Renaissance Capital- Preliminary 2016 Global Annual IPO Review
December 14, 2016--Global IPO Market Fails to Lift Off
Hit by volatile equity markets in the beginning of the year, global IPO issuance never got the chance to get off the ground in 2016 as investors grappled with uncertainty around the world, including the unexpected results of the Brexit vote and the US presidential election.
Global IPOs raised only $103 billion in 2016, down 34% from 2015''s already subdued levels and 31% below the ten-year median ($149 billion).
Source: Renaissance Capital
Global Economy Sees Sharp Contraction in Short-term Debt Flows, Foreign Direct Investment Remains Steady: World Bank
December 14, 2016--New data on International Financial Flows through 2015 now available
For the first time since the financial crisis, principal repayments on external debt held by low- and middle-income countries exceeded lending inflows, according to International Debt Statistics 2017 (IDS 2017) released today.
Short-term debt flows reversed to an outflow of $398 billion, about 3 times higher than the inflow in 2014. Meanwhile long-term debt flows remained positive but plummeted to $214 billion, half the previous year's level. As a result, external debt stock declined by 6 percent, to $6.7 trillion, equivalent to an average of 25 percent of Gross National Income (GNI).
:view the International Debt Statistics 2017
Source: World Bank
New Data Highlight Changes in Systemic Risk Posed by U.S. and Chinese Banks
December 14, 2016--Three of the biggest U.S. banks have moved up in systemic risk ratings, according to new international data the OFR added today to its online interactive chart.
The risk ratings of Chinese banks also rose, continuing a three-year trend.
Source: OFR (Office of Financial Research)
Chinese Bid for U.S. Exchange Clears National Security Review
December 14, 2016--Chicago Stock Exchange would be first owned by Chinese firm
Chongqing Casin Enterprise Group agreed to deal in February
The Chicago Stock Exchange has cleared its major hurdle as it attempts to sell itself to a Chinese-led investment group.
Source: Bloomberg
FTSE4Good 15th anniversary is celebrated with new sustainable investment launches
December 14, 2017--Since launching FTSE4Good in 2001 sustainable investment models have moved from niche to norm
Launch of new FTSE4Good Emerging Markets Index and FTSE4Good Emerging Latin America Index
Launch of new ESG Ratings data model
FTSE Russell sees growing demand for underlying ESG parameters and for “Smart Sustainability” indexes
Source: ftserussell.com
The 2017 challenge for blockchain: Getting executives to understand it
December 14, 2016--Will 2017 be the year blockchain becomes part of the mainstream business culture?
This past year has seen the technology used in various ways, and companies are throwing money behind it, but headaches and obstacles to its growth remain.
Source: CNBC.com
World Gold Council-The global investment market: new perspectives on consumer behaviour
December 13, 2016--The global gold bar and coin market has boomed in the past 10 years. Several factors have underpinned this growth, perhaps the most important being that successive financial crises have tested investors' faith in governments, banks, monetary policies and fiat currencies around the world.
In 2016 we concluded a comprehensive research programme investigating gold buying behaviour across the major markets-China, India, Germany and the US. The objective was to better understand what motivates people to buy gold, what their purchase journey looks like, and what the triggers and barriers are when it comes to buying gold. And, importantly, to assess the potential for growth in global retail gold investment.
Source: World Gold Council
Bitcoin Price Tops $777, Highest Exchange Rate Since Early 2014
December 13, 2016--Trump volatility, Chinese devaluation and the war on cash help push bitcoin to its highest value in almost three years.
The Bitcoin rally continues as the BTC/USD exchange rate now stands at over $777 per cryptocurrency token.
Source: financemagnates.com
OMR: What a difference a year makes
December 13, 2016--The final report of 2016 analyses events as dramatic as those that kicked off the year. The focus in January was on $30/bbl oil and the imminent increase in Iranian oil production after sanctions were lifted.
In December, we are seeing the first proposed output cut by OPEC since 2008 -and the first deal including non-OPEC producers since 2001-which marks a major departure from the market share policy followed for the past two years. OPEC's cut to crude production of 1.2 mb/d almost matches its deliberate production increase of 1.3 mb/d in the twelve months to October (the month on which the OPEC cuts are based), while the non-OPEC group has seen its crude output fall in the same period by about 0.9 mb/d.
Source: iea.org
Bogle calls for politicians to re-examine ETFs
December 12, 2016--Exchange traded funds have led to excessive trading and changed the way the stock market works, according to the man widely regarded as the father of passive investing, who is now calling for politicians to re-examine the sector.
Source: thearabianpost.com