ETF revolution is not without cost
July 6, 2017--Rise of index-tracking equity funds risks market distortion and fuels governance concerns month using the gift article service.
The US equity market is undergoing a dramatic yet under-appreciated evolution with the relentless rise of passive investing reshaping its inner workings. This is a trend that many investors need to get a better handle on.
Source: FT.com
ETF Securities-Precious Metals Monitor--June 2017
July 6, 2017--Key Highlights
Mid-Year Outlook: Complacency May Drive Volatility on the Road to Normalization
Signs of a continued broad-based global economic recovery have spurred investors to embrace risk taking in the first half of 2017.
Developed and emerging market equities have both risen by double digits year to date, commodities remain broadly stable with improving fundamentals, while global bond markets have risen on continued demand for yield. As markets set higher records, many participants are beginning to question whether this momentum can continue or if it is time to pull on the reigns and position defensively.
Chief among these growing concerns is the risk of complacency among investors. Equity markets have risen unabatedly since March 2009 against a backdrop of easy monetary policies and low interest rates.
Source: etfsecurities.com
How Commodities Performed in H1 2017, and Why They’re Very Cheap
July 5, 2017--If you’re looking for action, the commodities sector has traditionally been a good place to find it.
With wild price swings, massive up-cycles, exciting resource discoveries, and extreme weather events all playing into things, there's usually never a dull day in the sector. That being said, it's hard to remember a more lackluster period for commodities than in the last couple of years.
Source: visualcapitalist.com
IMF-Increasing Resilience to Large and Volatile Capital Flows-The Role of Macroprudential Policies
July 5, 2017--Summary:
Capital flows can deliver substantial benefits for countries, but also have the potential to contribute to a buildup of systemic financial risk.
Benefits such as enhanced investment and consumption smoothing, tend to be greater for countries whose financial and institutional development enables them to intermediate capital flows safely.
Source: IMF
Wisdom Tree-Post the OPEC meeting: What now?
July 5, 2017--The recent OPEC meeting revealed no new news with respect to production cuts or the ability of OPEC to stabilise the oil price.
Whilst there was a commitment for a longer period of production adjustments for a further nine months with effect from 1 July 2017 the meeting concluded with a lack of discussion of deeper cuts. What was revealed was just how dependent the oil price is on other factors and data points, something that we previously highlighted in our blog Five things you need to know about trading oil.
ULTUMUS-Global ETF Monitor-July 5, 2017
July 5, 2017--Europe:
ETF Securities has listed a new commodities ETF in London, the ETFS Longer Dated All Commodities Ex-Agriculture and Livestock GO UCITS ETF (XAGS).
VanEck has cross-listed an emerging market government bonds ETF into Switzerland, the VanEck Vectors JP Morgan EM Local Currency Bond UCITS ETF (EMLC).
Asia:
Korean banking major Kookmin Bank has listed a new ETF in South Korea, the KB KBStar KQ High Dividend ETF (270800).
Source: ULTUMUS-Financial Data Management
DECPG Global Monthly-June 2017
July 5, 2017--Monthly Highlights
According to the June 2017 Global Economic Prospects report, global growth is projected to strengthen this year to 2.7 percent, and to 2.9 percent in 2018-19.
Global manufacturing and trade have firmed, financing conditions remain benign, and commodity prices have generally stabilized.
Growth in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) is expected to increase to 4.1 percent in 2017 and average 4.6 percent in 2018-19.
The improvement is driven by diminishing obstacles to activity in commodity exporters and robust growth in commodity importers.
Risks to the global outlook remain tilted to the downside, and include the possibility of increased protectionism, rising policy uncertainty, and financial market disruptions.
Source: World Bank
BetaShares-Central Banks Bark
July 3, 2017--Global Review & Outlook
The dominant global theme over the past week has been the increase in rhetoric from central banks-other than the US Federal Reserve-suggesting the day is nearing when emergency policy stimulus will need to be unwound.
Global bond yields rose, while the $US and stock prices weakened. The weaker $US, meanwhile, provided some support to commodity prices, with oil up 2.9% for the week.
Source: betashares.com.au
ETF Securities Weekly Flows Analysis-Gold hit by central banks' hawks
July 3, 2017--Gold ETPs saw large outflows on increased expectations of monetary policy normalisation
Positive surprise from Chinese manufacturing activity supported demand for industrial metals ETPs
Temporary factors boosted crude oil prices and inflows into oil ETPs
Largest weekly outflows from Gold ETPs since December last year. We saw US$160mn of outflows from gold ETPs last week after hawkish comments from the ECB and BOE and higher-than-expected German inflation.
Source: etfsecurities.com
Infographic-What is a Stock Market Index?
July 3, 2017--"How did the stock market do today?"
At surface, this seems like a simple question -but it's also deceptively difficult to answer. The market can be defined as many different things, and there are actually over 100,000 publicly traded companies in the world to choose from.
Source: visualcapitalist.com