World Bank-Harnessing the Internet for Development
January 13, 2016--Universal access to the Internet has become a top development priority. Getting there requires affordable, reliable access to fast, "always on" broadband networks, one of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 9.c).
Finland has recognized access to broadband as a fundamental human right since 2010.[1] In 2011, a key UN commission also declared that broadband access is a basic human right, along with health care, shelter, and food.[2] Affordable Internet access enables progress on some of the toughest development challenges in the world's poorest communities. According to one estimate, increasing the proportion of the world's population that is connected to the Internet to 75% ( reaching 5.6 billion people) would add $2 trillion per year to world GDP and help create 140 million jobs-a lofty goal: today, only about 40% of the world's population (3.2 billion) is connected.[3]
Source: World Bank
Climate change is a threat- and an opportunity- for the private sector
January 13, 2016--As world leaders met at the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris last month to hammer out a deal that would prevent global warming, one thing became clear: the private sector, with its financial clout and penchant for innovation, must play a leading role in the struggle for a greener future.
The private sector was more visible and active in COP 21 than in any of the previous COPs: CEOs from industries as far ranging as cement, to technology and renewables stepped up their efforts to address climate change, making pledges to decrease their carbon footprint, buy more renewable energy and engage in sustainable resource management. Global financial institutions pledged to make hundreds of billions of new investment over the next 15 years in clean energy and energy efficiency.
Source: World Bank
EU opens debate on China market status
January 13, 2016--The EU said it will on Wednesday launch a year of delicate deliberations to decide whether China should be considered a market economy, a long-denied status that would make it harder for Europe to fight off cheap imports.
Communist-ruled China, the world's manufacturing powerhouse, has requested the designation from the European Union as part of a broader campaign to win the cherished status from the World Trade Organization.
Source: EUbusiness
Man and machine merge at BlackRock
January 13, 2015--The move, announced by the world's largest asset manager in a statement on January 12, is part of a sweeping reorganisation of its business lines aimed at generating more growth from them.
The new division housing the traditional stock-picking active managers and computer-driven quants will be led by Chris Jones and Nigel Bolton, from BlackRock's active division, and Raffaele Savi and Jeff Shen, representing the quants. The gang of four will report to BlackRock president Rob Kapito.
Source: Financial News
World Bank-Digital Revolution Needs Offline Help to Realize Its Potential
January 13, 2016--STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Digital technologies are spreading across the globe, but 4 billion people still do not have access to the Internet.
A new report says closing the digital divide should be a global priority to generate growth, jobs, and improve services.
Countries are more likely to reap "digital dividends" if they pay as much attention to offline factors as technological ones.
More people around the world have access to mobile phones today than to electricity or water. Does this mean the digital revolution has truly dawned?
view the World Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends
view the infographic-From Digital Divides to Digital Dividends
Source: World Bank
BlackRock to combine active equity capabilities, create real assets group
January 12, 2016--BlackRock is to combine its active equity capabilities as part of a significant organisational shake-up, including the creation of a real assets group, that will take effect next month.
Portfolio manager positions will be unaffected by the changes.
The new active equities platform will group fundamental and quant equity capabilities in a single unit.
Source: IP&E
IMF Working paper-Introducing a New Broad-based Index of Financial Development
January 12, 2016--Summary: There is a vast body of literature estimating the impact of financial development on economic growth, inequality, and economic stability.
A typical empirical study approximates financial development with either one of two measures of financial depth-the ratio of private credit to GDP or stock market capitalization to GDP. However,, these indicators do not take into account the complex multidimensional nature of financial development. The contribution of this paper is to create nine indices that summarize how developed financial institutions and financial markets are in terms of their depth, access, and efficiency. These indices are then aggregated into an overall index of financial development. With the coverage of 183 countries on annual frequency between 1980 and 2013, the database should offer a useful analytical tool for researchers and policy makers.
view the IMF Working paper--
Source: IMF
Infographic-How Normal Investors Can Use the Same Strategies as Hedge Funds
"It involved a partnership structure, a percentage-of-profits compensation arrangement for Ben as general partner, a number of limited partners and a variety of long and short positions," Buffett's letter says. view
Source: visualcapitalist.com
Source appoints six country heads to spearhead increased presence in Europe
As Source has continued to invest and expand its business across the Continent, the coverage team has grown dramatically and is now nearly 30 individuals, representing a third of Source's total employees.
Source: Source
Bowie: The Man Who Sold Royalties and Brought Music to Bonds
The man behind "The Man Who Sold the World" was the first recording artist to go to Wall Street to tap the future earnings of his music, paving the way for a thriving market for esoteric securities backed by everything from racehorse stud rights to commercial washing machines.
Source: Bloomberg
January 12, 2016--In a Warren Buffett note from 2006, he credits the famous value investor Benjamin Graham as the co-creator of the first-ever hedge fund in the mid-1920s.
January 11, 2016--Source, one of the largest providers of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in Europe, is excited to announce that it is realigning the responsibilities of its coverage team to better service the needs of its investors across Europe.
January 11, 2016--Performer was first to securitize future earnings from songs
'Space Oddity' musician died Sunday from cancer at age 69.
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