Asian investors still backing London as key hub
June 30, 2016--London remains the first-choice portal for asset managers from Asia looking to tap the European market, but some suggest the city may see its dominance of the region's financial services industry eroded following Britain's vote last week to leave the European Union.
So argued some delegates and speakers yesterday at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Greater China Forum in Hong Kong.
Source: Asian Investor
World Economic Forum Report-Enabling Trade
June 30, 2016--Trade and foreign direct investment are critical for world economies and the wealth of nations.
Both are linked,and economic success depends more than ever on the attractiveness and competitiveness of markets, including the availability and ease of moving goods, talent and services across borders.
The global repartition of work, which has fuelled globalization and international trade, appears to have plateaued. Sluggish global demand in the wake of the financial crisis has forced growth engines like China, which has driven global growth for decades, to refocus on domestic and regional markets.
Source: World Economic Forum
Winthrop Capital Management-Thoughts on Brexit and the Implications for Investment Strategy
June 29, 2016--43 years of membership in the European Union (EU), Great Britain voted last week to withdraw its membership.
In spite of all the polls which leaned toward staying, all the political leaders cajoling voters to remain, and the international pundits from the International Monetary Fund to the President of the United States who lobbied Great Britain to remain in the EU, the British public voted to leave. It appears to us to be a vote for independence and sovereign pride, in spite of the unknown costs.
Let's begin with some of the more obvious issues. First, this is a total unknown journey so there is no real precedent for the capital markets to lean on. Second, this divorce is going to take a long time. Third, this is going to be massively complicated. Fourth, this is a political event that will have long term ramifications for the capital markets.
World Bank-A look at Carbon Pricing and Competitiveness
June 29, 2016--STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Carbon pricing spurs diversification, innovation and investment
Early evidence shows little impact on competitiveness-but this will need to be managed as price levels increase
High-carbon, low efficiency economies can make a smooth transition towards charging for carbon pollution
Putting a price on carbon pollution is seen as one of the most powerful and efficient strategies governments and businesses are using to respond to climate change. That's the key message in a new Executive Briefing paper, issued today by the carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, which includes governments, businesses and civil society groups all working together to advance carbon pricing.
Source: World Bank
Globally Important German Financial System is Resilient
June 29, 2016--Financial system resilient, long-standing issues remain
Low profitability of banks, insurers exacerbated by low interest rates
German, European authorities should ensure new European financial architecture effective in practice
The financial system of Germany, home to systemically important financial institutions, has been bolstered by EU-wide and global reforms in the financial sector. At the same time, low interest rates and the ongoing transition to new supervisory and resolution mechanisms may pose risks, according to the IMF.
Source: IMF
CPMI-IOSCO release guidance on cyber resilience for financial market infrastructures
June 29, 2016--The Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI)1 and the Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)2 today released the final report Guidance on cyber resilience for financial market infrastructures ("Cyber Guidance").3
This Cyber Guidance is the first internationally agreed guidance on cyber security for the financial industry. It has been developed against the backdrop of a rising number of cyber attacks against the financial sector and in a context where attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
view the Guidance on cyber resilience for financial market infrastructures report
Source: BIS
Connecting to Compete 2016: Trade Logistics in the Global Economy
June 28, 2016--STORY HIGHLIGHTS
The 2016 edition of Connecting to Compete scores and benchmarks countries' performance on logistics. Germany ranked first for the second time in a row, and Syria ranked last. The top performing countries tend to be high-income; countries with the lowest scores tend to be low-income.
Many factors determine a country's logistics performance-including infrastructure, regulations, policies, geography, and political economy.
The Logistics Performance Index, part of the Connecting to Compete report, measures the efficiency of international supply chains. It covers 160 countries based on the multidimensional assessment of over 1000 global logistics professionals.
view the World Bank report-Connecting to Compete 2016: Trade Logistics in the Global Economy
Source: World Bank
The Global Economy is Failing 35% of the World's Talent
June 28, 2016--The Human Capital Report 2016 finds that globally only 65% of the world's talent is being optimized through education, skills development and deployment during people's lifetimes
Finland, Norway and Switzerland hold the top spots, utilizing around 85% of their human capital. Japan leads when it comes to 55 year-olds and over
Rich and poor countries alike are missing huge opportunities when it comes to making the most of their populations' economic potential, with only 65% on average of the world's talent being optimized during all stages of the working life time, according to the World Economic Forum's Human Capital Report 2016, which is published today.
view the World Economic Forum-Human Capital Report 2016
Source:World Economic Forum
Brexit wipes record $3tn off global markets in two days
June 28, 2016--S&P Dow Jones Global Brand Market Index shed $2.08 trillion in value on the day following the referendum
Brexit wiped a record $3 trillion off global markets in two days, according to data compiled by Standard & Poor's Dow Jones Indices.
A sharp sell-off in stocks around the world followed the decision by British voters to leave the EU.
Source: independent.co.uk
BlackRock ETF Landscape May 2016
June 27, 2016--Industry Highlights
MAY GLOBAL ETP FLOWS REFLECT INVESTOR PREFERENCE FOR FIXED INCOME AND GOLD OVER EQUITIES
May flows of $10.7bn were paced by $9.7bn for bond funds and boosted by a renewed appetite for gold, which accumulated $4.1bn
Minimum volatility funds, which have steadily attracted $3bn per month this year amid equity market uncertainty, brought in another $2.6bn
Fixed income flows remained broad based, from corporate bonds to EM debt to municipals
The leading categories were investment grade corporate bonds with $2.8bn, primarily from ongoing demand in Europe, and broad US debt with $1.8bn
The only redemptions were ($2.6bn) for high yield corporate bonds, which have still gathered $4.7bn year-to-date as investors hunt for sources of income
EM equity generated outflows of ($5.0bn) after two strong months, as renewed concern over China's economic growth impacted both broad EM funds and country funds with Asia exposure
Source: BlackRock ETP Research