Nigeria: Govt, Saudi Arabia Commit to Raising Oil Price
February 24, 2016--Leaders of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have expressed commitment to a "stable oil market" and a "rebound of oil price."
Source: AllAfrica.com
Merk Insight: Gold Now?
February 24, 2016--Gold never changes; it's the world around it that does. Why is it that we see a renewed interest in gold now? And more importantly, should investors buy this precious metal?
Key attributes in a 'changing world' that may be relevant to the price of gold are fear and interest rates. Let's examine these:
Gold & Fear
When referencing 'fear' driving the markets, most think of a terrorist attack, political uncertainty or some other crisis that impacts investor sentiment, and sure enough, at times, the price of gold moves higher when this type of fear is observed.
Source: Merk
Infographic-Why a Brexit Could Be a Losing Proposition for Everyone
February 24, 2016--After two days of intense negotiations, British Prime Minister David Cameron has proposed a new agreement that could allow Britain to stay in the European Union.
Although not all of his demands were met in full, the potential deal focuses on migrant workers, protecting the pound and London's financial sector from regulations, sovereignty, and competitiveness.
Source: visualcapitalist.com
Infographic-Virtual and Augmented Reality: The Players and the Game
February 23, 2016--Virtual reality has been exiled to the dreaded trough of disillusionment for years, but it is finally on the path to escape.
Products such as Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive are continuously wowing both users and investors, and these technologies will clearly play a significant role in the future of movies and gaming. view more
Source: visualcapitalist.com
DECPG Global Monthly-February 2016
February 23, 2016--February Overview
Global growth slowed further in the fourth quarter of 2015, as activity was soft in the U.S. and contracted in Japan.
Financial markets have become increasingly concerned about global prospects, and major central banks have
modified their policy stance to mitigate downside risks.
Outflows from China continued to put pressure on foreign reserves, while portfolio flows to other emerging markets showed tentative signs of stabilization.
With the further plunge in oil prices, oil exporters continue to face challenges, including weakening external accounts, depreciating currencies, accelerating inflation, and deteriorating fiscal balances.
Source: World Bank
ERI Scientific Beta announces the launch of new low carbon indices
February 23, 2016--EDHEC Risk Institute has been conducting research for several years on the possibility of reconciling financial and environmental performance.
The launch of a new series of low carbon indices by ERI Scientific Beta, the smart beta index provider set up by EDHEC Risk Institute in 2012, marks the practical realisation of these research efforts and represents an important moment for responsible finance, because the results of the research undertaken will provide institutional investors with smart beta indices that can reduce the carbon footprint of their equity investments by more than 80%, while at the same time outperforming traditional market indices and being able to create more than 50% additional value in the medium term.
Source: Nasdaq.com
ETF Securities Commodities weekly: Rising risk appetite provides no impediment to gold ETP flows
February 22, 2016--Summary
Gold ETPs post strong inflows of US$224mn, as investors garner safety amidst volatile markets.
Oil ETPs surge after oil prices rebound despite lacklustre negotiations among major producers
Profit-taking prompts outflows from industrial metal basket ETPs
Source: ETF Securities
ETF Securities-Commodity Monthly Monitor-Global investor sentiment at a turning point
February 22, 2016--Early evidence suggests that market volatility could be moderating in line with a lift in investor sentiment, but it is very early days.
The direction of oil prices has been leading many asset class moves and as a result, the volatility of oil prices can be informative.Although oil volatility is at the highest level since December 2015, the pace of increase is declining, indicating the market could be on the verge of more stable trading conditions. A more stable market would give the green light for rising investor risk appetite, and a less defensive stance for portfolios.
Source: ETF Securities
Asia and the Middle East lead rise in arms imports; the United States and Russia remain largest arms exporters, says SIPRI
February 22, 2016--The volume of international transfers of major weapons has grown continuously since 2004 and rose by 14 per cent between 2006-10 and 2011-15, according to new data on international arms transfers published today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Six of the top 10 largest arms importers in the 5-year period 2011-15 are in Asia and Oceania: India (14 per cent of global arms imports), China (4.7 per cent), Australia (3.6 per cent), Pakistan (3.3 per cent), Viet Nam (2.9 per cent) and South Korea (2.6 per cent).
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Mr Robot, your new financial adviser
February 19, 2016--The future of financial advice could be part-human, part-robot with hybrid advisers potentially managing up to 10 per cent of global investable wealth by 2025, a new report has suggested.
Robo advice-where consumers input information online to generate suggested investment routes-has proved a huge growth area in the financial advisory market, as companies seek to provide inexpensive and rapidly scalable forms of reaching customers.
Source: FT.com