New York listing for Saudi Aramco will set seal on 'new dawn' in Saudi-US ties-exec
August 15, 2017--It is an exciting but unpredictable time for US-Saudi Arabia relations, and Edward Burton is at the heart of it.
"I think one can say the reset button has been officially and earnestly pushed by both sides," he said.
Source: arabnews.com
You've heard of Bitcoin, but what about Ethereum?
August 15, 2017--You've just got to grips with Bitcoin-maybe you've even used it. Well, it has a new challenger on the scene that's got the support of some major businesses.
Ethereum is gaining popularity and its value is rising. In June, its currency reached its highest price so far, of $322.28. While this is approximately a tenth of Bitcoin's current value, according to Cryptocompare, some of Ethereum's unique features have got investors excited.
Source: WEF (World Economic Forum)
Gulf boycott of Qatar spreads to banks
August 15, 2017--Companies with business ties to Arab Gulf states have found themselves in an uncomfortable position as a result of a trade boycott of Qatar by four regional Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Now it appears that global banks are feeling the impact.
Source: FT.com
IOSCO consults on recommendations to improve transparency of corporate bond markets
August 14, 2017--Corporate bond markets are a significant part of the global capital markets and a critical source of financing for economic growth.
Since 2004, various developments have impacted corporate bond markets. These include changes in regulation as well as the market structure; the entrance of new participants; a shift from the traditional dealer-based principal model to an agency based model; and the increasing use of technology. In response to these significant changes, the Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) agreed to examine the liquidity of secondary bond markets and published its findings in March 2017.
,a href="http://www.iosco.org/news/pdf/IOSCONEWS472.pdf" TARGET="_blank">view more
Source: IOSCO
Bitcoin holds above record $4000 level
August 14, 2017--Bitcoin's 43 per cent surge in August comes after the currency split in two following an ideological clash and as demand tested inbuilt limits on the ..
Source: FT.com
ETF Securities Weekly Flows Analysis-Investors buy gold as 'fire and fury' envelopes markets
August 14, 2017--Geopolitical tensions see investors look to gold as a safehaven, with 3rd consecutive week of inflows.
Long USD inflows reach the highest level in 18 months, totalling US$27.4mn.
Oil ETP outflows continue for 4th consecutive week on OPEC global market rebalancing doubts.
Platinum group metals outflows begin as palladium gains divorced from fundamentals.
Source: etfsecurities.com
ETFGI reports a record 391.26 billion US dollars in net new assets have been invested in ETFs/ETPs listed globally in the first 7 months of 2017
surpassing the record net new assets gathered in all of 2016
August 14, 2017--ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm on trends in the global ETF/ETP ecosystem, reported today that during the first 7 months of 2017 a record level of US$391.26 Bn in net inflows have been invested in ETFs/ETPs listed globally, which is greater than the record level of US$390.42 Bn in net inflows that were invested in all of 2016.
In July ETFs and ETPs listed globally gathered US$43.48 Bn in net inflows marking 41 consecutive months of net inflows.
Source: ETFGI
Bassanese Bites-Fire and Fury
August 14, 2017--Global Markets Review & Outlook
The global highlight last week was an intensification of the war of words between America and North Korea, which saw US stocks pull back from record highs despite ongoing positive economic data and earnings results. Gold, the Japanese Yen and Swiss franc appeared to be the world's favoured safe havens-and not notably the $US!
In other news, a strong US "job openings" report underlined the ongoing strength in its labour market, while weaker than expected producer and consumer prices meant Fed hopes that inflation would quickly bounce back toward its 2% target level- which it almost reached in February- remain elusive. Indeed, contrary to Fed hopes, the post-February dip in US inflation is looking less and less "transitory" by the month.
Source: BetaShares
Record ETF inflows fuel price bubble fears
August 13, 2017--Growing numbers of investors moving into low-cost vehicles that track an index
Record-breaking inflows into exchange traded funds this year are fuelling fears that the tide of money surging into passive investment is helping to inflate a bubble in the US stock market.
Source: FT.com
Active management stages a comeback
August 13, 2017--Industry has closed the gap on passive's rapid growth since the start of the year
When Warren Buffett revealed in 2014 that he had advised his wife to invest in a low-cost index fund rather than bother with stock pickers after his death, it seemed to signal the final nail in the coffin for active asset management.
Source: FT.com