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
WisdomTree-Precious metal flows set to rebound as Fed rate hike fears fade
September 21, 2016--We summarise how short and leveraged (S&L) ETPs have performed for August across a range of asset classes:
Investor appetite for safe haven metals and US Treasuries eased on the back of rising Fed rate hike expectations, as improving risk sentiment boosted European equities.
Allocations into unleveraged Gold ETCs slowed globally with net inflows of $859mn in August representing the lowest level since April.
Leveraged short ETPs tracking precious metals were standout performers in the commodities space: 3x leveraged short silver ETPs offered returns of up to 28% as silver
prices crashed by 9%.
However, precious metals flows could be set for a September reversal with the case for looming Fed tightening fading.
Source: WisdomTree
Institutional Investors Embrace Bond ETFs
September 21, 2016--New Greenwich Report Finds Liquidity Shortages, Additional Challenges Fueling ETF Growth in Institutional Portfolios
The difficult trading environment in bond markets is fueling the use of bond ETFs in institutional portfolios.
The 104 institutional investors participating in the Greenwich Associates 2016 U.S. Bond ETF Study are experiencing longer execution times, increased execution costs and more difficulty sourcing bond securities and completing trades-especially large ones. As they adjust their investment processes and portfolios to deal with these challenges, institutions are looking beyond individual bonds to alternative vehicles that can provide required bond exposures.
Source: Greenwich Associates
OECD warns weak trade and financial distortions damage global growth prospects
September 21, 2016--Weak trade growth and financial distortions are exacerbating slow global economic growth, according to the OECD's latest Interim Economic Outlook.
The global economy is projected to grow at a slower pace this year than in 2015, with only a modest uptick expected in 2017. The Outlook warns that a low-growth trap has taken root, as poor growth expectations further depress trade, investment, productivity and wages.
view the OECD Interim Economic Outlook (September 2016)
Source: OECD
Interoceptive Ability Predicts Survival on a London Trading Floor
September 19, 2016--Interoception is the sensing of physiological signals originating inside the body, such as hunger, pain and heart rate. People with greater sensitivity to interoceptive signals, as measured by, for example, tests of heart beat detection, perform better in laboratory studies of risky decision-making.
However, there has been little field work to determine if interoceptive sensitivity contributes to success in real-world, high-stakes risk taking. Here, we report on a study in which we quantified heartbeat detection skills in a group of financial traders working on a London trading floor. We found that traders are better able to perceive their own heartbeats than matched controls from the non-trading population. Moreover, the interoceptive ability of traders predicted their relative profitability, and strikingly, how long they survived in the financial markets. Our results suggest that signals from the body-the gut feelings of financial lore-contribute to success in the markets.
Source: nature.com
WEF-Disruptive innovation in financial services: A blueprint for digital
September 19, 2016--Disruptive innovation in financial services: A blueprint for digital identity-a report from the World Economic Forum. (originally published August 12, 2016)
The World Economic Forum's digital identity report lays out, in detail, the argument for financial institutions to drive the development of digital identity solutions, discusses the landscape of identity solutions, provides recommendations on the construction of identity systems, and discusses the suite of benefits that these systems would bring to stakeholders.
view the Disruptive innovation in financial services: A blueprint for digital identity
Source: WEF (World Economic Forum)
WEF-The future of financial infrastructure: An ambitious look at how blockchain can reshape financial services
September 19, 2016--On August 12, 2016 the World Economic Forum published The future of financial infrastructure: An ambitious look at how blockchain can reshape financial services report.
The transformation of the financial services industry is top-of-mind for everyone in the field and blockchain might be the hottest topic in the rapidly changing world of Fintech. But how can this technology really help financial firms? This report from World Economic Forum takes a pragmatic approach to answering this question.
Source: WEF (World Economic Forum)