Green Growth Bonds Give Individual Investors a Way to Help Address Climate Challenges
May 21, 2015--
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
The World Bank pioneered the green bond market, issuing its first green bond in 2008.
The bulk of the Bank's green bonds have been purchased by large asset managers, pension funds, and other institutional investors looking for sustainable and responsible investment opportunities that are specifically targeted to address climate change.
An innovative product called Green Growth Bonds is designed to appeal not only to large institutional investors, but also to individual retail investors.
Source: World Bank
China to boost investment in Russia by 150% in 5yrs-official
May 20, 2015--China may more than double its investment in the Russian economy to $10 billion within 5 years if conditions are favorable, said the Deputy Secretary-General of the China Overseas Development Association He Zhenwei.
Chinese investments abroad currently amount to $140 billion, with about $4 billion investment into Russia.
Source: RT.com
World Bond Market Breaks Apart After Years of Trading in Sync
May 20, 2015--The relationship between the U.S. and Europe is breaking down in the bond market.
After three years of moving more or less in tandem with one another, a measure of the link between U.S. Treasuries and German bunds has fallen to the weakest since 2009.
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Source: Bloomberg
Why Liquidity-Starved Markets Fear the Worst?
Bankers, investors and hedge-fund managers are rattled by the lack of liquidity in the markets
May 20, 2015--Talk to almost any banker, investor or hedge--fund manager today,and one topic is likely to dominate the conversation. It isn't Greece, or the U.S. economy, or China, let alone the U.K.'s referendum on European Union membership.
It is the lack of liquidity in the markets and what this might mean for the world economy—and their businesses.
Source: Wall Street Journal
STOXX: Europe's Economy Is "At The Crossroads Of Integration Or Fragmentation," Economist Tells Investment Forum In New York City
May 20, 2015--Europe's economy is strengthening and the region stands at the crossroads of integration or fragmentation," Bart van Ark, executive vice president, chief economist and chief strategy officer of The Conference Board told the Europe Investment Forum, hosted by STOXX Limited in New York City, today.
"Equity and bond markets in Europe are benefitting from the European Central Bank’s quantitative easing policy. The weaker euro is also a positive, but there is a limit to how much Europe can thrive on accelerated exports," Van Ark said.
Source: STOXX
Asset owner adoption of smart beta growing and broadening according to new FTSE Russell global survey
May 20, 2015--Over 70% of asset owners with smart beta allocation now combining
strategies
ETFs most preferred vehicle for tactical smart beta strategies
European asset owners continue to lead North America on adoption of smart
beta
FTSE Russell today confirmed that smart beta index adoption among institutional investors is growing and becoming more broad-based, according to its new global institutional market survey.
The FTSE Russell Smart Beta: 2015 Global Survey Findings from Asset Owners survey confirms a significantly increased interest in, and adoption of, multiple smart beta indexes among institutional asset owners around the world.
Source: FTSE
STOXX Ltd. Licenses EURO STOXX 50 To Japan's Nikko Asset Management For Passive Product
May 19, 2015--STOXX Limited, a leading provider of innovative, tradable and global index concepts, announced today that it has licensed its flagship EURO STOXX 50 Index to Nikko Asset Management, a Tokyo-based asset manager.
"This is our fourth license for a STOXX index in Japan in less than a year," said Hartmut Graf, chief executive officer, STOXX Limited. "We remain confident that global investors' increasing interest in European investment products means that demand for our European indices will continue to grow abroad, both in Asia and in North America. Europe as an exposure is interesting for investors right now, given the attractive valuations, the monetary policy scenario and the forex climate that benefits exports for Europe."
Source: STOXX
IMF-Caucasus, Central Asia Feel Impact of Adverse Shocks
May 19, 2015--Oil price drop, Russia's slowdown, appreciation of the dollar are taking a toll
Fiscal stimulus, exchange rate flexibility helping countries cope in near term
Deep structural and fiscal reforms are vital for creating jobs, reducing poverty
Growth in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) is expected to decline by 2 percent this year as a result of lower commodity prices and the economic slowdown in Russia, says the latest regional forecast by IMF staff.
The Regional Economic Outlook Update for the Caucasus and Central Asia, released on May 19, predicts growth in the region will reach just over 3 percent this year. This latest forecast represents a downward revision of 2½ percentage points from the one released by the IMF in October 2014.
Source: IMF
Euronext and Shenzhen Stock Exchange Announce Partnership on Exchange Traded Funds and Indices
May 19, 2015--Euronext and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance the development of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) in the Republic of China and the Euronext markets.
The MOU is the starting point for collaboration on joint development, research, marketing and specialized trading technology, as well as co-branding of indices and Exchange Traded Products.
Source: Euronext
Tackling the Challenge of Embedded Derivatives
May 19, 2015--White paper explores how to mitigate accounting risk and optimize working capital by automating identification and reporting of embedded derivatives
Fundtech, now a part of D+H, is a market leader in global transaction banking solutions and today released a white paper on the reemerging relevance of embedded derivatives, and how this corporate accounting burden can be transformed into a business benefit. Titled, "Tackling the Challenge of Embedded Derivatives," the white paper explains how automating receivables can simplify accounting for embedded derivatives, and ultimately mitigate accounting risk and optimize working capital.
Source: Fundtech