Russell cuts confirm buyside focus on staff numbers
April 1, 2016--Russell Investments is trimming 2% of its global operations team, in a move that follows BlackRock's decision to eliminate 3% of its workforce and confirms a pattern of hiring freezes, internal promotions and staff cuts across the asset management sector.
Source: Financial News
Second report on risk-weighted assets in the banking book published by the Basel Committee
April 1, 2016--The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has today published a second report on risk-weighted assets (RWAs) in the banking book, as part of its Regulatory Consistency Assessment Programme (RCAP) to ensure full and effective implementation of the Basel III framework.
The study examines the variability of RWA in banks that use internal models to calculate their credit risk regulatory capital requirements. It follows the Committee's 2013 report, which found considerable variation in average RWAs for credit risk in the banking book, and extends that analysis in two respects:
Source: BIS
Wall Street and tech start to move past bitcoin
April 1, 2016--Bitcoin, the revolutionary technological innovation, is becoming old hat.
Even while investors and regulators are paying much more attention (and more money) to the technological architecture underpinning the cryptocurrency, a funny thing is happening: Bitcoin, the very reason for that architecture, is often going completely unmentioned.
Source: cnbc.com
Basel Said to Weigh Change That Could Ease Derivatives Capital
April 1, 2016--New derivatives math would lower burden for some lenders
Regulators may also raise leverage ratio for 30 biggest banks
Global regulators are moving toward a new way of calculating leverage ratios that could ease capital requirements for some banks, especially in the U.S.
Source: Bloomberg
Scientists create synthetic tissues that mimic nerves
April 1, 2016--Combination of 3D printing and chemistry holds out hope for nervous system repair
Oxford university scientists have created synthetic tissues that can be activated by light to mimic biological behavior-including the electrical signalling that takes place in the nervous system.
Source: FT.com
World Gold Council-Market Update: Gold in a world of negative interest rates
March 31, 2016--Investors should consider doubling their gold allocations amid negative interest rates
We have entered a new and unprecedented phase in monetary policy. Central banks in Europe and Japan have now implemented Negative Interest Rate Policies (NIRP) to counteract deflationary pressures and, in some cases, currency appreciation. Amid higher market uncertainty, the price of gold is up by 16% year-to-date-in part due to NIRP.*
Source: World Gold Council
Infographic-The Relationship Between Stock Exchanges and Indices
March 31, 2016--The NYSE and NASDAQ are the two largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalization. However, what is their relation to major indices such as the S&P 500, S&P 100, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average?
Today's chart breaks down the composition of the 4,500+ large cap stocks that are traded on the NYSE and NASDAQ, showing how the indices are currently derived.
Source: visualcapitalist.com
BlackRock Plans to Cut About 400 Jobs in Coming Weeks
March 30, 2016--BlackRock said to continue hiring, investing in growth areas
Reductions may be biggest in the money manager's history
BlackRock Inc. plans to cut about 400 jobs in what may be the biggest round of layoffs to date at the world's largest money manager, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Source: Bloomberg
Unscheduled adjustment in MDAX
Share class of Wincor Nixdorf AG to be replaced/Changes to be effective as of 1 April 2016
March 29, 2016--On Tuesday, Deutsche Börse announced unscheduled changes to MDAX. As a result of the expected acquisition of Wincor Nixdorf AG by the acquirer Diebold, Incorporated, the Wincor Nixdorf AG current share class (ISIN DE000A0CAYB2) in MDAX will be replaced with the tendered share class of Wincor Nixdorf AG (ISIN DE000A169QN2).
All changes will become effective on 1 April 2016.
Source: Deutsche Börse
IMF Publishes Work on the State of the Global Financial Safety Net
March 28, 2016--The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today published the paper "The Adequacy of the Global Financial Safety Net," which the IMF's Executive Board discussed during an informal session as part of the Fund's ongoing review of the international monetary system.
The paper assesses the strengths, weaknesses and challenges of the Global Financial Safety Net (GFSN)-comprised of international reserves, central bank swap arrangements, regional financing arrangements, Fund resources (complemented by other multilateral and bilateral development partners), and market-based instruments.
view the IMF The Adequacy of the Global Financial Safety Net paper
Source: IMF