Global ETF News Older than One Year
December 2015 BIS Quarterly Review: Uneasy calm awaiting lift-off
December 6, 2015--The December issue of the BIS Quarterly Review explores how global financial markets have responded in recent months to the prospect that monetary policy paths will diverge across the major advanced economies.
Markets stabilised in October, following the episode of turbulence that took place in August.
In November, strong macroeconomic data from the United States increased the likelihood of a "lift-off" in the Federal Reserve's policy rate. The prospects for higher US rates posed challenges for a number of emerging market economies (EMEs), including currency weakness, higher bond yields, and possible capital outflows.
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view the BIS Quarterly Review December 2015 International banking and financial market developments
Source: BIS
DECPG Weekly-December 04, 2015
December 4, 2015-Taking Stock
U.S. job growth exceeded expectations in November. U.S. non-farm payroll employment increased more than expected in November, by 211,000 jobs. Meanwhile, the employment gains in October and September were upwardly revised to 298,000 (from 271,000) and 145,000 (from 137,000), respectively.
The unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent, in line with expectations. Average hourly earnings rose 0.2 percent (m/m), putting the annual increase at 2.3 percent, compared with 2.5 percent in October.
ECB unveiled new stimulus measures. In a range of additional measures aimed at boosting growth and lifting inflation, the European Central Bank (ECB) cut its deposit rate to -0.3 percent from -0.2 percent, pledged to continue its monthly asset buying program for another 6 months, until at least March 2017, and broadened the asset purchases to include debt instruments issued by regional and local governments in the euro area. However, the measures fell short of market expectations. The euro surged as high as 3 percent against the U.S. dollar to $1.0935 on Thursday, the biggest daily gain since late August, but has since fallen back somewhat.
Source: World Bank
Nasdaq Index Monthly Performance Report as of 11/30/2015
December 4, 2015-The Nasdaq Index Monthly Performance Report (as of 11/30/15)is now available.
Source: Nasdaq.com
New report identifies innovative ways to mobilize investment in low-emission, climate-resilient urban infrastructure
Mechanisms to boost large-scale capital for climate action in cities set out in study by Alliance initiated by UN Secretary-General
December 4, 2015--Proven innovative policies and mechanisms are unlocking investment for much-needed climate-smart infrastructure in cities, according to a new report, and need to be scaled up globally.
The State of City Climate Finance report is being launched today by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and international partners at the Climate Summit for Local Leaders at Paris City Hall, taking place on the margins of the UN Climate Conference in Paris.
view The State of City Climate Finance 2015 report
Source: CCFLA
SPDR Spotlight-Finding Focus in Smart Beta with SPDR ETFs
December 3, 2015-Smart Beta: Factoring in on Specific Objectives
The adoption of smart beta strategies has been one of the most powerful trends in investing as they offer investors a rules based approach to harness specific drivers of risk and return, known as "factors." Many investors are rethinking their core exposures and using smart beta as a way to aim for better risk-adjusted returns in an efficient manner.
Overall, smart beta provides the potential opportunity to capture specific factors that active managers commonly seek exposure to, while preserving the benefits of traditional passive approaches, including transparency, consistency and low cost.
According to a recent survey, 99% of respondents plan to maintain or increase their exposure to smart beta ETFs over the next year.1
Smart beta strategies seek to help investors construct more sophisticated portfolios that can be flexible and conducive to today's macro driven environment. According to a survey, some respondents view smart beta as a form of active management that they can utilize to protect portfolios in down markets or help lower the overall volatility of a portfolio.2 Other top motivations for using smart beta strategies include the potential for increased alpha, income and diversification.
Source: State Street Global Advisors
Hong Kong races past New York to return as top IPO market for first time in four years
With listings from 71 firms raising more than US$30 billion so far this year, city is well on its way to reclaiming the crown it last held in 2011
December 3, 2015--Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing is on track to beat New York Stock Exchange to return as the top initial public offering (IPO) market this year, for the first time since 2011.
In the first 11 months of the year, Hong Kong had a 15.7 per cent market share of IPO funds worldwide, with 71 companies listing in the city raising a total of US$31.2 billion.
Source: South China Morning Post
CME Group Volume Averaged 13.7 Million Contracts per Day in November 2015, Up 6 Percent from November 2014
December 2, 2015--Eurodollar options average daily volume rose 70 percent
Equity index average daily volume rose 16 percent
Interest rate average daily volume rose 9 percent
CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced that November 2015 volume averaged 13.7 million contracts per day, up 6 percent from November 2014.
Source: CME Group
Merk 2016 Outlook: Markets, Dollar, Gold
December 2, 2015--Up! Buy the dips! What could possibly go wrong? A hell of a lot, actually, so investors might want to take precautions before, rather after, bad things happen to one's portfolio.
We take a stab at where one may find opportunities in 2016. In an early August Merk Insight entitled Coming Out -As a Bear!, we argued rising "risk premia" could create headwinds to the stock market (and other so-called risk assets) for at least eighteen months, if not years.
Source: Merk Investments
Global defaults climb to 6-year peak of $95bn
December 1, 2015--Companies have defaulted on $95bn worth of debt so far this year, with 2015 set to finish with the highest number of worldwide defaults since 2009, according to Standard & Poor's.
The figures are the latest sign financial stress is beginning to rise for corporate borrowers, led by US oil and gas companies.
Source: usagold.com
Russell/Nomura Japan Equity Indexes add
December 1, 2015--The family of Russell/Nomura Indexes, which captures 98% of the float-adjusted market capitalization of the
Japanese equity market, added 14 new firms as part of the annual reconstitution process on December 1,
announced Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. and Russell Investments. The membership list was posted on http://qr.nomuraholdings.com/en/frcnri/index.html.
Source: Russell Investments
