Global ETF News Older than One Year
Russell Indexes Demotes Morocco to Frontier Status
March 5, 2015--Russell Indexes, one of the largest providers of indexes for use by exchange traded funds, said it has demoted Morocco to frontier market status from the emerging markets classification.
In terms of market classification, Russell Indexes has determined that Morocco will be reclassified from emerging to frontier market status.
Source: Africaleader.com
ETFS Gold Trust, ETFS Precious Metals Basket Trust & ETFS Asian Gold Trust to Use the LBMA PM Gold Price as Their Benchmark Price Starting March 20, 2015
March 5, 2015--London Gold Market Fixing Ltd. has announced its intention to discontinue the "London Fix" pricing benchmark for Gold after March 19, 2015.
The London Fix has been the "Benchmark Price" for valuation of gold bullion held by each of the ETFS Gold Trust (NYSE Arca:SGOL) (the "Gold Trust"), the ETFS Precious Metals Basket Trust (NYSE Arca:GLTR) (the "Precious Metals Trust"), and the ETFS Asian Gold Trust (NYSE Arca:AGOL) (the "Asian Gold Trust" and together with the Gold Trust and the Precious Metals Trust, the "ETFS Trusts”). The London Bullion Market Association has accepted a proposal by ICE Benchmark Administration ("IBA") to operate a replacement gold price benchmark mechanism. Commencing March 20, 2015, IBA will operate an electronic, tradable and auditable, over-the-counter auction to establish and publish a fixed price for a troy ounce of gold twice each trading day at 10:30 a.m. London time (the "LBMA AM Gold Price") and 3:00 p.m. London time (the "LBMA PM Gold Price”).
Source: ETFS Gold Trust, ETFS Precious Metals Trust & ETFS Asian Gold Trust
BATS Global Markets February 2015 Update: Reports 8.2% U.S. Options Market Share, 20.7% U.S. Equities Market Share, 23.7% European Equities Market Share
Company Also Announced Chris Concannon To Become CEO, Joe Ratterman Chairman
March 5, 2015--BATS Global Markets (BATS) today reported February volume, market share, and monthly highlights including its second best month on record for U.S. Options market share, which was 8.2%, up from 3.6% one year ago.
In the U.S., February market share was 20.7%, up from 20.4% one year ago. Average daily matched volume on the BATS Exchanges was 1.41 billion shares vs 1.43 billion a year ago.
In Europe, BATS Chi-X Europe-the region’s largest equities exchange-reported 23.7% overall market share. Average daily notional value traded was €12.3 billion, up substantially from €8.9bn in February 2014. Year-on-year, market share rose in 14 of the 15 markets BATS Chi-X Europe covers.
BXTR, BATS Chi-X Europe's trade reporting facility, had its second-most successful month ever with more than €369.3bn reported in total during February, an average of €18.5bn each trading day.
Source: BATS Global Markets, Inc.
Oil Price Plunge Analyzed In New WB Policy Research Note
March 5, 2015--Rapid expansion of oil supply from unconventional sources, a significant change in OPEC's policy stance, and weak global demand are driving the recent plunge in oil prices, according to a new paper by the World Bank.
These underlying forces are buoyed by a strengthening U.S. dollar and the fact that oil production in the Middle East has not been severely disrupted by ongoing conflict, says the paper, titled "The Great Plunge in Oil Prices: Causes, Consequences, and Policy Responses".
Source: World Bank
Europe and emerging markets star in best year so far for ETPs
March 5, 2015--This year is proving to be the best year so far for global growth of ETPs, according to research by BlackRock.
February saw global ETP flows of USD50bn, which represented the fourth best month on record and pushed the year-to-date figure to USD62.3bn.
Source: ETFExpress
UPDATE 2-Global regulators publish revised proposals to supervise top funds
March 4, 2015--Global regulators published revised proposals on Wednesday for supervising the world's biggest mutual funds following fierce industry pushback in the United States and elsewhere.
The Group of 20 economies' (G20) regulatory task force, the Financial Stability Board (FSB), said the industry had called for a more detailed analysis of systemic risks for determining which institutions should come under the new rules.
Source: Reuters
Fund Managers Face Tougher Rules on Too-Big-to-Fail Firms
March 4, 2014--The world's largest fund managers are in line for tougher rules as global regulators push ahead with plans to identify too-big-to-fail firms in the face of opposition from the industry.
The Financial Stability Board and the International Organization of Securities Commissions said on Wednesday that the failure of an asset manager could "cause or amplify significant disruption to the global financial system."
Source: Bloomberg
WEF-Flying Robots and Brain-Mimicking Computer Chips Among the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2015
March 4, 2015-World Economic Forum's annual list recognizes breakthrough technologies with the greatest potential to help address the world's most pressing challenges
Aim is to raise attention to technologies' potential and any risks they may present
Zero emission cars fuelled by hydrogen and computer chips that mimic the human brain are among the technological breakthroughs recognized as the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2015, a list compiled by the World Economic Forum's Meta-Council on Emerging Technologies.
The council compiles the list each year to help raise attention for those technologies its members believe possess the greatest potential for addressing chronic global challenges. The purpose is also to initiate a debate on any human, societal, economic or environmental risks the technologies pose, with the aim of addressing any concerns before adoption becomes widespread.
view the Top 10 emerging technologies of 2015
Source: WEF (World Economic Forum)
Proposed Assessment Methodologies for Identifying NBNI SIFI
March 4, 2015--The Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) are publishing today for second public consultation Assessment Methodologies for Identifying Non-Bank Non-Insurer Global Systemically Important Financial Institutions (NBNI G-SIFIs).
The proposed methodologies for identifying NBNI G-SIFIs complement the methodologies for identifying G-SIFIs that currently cover banks and insurers, and take into account responses received on the first consultative document issued on 8 January 2014. The proposed methodologies aim to identify NBNI financial entities whose distress or disorderly failure, because of their size, complexity and systemic interconnectedness, would cause significant disruption to the wider financial system and economic activity at the global level or NBNI G-SIFIs in short.
Source: IOSCO
The Flow Whisperer-TAARSS says prefer International DM such as Europe and Japan
March 4, 2015--Tactical Asset Allocation Relative Strength Signal (TAARSS) Monthly Update
Top recommendations for March: European equities and Germany with currency hedge,Japan,US Aerospace & Defense,and Indian equities.
Market review
Risky assets received a boost in February with Global equities (ACWI) and Commodities (DBC) rising 5.5% and 4.4%,respectively. While US bonds (AGG) lagged behind losing 0.9% on rising rates concerns.
TAARSS rotation strategy monthly performance review
Last month,monthly TAARSS strategies outperformed or were in line with their benchmarks; while quarterly rotation strategies have been mixed QTD.
Tactical positioning for March 2015 based on TAARSS
Within equities we see strong investment demand support in DM Intl,and neutral support for the US,and EM for March. Within regions prefer Europe (with FX hedge) followed in the distance by Asia Pacific,remain neutral North America,and away from Latin America. Within the US,we again prefer Small and Mid Caps over Large Caps for March,or a total market or equal weighting approach. In terms of sectors,flows suggest a rotation into Global Cyclicals (Materials,Energy) away from Domestic Cyclicals,while maintaining some Defensives (Cons. Staples,Health Care) exposures. In International DM countries we see increased investor confidence,prefer Germany (with FX hedge) or Japan. For EM equities we continue to see India with the strongest support. Among other equity themes we see good support for US Aerospace & Defense. In fixed income,signals suggest credit over rates via US Corporate Debt (HY and IG). Lastly for commodities,we continue to see some support to Energy,but remain cautious.
Source: Deutsche Bank-Synthetic Equity & Index Strategy-Global
