China stock suspensions opens can of derivatives worms
July 14, 2015--Suspension of China stocks causes valuation problems-dealers
Standard derivatives terms may not apply to China circumstances
More than half of China stocks suspended during stock plunge
Could be wrangling over derivatives valuations--ISDA
The suspension of hundreds of mainland China stocks during a market plunge from mid-June could lead to disputes between banks and their clients over the valuation of billions of dollars of equity derivatives.
Source: Reuters
ISDA Publishes EMIR Classification Letter
July 14, 2015--The International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) has published a new classification letter that will enable counterparties to notify each other of their status for clearing and other regulatory requirements under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR).
Financial and non-financial counterparties are subject to a variety of regulatory obligations under EMIR, but the extent of compliance depends on their categorization under the EMIR taxonomy. The classification also determines whether and when the EMIR clearing obligation applies. The ISDA EMIR Classification Letter allows counterparties to bilaterally communicate their status by answering a series of questions.
Source: ISDA
Bond Traders Face 'Million Dollar Question' on Global Growth Bet
July 14, 2015--What do bond traders know about the world economy that other investors are missing?
That's what's puzzling David Woo, head of global rates and currencies at Bank of America Corp. in New York.
Source: Bloomberg
IMF-Global Implications of Lower Oil Prices
July 14, 2015--Summary: The sharp drop in oil prices is one of the most important global economic developments over the past year.
The SDN finds that (i) supply factors have played a somewhat larger role than demand factors in driving the oil price drop, (ii) a substantial part of the price decline is expected to persist into the medium term, although there is large uncertainty, (iii) lower oil prices will support global growth, (iv) the sharp oil price drop could still trigger financial strains, and (v) policy responses should depend on the terms-of-trade impact, fiscal and external vulnerabilities, and domestic cyclical position.
view the IMF-Global Implications of Lower Oil Prices
Source: IMF
Fund managers to escape 'wide spread' label
July 14, 2015--The globe's biggest fund managers have actually gotten away difficult brand-new guidelines that would certainly have struck their revenues and also flexibility,
due to the fact that worldwide guard dogs have actually made a decision not to treat them as dangers to monetary security whenever quickly.
Source: journalfocus.com
OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report July 2015
July 13, 2015--The outlook for the oil market in 2016.
The global GDP growth forecast for 2015 has been revised down to 3.2% from 3.3%. This, however, assumes a relatively higher growth rate in the second half, particularly after a weak first quarter.
In 2016, GDP growth is forecast to be higher at 3.5% (Graph 1). The OECD is forecast to expand by 2.1%, an increase from this year’s 2.0%. China is expected to slow to 6.5% from 6.9% in the current year, while India is forecast to reach higher growth at 7.7%, compared to 7.5% in 2015. Both Russia and Brazil are forecast to move out of recession.
Source: OPEC
ADDIS: new UN-backed report details ways to boost finance for sustainable energy
July 13, 2015--A new United Nations-backed report launched today at a conference in Addis Ababa details concrete ways to boost crucial investment in sustainable energy by some $120 billion a year.
Scaling Up Finance for Sustainable Energy Investments,' launched at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development that opened today in the Ethiopian capital, was produced by the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative.
Source: UN
BlackRock Vies With State Street to Tap Currency-Hedged ETF Boom
July 13, 2015--The world's biggest money managers are staking a claim in the surging market for stock and bond ETFs that strip out currency risk.
Industry giants BlackRock Inc. and State Street Corp. are rolling out hedged exchange-traded funds at an unprecedented clip after smaller rivals lured the bulk of $41 billion of inflows this year.
Source: Bloomberg
Europe a new focus for boutique managers says SunGard/TABB survey
Monday 13, 2015--Boutique asset managers are increasingly losing their home country bias in the search for investment growth, in particular switching into Europe in 2015 despite the recent issues in Greece, according to a survey of over 100 fund managers by independent capital markets research firm TABB Group for SunGard.
"We are seeing confident and positive boutique asset managers who are using their greater focus and agility, as well as more flexible systems, to carve out profitable niches despite tougher regulation. What is interesting is their investment focus, with European equities at the forefront and ETFs increasingly used as an efficient base for focused portfolio construction," says Trevor Headley, head of product management of SunGard's boutique asset management business.
Towers Watson Global Alternatives Survey 2015
Including the top alternative asset manager rankings
July 13, 2015--
At a Glance
In 2014, alternative assets under management hit $6.3 trillion.
Real estate managers have the largest share of alternative assets under control at 33%.
Pension fund assets represent 33% of the Top 100 alternative managers' assets.
This year's Global Alternatives Survey, produced in conjunction with the Financial Times, shows that the total global alternative assets under management hit $6.3 trillion (up from $5.7 trillion in 2013).
Of the Top 100 alternative investment managers, real estate managers have the largest share of assets (33% and over $1 trillion), followed by hedge funds (23% and $791bn), private equity fund managers (22% and $767bn), private equity funds of funds (10% and $342bn), funds of hedge funds (5% and $214bn), infrastructure (4%) and illiquid credit (3%).
view the Towers Watson Global Alternatives Survey 2015
Source: Powers Watson