Banks struggle to make blockchain fast and secure
September 26, 2016--Technology must be designed differently for financial institutions
Blockchain has become the financial markets' biggest buzzword as banks seek modern ways to resolve old problems.
But the technology is overshadowed by questions about how it can be made both secure and fast enough for large financial institutions.
Source: FT.com
Carbon pricing efforts are falling short, but even modest collective action can deliver significant progress, OECD says
September 26, 2016--Current carbon prices are falling short of the levels needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, but even moderate price increases could have a significant impact, according to new OECD research.
Effective Carbon Rates: Pricing CO2 through taxes and emissions trading systems presents new data on effective carbon rates on CO2-emissions for energy use across 6 economic sectors in 41 countries-34 OECD member countries and 7 partner economies: Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa.
Source: OECD
Cass paper analyses 'fallen angels' phenomenon
September 26, 2016--The 'fallen angels' phenomenon can offer the opportunity to enhance the returns on a multi-asset portfolio and the potential to improve diversification, according to a research paper from Cass Business School.
view the Fallen Angels: The investment opportunity paper
Source: etfstrategy.co.uk
DECPG Global Monthly-September 2016
September 26, 2016--Key highlights in the latest issue include:
Global growth remained subdued in 2016Q2, held back by weakening momentum across major advanced economies.
Global goods trade was stagnant in the first half of the year, registering its weakest performance since 2012.
Growth in emerging and developing economies stabilized, with commodity exporters still underperforming importers but with notable heterogeneity within both sub-groups.
Record-low global bond yields and a bottoming out of commodity prices supported renewed appetite for emerging market assets.
Special Focus: Negative Interest Rate Policies -Channels and Implications
Against the backdrop of persistent weak growth and low inflation expectations, a number of central banks have implemented negative interest rate policies (NIRP) over the past few years.
Monetary transmission channels under NIRP are conceptually analogous to those under conventional monetary policy, but NIRP present complications that could limit policy effectiveness.
Since the introduction of NIRP, a number of key financial variables have evolved broadly as implied by standard monetary transmission channels.
Source: World Bank
Global Financial Centres Index 20 Septemeber 2016
September 26, 2016--London, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong remain the four leading global financial centres. On a scale of 1,000 points, a lead of fewer than 20 points indicates relative parity.
London remains just ahead of New York, falling five points in the ratings to lead New York by a single point. New York (2nd) is now 42 points ahead of Singapore (3rd). Singapore is four points ahead of Hong Kong (4th).
view the Global Financial Centres Index September 2016
Source: The Z/Yen Group of Companies
The Market Data Battleground
September 24, 2016--Data fees are ridiculously expensive...at least that's what the brokers say.
Once a plain-vanilla add-on to an exchange offering, market data has evolved into a key battleground between market participants, i.e. the consumers of market data, and market operators, the producers of market data.
Source: tradersmagazine.com
DPG Prospects Group-Global Weekly-September 23, 2016
September 23, 2016--Taking Stock
U.S. Federal Reserve kept rates unchanged
Bank of Japan kept interest rates on hold, and launched a new form of policy easing
Euro Area bond yields tumbled
Oil prices extended gains on drop in U.S. crude stock
South Africa and Nigeria kept policy rates on hold, while Kenya lowered its rate
Weekly Insight:
How Can Different Risk Factors be Combined in a Single Fan Chart of Global Growth Forecast?
The degree of uncertainty and risks of global growth forecasts are estimated from information extracted from the distribution of selected risk factors. This approach allows individual risk factors to impact forecast uncertainty and the balance of risks differently at different forecast horizons.
Source: World Bank
Largest diamond mine outside SA opens
September 23, 2016--Deep in the Canadian wilds, about 300 kilometres from the nearest city as the crow flies, the world's largest diamond mine outside of South Africa is being dug.
Source: FIN24
Asset Managers See Blockchain Adoption by 2021
September 22, 2016--There is going to be a big shift by 2021 such that the convergence of technological, economic, and demographic trends will transform the wealth industry and unlock immense global wealth across a diverse universe of investors.
This is according to a study by Roubini ThoughtLab, an independent thought leadership consultancy, in a white paper produced in conjunction with Bank of Montreal, Broadridge, CFA Institute, Cisco, eToro, Schroders, SEI, and State Street. It is titled Wealth and Asset Management 2021: Preparing for Transformative Change.
view the Wealth and Asset Management 2021: Preparing for Transformative Change report
Source: cryptocoinsnews.com
Allianz Global Wealth Report 2016
September 21, 2016--Today, Allianz unveiled the seventh edition of its "Global Wealth Report", which puts the asset and debt situation of households in more than 50 countries under the microscope.
Based on the findings of the report, it seems that the best years are a thing of the past: global financial assets climbed by 4.9 percent in 2015, just a whisker above the growth rate of economic activity.
view the Allianz Global Wealth Report 2016
Source: Allianz