53% at venture capital firms. The rate of women in investment teams is much smaller, as low as 10% at hedge funds. The board of directors for an average alternative assets fund, meanwhile, only comprises 5% female members.
view the PREQIN SPECIAL REPORT:-WOMEN IN ALTERNATIVE ASSETS OCTOBER 2017
Source: Preqin
BlackRock assets on cusp of hitting record $6tn
October 11, 2017--Nearly $1.5bn a day is flowing into mainly passive funds run by giant asset manager.
Source: FT.com
Is BlackRock the Amazon.com of Investing?
October 11, 2017--BlackRock Inc. just rocked. Sort of.
The world's biggest asset manager reported Wednesday morning that its third quarter earnings rose 10 percent, solidly beating expectations for the first time in three quarters.
Source: Bloomberg
Bitcoin races to new record peak, shaking off September stumble
October 11, 2017--Bitcoin on Thursday roared to a fresh all time high, with traders shrugging off a bout of regulatory worries that sent it tumbling last month.
Source: FT.com
IOSCO analyzes other CRA products used to make investment and credit-related decisions
October 11, 2017--The Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) today published a report titled Other CRA Products (OCPs), which provides market participants with a better understanding of certain non-traditional products and services offered by credit rating agencies (CRAs).
These non-traditional products may include, for example, private ratings, confidential ratings, expected ratings, indicative ratings, prospective ratings, provisional ratings, preliminary ratings, one-time ratings, regional ratings, national ratings, point-in-time ratings, scoring, credit default swap spreads, bond indexes, portfolio assessment tools, credit assessments, rating assessments, assessments, fund ratings, data feeds, research or other tools.
view the IOSCO OTHER CRA PRODUCTS Final Report
Source: IOSCO
IMF Fiscal Monitor: Tackling Inequality, October 2017
October 11, 2017--Rising inequality and slow economic growth in many countries have focused attention on policies to support inclusive growth. While some inequality is inevitable in a market-based economic system, excessive inequality can erode social cohesion, lead to political polarization, and ultimately lower economic growth.
This Fiscal Monitor discusses how fiscal policies can help achieve redistributive objectives. It focuses on three salient policy debates: tax rates at the top of the income distribution, the introduction of a universal basic income, and the role of public spending on education and health.
Source: IMF
OECD-Unequal access and usage could hold back potential of digital economy
October 11, 2017--Digital technologies continue to make impressive advances. Internet infrastructure is improving and the usage of digital tools is growing. The social impacts of digital innovation have also become more pronounced in diverse fields.
However, progress is uneven across countries, businesses, and within societies. Broadening access to digital opportunities and helping those lagging behind to catch up would increase the benefits of the digital transformation and help ensure they are widely shared across economies and people, according to a new OECD report.
Source: OECD
¡Qué Barbaridad¡ Should we worry about Catalonia?
October 10, 2017--The political risks in one of Europe's major economies have lifted in recent weeks, with fears that the Spanish region of Catalonia might elect to become independent.
In turn, this could lead to a re-run of wider European break-up fears, with consequent risk for the Euro currency and European equity markets. Due to the likely huge economic costs the region would face, however, this note suggests it is very unlikely Catalonia would ever formally vote to secede from Spain.
Source: betashares.com.au
China New Economy ETF
October 10, 2017--Hong Kong
Former BlackRock execs list China new economy fund
Premia Partners, a Hong Kong ETF provider founded by former BlackRock executives, is listing a new fund that tracks China's "new economy", the Premia CSI Caixin China New Economy ETF (3173)...
USA
KraneShares lists niche-within-a-niche ETF
China ETF specialist KraneShares is listing a new fund on BATS which tracks EM-headquartered companies that make consumer technologies, the KraneShares Emerging Markets Consumer Technologies Index ETF (KEMQ)...
UK
VanEck lists natural resources tracker
VanEck is listing a sector ETF in London that targets the natural resources industry, the VanEck Natural Resources UCITS ETF. The fund will be available in both US dollars and pound sterling (HAP, HAGB).
UK and France
Lyxor brings more floating rate notes
French issuer Lyxor is listing a new fund in Paris and London that tracks floating rate notes, the Lyxor $ Floating Rate Note UCITS ETF (SWIH)...
Source: ULTUMUS-Financial Data Management