Fintech: Capturing the Benefits, Avoiding the Risks
June 20, 2017--When you send an email, it takes one click of the mouse to deliver a message next door or across the planet. Gone are the days of special airmail stationery and colorful stamps to send letters abroad.
International payments are different. Destination still matters. You might use cash to pay for a cup of tea at a local shop, but not to order tea leaves from distant Sri Lanka. Depending on the carrier, the tea leaves might arrive before the seller can access the payment.
view the Fintech and Financial Services: Initial Considerations white paper
Source: IMF
IOSCO issues report on order routing incentives as part of effort to protect investors
June 19, 2017--The Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) today published its Final Report on Order Routing Incentives, which provides an overview of the practices used by market regulators regarding incentives for order routing that may influence how intermediaries treat their clients.
The report examines the regulatory conduct requirements for brokers or firms to manage conflicts of interest associated with routing orders and obtaining best execution.
Source: IOSCO
Ayondo launches Bitcoin trading
June 19, 2017--Financial technology group ayondo has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of Bitcoin trading, allowing its clients easy access to the price movement of Bitcoin without the need to open up an e-wallet to purchase bitcoin in the internet.
Source: finextra.com
The Coming Productivity Boom: Transforming the Physical Economy with Information
June 14, 2017--Executive Summary
The Information Age is not over. It has barely begun.
The diffusion of information technology into the physical industries is poised to revive the economy, create jobs, and boost incomes.
Far from nearing its end, the Information Age may give us its most powerful and widespread economic benefits in the years ahead. Aided by improved public policy focused on innovation, we project a significant acceleration of productivity across a wide array of industries, leading to more broad-based economic growth.
view the The Coming Productivity Boom-Transforming the Physical Economy with Information report
Source: entropyeconomics.com
Smart beta products facing transparency problems, investors say
June 14, 2017--Investors are struggling to get important information about smart beta strategies, according to a survey by EDHEC-Risk Institute.
Source: IP&E
BetaShares-Active v Passive: is passive investment outperformance merely cyclical?
June 13, 2017--A claim currently receiving renewed attention in the long-contested active versus passive investment debate is that the apparent outperformance of passive investment strategies is largely cyclical, and usually only takes place in the late stages of a bull market.
This note, however, argues that while there may well be an element of cyclicality in passive versus active fund manager performance, this is minor in degree.
Source: BetaShares
IOSCO Task Force issues report on the regulation of wholesale market conduct
June 13, 2017--The Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions today published IOSCO Task Force Report on Wholesale Market Conduct, which describes the tools and approaches that IOSCO members use to discourage, identify, prevent and sanction misconduct by individuals in wholesale markets.
Wholesale markets are an important source of finance for companies and economic growth. Misconduct by individuals can undermine investor trust and confidence and the fair and efficient operation of these markets.
Source: IOSCO
Pimco-Economic Growth Amid Policy Shifts
June 13, 2017--Political risk, reform efforts and potential monetary policy shifts cloud the outlook for China, Europe and the U.S.
Source: Pimco
Assets invested in ETFs/ETPs listed globally reach a new record of US$4.103 trillion at the end of May 2017
June 12, 2017--ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm on trends in the global ETF/ETP ecosystem, reported today that assets invested in ETFs/ETPs listed globally reached a new record of US$4.103 trillion at the end of May 2017, according to preliminary data from ETFGI.
The Global ETF/ETP industry had 6,889 ETFs/ETPs, with 12,970 listings, assets of US$4.103 trillion, from 313 providers listed on 68 exchanges in 55 countries at the end of May 2017.
Source: ETFGI
Slow adoption of technology hurts asset managers
June 11, 2017--Money managers at risk of losing market share to digitally savvy disrupters.
Source: FT.com