Blockchain funding plummeted 54% in 2016
February 20, 2017--Despite strong growth in the first quarter from firms like Digital Asset Holdings, funding for blockchain companies decreased significantly in 2016.
Funding to venture capital backed blockchain firms has more than halved since the first quarter in 2016 compared to the fourth, according to statistics from CB Insights.
Since the first quarter last year, funding plummeted 54% from $153 million to just $69 million in the fourth quarter.
Source: thetradenews.com
BlackRock-ETP Landscape-Best January Flows on Record
February 17, 2017--INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
GLOBAL REFLATION TRENDS PROPEL GLOBAL ETPS TO THE BEST MONTHLY FLOWS SINCE 2008 AND THE BEST JANUARY FLOWS ON RECORD.
Global ETPs brought in $61.2bn in January, marking the best monthly flows since September 2008 (the second-best on record) and record January flows, fueled by strength in U.S. and Japanese equities
U.S. equities drew in $19.3bn as global reflationary trends bolstered cyclical exposures including $4.3bn in small-caps and over $1bn a piece in real estate, technology and financial equity sector funds
Japanese equities brought in record monthly flows of $10.7bn fueled by a weaker yen, rising inflation and better earnings expectations
Broad emerging markets (EM) equities gathered $2.5bn amid a more measured U.S. dollar and a pick-up in global reflation
Fixed income gathered $16.6bn focused in shorter maturities and in investment grade corporates as flows remain resilient to rising rates
view more Source: BlackRock-ETP Research
Emerging market ETFs and the jaws of death
February 17, 2017--Huge inflows have gone into the largest companies-but they are not good companies.
Source: FT.com
ERI Scientific Beta Newsletter-January/February 2017
February 17, 2017--Live is Better
Since 2013, with the Smart Beta 2.0 framework, EDHEC-Risk Institute has created Scientific Beta multi-smart-factor indices that are well diversified and exposed to rewarded factors.
At that time, the four rewarded factors validated by EDHEC-Risk Institute were Value, Size, Low Volatility and Momentum. Furthermore, as a default weighting scheme option, Scientific Beta proposed its flagship multi-strategy weighting scheme which mixes different methods of alternative weightings to cap-weighted (Efficient Minimum Volatility, Efficient Maximum Sharpe Ratio, Maximum Deconcentration, Maximum Decorrelation and Diversified Risk Weighted) in order to diversify and thus reduce the model risks associated with each of these weighting schemes.
Source: ERI Scientific Beta
DECPG Global Weekly-February 17, 2017
February 17, 2017--U.S. consumer price inflation picked up in January; retail sales continued to rise; industrial production fell
Euro Area growth in Q4 2016 was revised down, industrial production contracted in December.
Japan's GDP slowed further in Q4 2016, industrial production expanded modestly in December
China inflation accelerated in January
High food prices fueled inflation across East Africa in January
Source: World Bank
World Bank-Global Fisheries' Sunken Billions
February 14, 2017--Billions of dollars are lost at sea but different paths to fisheries reform show promising results
New economic analysis reveals that, because of overfishing, global fisheries forego more than $80 billion a year, compared to an optimal scenario.
Allowing fish stocks to bounce back to healthier levels would cut losses and create revenue for long-term growth, while helping fisheries adapt to climate change and meet global demand for seafood.
Experience in several countries shows there are multiple ways to arrive at a more sustainable and profitable level of fishing.
view the The Sunken Billions Revisited: Progress and Challenges in Global Marine Fisheries
Source: World Bank
Blockchain is 5 Years From Mainstream, Post-Trade Consortium Members Say
February 13, 2017--Nearly half of the members of a blockchain consortium focused on post-trade settlement see the technology achieving wider adoption over the next three to five years.
That's according to the results of a survey published today by the Post-Trade Distributed Ledger (PTDL) Group. The survey was conducted last autumn and polled its 45-strong membership.
Source: coindesk.com
Passive grew 4.5 times faster than active in 2016
February 12, 2017--Investors concerned over high fees and disappointing performance vote with their feet.
The assets managed by passive mutual funds, which provide lower-cost exposure to markets by tracking an index, grew 18 per cent to $6.7tn last year, more than double the 8 per cent growth rate experienced in 2015.
Source: FT.com
IOSCO analyzes potential of tech-driven change in the securities market industry
February 8, 2017--A new report published today highlights the increasingly important intersection between financial technology (Fintech) and securities market regulation, and describes the impact it has on investors and financial services.
The IOSCO Research Report on Financial Technology, published by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), describes a variety of innovative business models and emerging technologies that are transforming the financial services industry, including:
financing platforms: peer-to-peer lending and equity crowdfunding;
retail trading and investment platforms, including robo-advisers and social trading;
view moreview the IOSCO Research Report on Financial Technologies (Fintech)
Source: IOSCO
IOSCO report shows progress made in implementation of Benchmark Principles
February 7, 2017--The Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) today published the Second Review of the Implementation of IOSCO's Principles for Financial Benchmarks in respect of the WM/Reuters 4 p.m. Closing Spot Rate.
The report found that the administrator had made very significant progress, with most of the recommendations from an earlier review having been implemented. However, some room exists to improve and refine recently implemented policies and practices.
Source: IOSCO