IMF Working paper-Islamic Banking Regulation and Supervision: Survey Results and Challenges
December 12, 2014--Summary: The growing presence of Islamic banking needs to be accompanied by the development of effective regulation and supervision. This paper examines the results of the survey conducted by the International Monetary Fund to document international experiences and country practices related to legal and prudential frameworks governing Islamic banking activities.
Although a number of countries have made considerable progress in creating legal, regulatory, and supervisory frameworks that accommodate Islamic banking, there are substantial differences. This paper also identifies a number of challenges faced by regulatory and supervisory agencies regarding Islamic banking.
view the IMF Working paper-Islamic Banking Regulation and Supervision: Survey Results and Challenges
Source: IMF
Criteria for identifying "simple, transparent and comparable' securitisations: consultative document
issued by the Basel Committee and IOSCO
December 11, 2014--The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) released today a consultative document on Criteria for identifying simple, transparent and comparable securitisations.
The framework is available on the websites of the Bank for International Settlements and IOSCO.
The purpose of these criteria is to identify-and to assist the financial industry's development of-simple, transparent and comparable securitisations structures, as well as to help parties involved in a securitisation transaction evaluate the risks of a particular securitisation as part of their due diligence on securitisations.
view the Criteria for identifying simple, transparent and comparable securitisations (December 2014)
Source: BIS
Bold Energy Reforms Needed across Major Emerging Economies to Sustain Economic Growth and Tackle Sustainability Challenges: WEF Report
December 10, 2014--The Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report 2015, launched today, ranks 125 countries on ability to deliver secure, affordable and sustainable energy
Switzerland, Norway and France top the global rankings; Brazil ranks highest of the major emerging economies examined, with China and India facing some of the greatest challenges
Effective energy reforms are required to address sustainability challenges and continue to power economic growth in major emerging economies, particularly against the backdrop of a slowing world economy
Major emerging economies should push forward with policies to address high energy intensity and corrosive energy subsidies, and to encourage wider investment, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report 2015, which is released today.
The annual index, designed to help countries address challenges and identify opportunities across their energy systems, benchmarks the energy architecture of 125 countries based on their ability to provide energy access across three dimensions of the energy triangle – affordability, environmental sustainability, and security and access.
view the Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report 2015
Source: WEF (World Economic Furum)
UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015
December 10, 2014--Global economy to improve marginally, but mounting uncertainties and risks could undermine economic growth, says UN Upcoming US interest rate increases, remaining euro area fragility, a further slowdown in developing economies and geopolitical conflicts pose major concerns for global economic outlook
Global economic growth is forecast to increase marginally over the next two years, according to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015 (WESP) report, launched today. The global economy is expected to grow 3.1 per cent in 2015 and 3.3 per cent in 2016, compared with an estimated growth of 2.6 per cent for 2014.
The global economy expanded during 2014 at a moderate and uneven pace. Legacies from the global financial crisis continue to weigh on growth, while new challenges have emerged, including geopolitical conflicts such as in Ukraine and the Ebola epidemic.
view infographic-World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015
Source: UN DESA
Independent Report Into CFDs & Spread Betting Compared To Short & Leverage ETPs
December 10, 2014--Research from iMarkserv and Indxx find attributes of ETP structure align with investor preferences in leveraged trading space
100% of respondents would like a leveraged trading product that is listed on a regulated exchange and 95% would prefer to trade with multiple market makers
90% of respondents prefer a product where they can offset capital losses, this is possible with ETPs but not with spread bets
Vast majority of respondents are looking for various features that are standard in short and leverage ETPs and not available in CFDs and spread betting
72% of respondents already trade ETFs as well as CFDs and spread bets
Source: Boost
Independent Report Into CFDs & Spread Betting Compared To Short & Leverage ETPs
December 10, 2014--Research from iMarkserv and Indxx find attributes of ETP structure align with investor preferences in leveraged trading space
100% of respondents would like a leveraged trading product that is listed on a regulated exchange and 95% would prefer to trade with multiple market makers
90% of respondents prefer a product where they can offset capital losses, this is possible with ETPs but not with spread bets
Vast majority of respondents are looking for various features that are standard in short and leverage ETPs and not available in CFDs and spread betting
72% of respondents already trade ETFs as well as CFDs and spread bets
Source: Boost
CBOE Enters Into Agreement With MSCI Inc. To List Index Options
In U.S., MSCI Index Options to Be Solely Listed on CBOE
December 10, 2014--CBOE Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBOE) announced today that it has entered into a licensing agreement with MSCI Inc., a leading provider of investment decision support tools worldwide, to offer options trading on several MSCI indexes.
Under the agreement, in the U.S., options on the MSCI indexes will be solely listed for trading on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE).
Source: CBOE Holdings
BlackRock predicts ETP assets will hit $6trn in five years
December 10, 2014--The fund management giant BlackRock has predicted global exchange traded product assets will more than double to
$6 trillion over the next five years.
Source: Financial News
Lack of consistency in regulating active ETFs
December 9, 2014--In preparing a presentation to discuss the state of active exchange-traded funds globally at the London Stock Exchange I discovered how differently these products are being treated in Europe
and the US and even, surprisingly, within Europe. Recent pronouncements by regulators have done little to eliminate inconsistencies.
Source: Financial News
Regulators concerned at banks scaling back market making commitments
December 9, 2014--Global financial regulators worry that banks are scaling back costly market making functions and that this could leave investors stranded, as well as squeezing funds to drive economic recovery, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Some banks have already warned that tougher rules designed to make the financial system safer since the crisis of 2008-2009 have pushed up the cost of market making, or providing facilities for investors to buy and sell shares, bonds and derivatives.
Source: Reuters