Global ETF News Older than One Year
BIS-Gaining momentum-Results of the 2021 BIS survey on central bank digital currencies
May 6, 2022--Most central banks are exploring central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and more than a quarter of them are now developing or running concrete pilots. This BIS paper updates earlier surveys that asked central banks about their engagement in this area. The latest responses from 81 central banks show that the Covid-19 pandemic and the emergence of cryptocurrencies have accelerated the work on CBDCs.
In addition, this paper shows that more than two thirds of central banks are likely to issue a retail CBDC in the short or medium term. Many are exploring a CBDC ecosystem that involves private sector collaboration and interoperability with existing payment systems.
Source: BIS
IMF Working Paper-Digital Money and Central Bank Operations
May 6, 2022--Summary:
The rise of new and proposed monetary vehicles, including CBDC, stablecoins, payment service providers etc., are unprecedented. An important question for central banks is the extent to which these innovations upend the role of and implementation of monetary policy. The paper focuses on the interest rate channel and if digital money (especially CBDC) will change monetary policy and central bank operations.
We argue that new policy instruments make sense only to the extent that there is limited substitutability between the various payment sectors. We analyze trends in currency-in-circulation, and how it may impact central bank's seigniorage, monetary base, and transactional velocity of digital money if money demand declines. Liquidity outside the monetary base will also be important to understand.
Source: imf.org
ETF launches cap frenetic fund activity in uranium sector
May 6, 2022--After starting to stockpile uranium, Sprott has expanded into equity, buying URNM, and joining Global X by launching an ETF in Europe
The launch of the first two European-listed uranium exchange traded funds, coming hot on the heels of a $1bn US uranium ETF acquisition, are the latest indicators of what has been a flurry of fund activity in nuclear fuel investment.
But despite the huge speculative interest, especially from investors in an investment trust that is less than a year old, industry observers warn there are no guarantees that last year's strong performance will be repeated - even with a looming European energy crisis sparked by the Ukraine war.
Source: ft.com
This is why we'll probably have to work longer than our parents did
May 5, 2022--China is moving ahead with a plan to raise its retirement age.
Many countries face similar issues and are also raising retirement ages.
The changes are in response to ageing populations and declining birth rates.
China's plan to "gradually delay" the country's legal retirement age has managed to unify a wide variety of people around a single sentiment: they don't like it.
As a country looking for ways to address the fact that it may not have enough workers paying into its pension system to support an ageing population, however, China is far from alone.
In more than half of the 38 OECD member states, some of the most prosperous nations on Earth, normal retirement age is expected to increase by the time young people now entering the workforce depart during their silver years, according to one projection.
Source: weforum.org
Lower Oil Reliance Insulates World From 1970s-Style Crude Shock
May 5, 2022--The war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia are causing substantial economic spillovers, notably for energy.
Oil prices have climbed, but increases have largely been contained thanks to spare production capacity in some countries and strategic petroleum reserves in others.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose to a seven-year high around $100 before the invasion sent it surging to more than $130. It has since pared gains amid pandemic lockdowns in China, the biggest oil importer, that may weigh on economic growth there.
Source: imf.org
IMF-Shocks to Inflation Expectations
April 29, 2022--Summary:
The consensus among central bankers is that higher inflation expectations can drive up inflation today, requiring tighter policy. We assess this by devising a novel method for identifying shocks to inflation expectations, estimating a semi-structural VAR where an expectation shock is identified as that which causes measured expectations to diverge from rationality.
Using data for the United States, we find that a positive inflation expectations shock is deflationary and contractionary: inflation, output, and interest rates all fall. These results are inconsistent with the standard New Keynesian model, which predicts inflation and interest rate hikes. We discuss possible resolutions to this new puzzle.
view the IMF Working paper-Shocks to Inflation Expectations
Source: imf.org
ETFGI reports Crypto ETPs listed globally gathered net inflows of US$785 million during March 2022
April 29, 2022- ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm covering trends in the global ETFs/ETPs ecosystem, reported today that Crypto ETFs and ETPs listed globally gathered net inflows of US$785 million during March, bringing Q1 net inflows to US$859 million, which is much lower than the US$1.64 billion gathered in Q1 2021.
Total assets invested in Crypto ETFs and ETPs increased by 19.6% from US$13.61 billion at the end of February 2022 to US$16.28 billion at the end of Q1, according to ETFGI's March 2022 ETF and ETP Crypto industry landscape insights report, the monthly report which is part of an annual paid-for research subscription service. (All dollar values in USD unless otherwise noted.)
Highlights
Assets of $16.28 Bn invested in Crypto ETFs and ETPs listed globally at the end of March.
During March Crypto ETPs increased by 19.6% from $13.61 Bn to $16.28 Bn at the end of Q1.
In Q1 assets have decreased 0.4% going from $16.34 Bn at end of 2021 to $16.28 Bn.
Crypto ETPs listed globally gathered net inflows of $785 million during March.
Q1 net inflows were $859 Mn which is much lower than the $1.64 Bn gathered in Q1 2021.
$8.50 Bn in net inflows gathered in the past 12 months.
Source: ETFGI
Digital Asset Management Review -April
April 28, 2022--Report Summary
In April, the price of Bitcoin and Ethereum fell by 16.3% and 14.4% respectively (data up to 27th April), a reversal following two months of positive returns for the two largest cryptocurrencies.
April Highlights
Investors flooded out of crypto investment products in April, with average weekly outflows totaling $79.5mn. The largest recorded weekly outflow was the week ending April 8th with a total of $134mn leaving crypto-products. During this period, $132mn left Bitcoin products alone. April has seen the largest average weekly outflows in 2022 so far.
Source: data.cryptocompare.com
IOSCO releases report on issues and considerations of market data in secondary equity markets
April 28, 2022--The Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) today published a report that sets out some issues and considerations for regulators when reviewing the regulation of market data. The Report Market Data in the Secondary Equity Market: Current Issues and Considerations highlights that market data is an essential element of efficient price discovery and for maintaining fair and efficient markets.
Specifically, market data enables market participants to identify liquidity, make informed order routing and investment decisions and comply with regulatory requirements, such as best execution
Source: IOSCO
Inflation to be Elevated for Longer on War, Demand, Job Markets
April 27, 2022--The war in Ukraine will quicken inflation, which we now expect to remain elevated for longer than previously forecast on higher commodity costs and broader price pressures.
As the Chart of the Week shows, our latest World Economic Outlook now projects faster consumer-price increases this year for advanced economies as well as in emerging market and developing economies. These forecasts also have a high degree of uncertainty.
Russia's invasion of its neighbor will likely have a protracted impact on commodities, affecting oil and gas prices more severely this year and food prices well into next year.
Four main factors shape our outlook:
The war aggravated already surging commodity prices. Energy and food helped boost inflation last year, with oil and gas supplies tight after years of subdued investment and geopolitical uncertainty. This was a main inflation driver in Europe and, to a lesser extent, the United States. Rising food prices also played a major role in most emerging market and developing economies, as extreme weather reduced harvests and mounting oil and gas prices drove up fertilizer costs.
Source: IMF.org
