MSCI reclassifies stocks in emerging, frontier market indexes
November 7, 203--Equity index provider MSCI on Thursday reclassified equities across a broad spectrum of emerging, developed and frontier markets as part of its November semiannual index review.
The changes will be made effective as of the close of business on November 26, MSCI said in a statement.
Source: Reuters
ESMA and EBA consult on complaints handling guidelines for the investment and banking sectors
November 6, 2013--The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) have jointly launched a consultation on guidelines for complaints handling in the securities and markets sectors.
The proposed Guidelines will build on the existing guidelines on complaints handling by insurance undertakings published by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) in June 2012. The consultation runs until 7 February 2014.
Consumers in the EU can purchase, and firms can offer, financial services and products in the banking, investment and insurance sectors across the EU. In order to increase market confidence of all participants, the Joint Committee of the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) is seeking to develop a harmonised approach to handling complaints. The three ESAs are doing so through guidelines that, once adopted, would apply equally across all 28 Member States and will be the same for all three sectors of financial services.
Source: ESMA
China grants U.S. investors indirect access to stocks
November 6, 2013--China has approved two domestic fund managers to offer products in the U.S. that for the first time would give investors there indirect access to shares traded in Shanghai and Shenzhen, a significant move to further open the country's capital markets and globalize its currency, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said Thursday.
China's securities and foreign-exchange regulators recently gave joint approval for Bosera Asset Management Co. and Harvest Fund Management Co. to sell exchange-traded funds linked to China's yuan-denominated A shares in the U.S., said the person, who declined to be named
Source: MarketWatch
China seeks world role for 'people's money'
November 6, 2013--With deals from London to Singapore, China is seeking a greater role for its yuan currency in global markets to challenge the hegemony of the almighty dollar.
The most attention-grabbing reform planned for Shanghai's new free trade zone is free convertibility of the yuan-also known as the renminbi, or "people's money"- an unprecedented change which would allow greater use of the currency.
Source: FIN24
Market Vectors China ETF (PEK) Seeks Direct A-Share Exposure Through RQFII Subadvisor
First-of-its-kind ETF has longest track record in its investment category and expects to incorporate physical-based exposure to Chinese equities
November 6, 2013--Van Eck Associates Corporation is currently negotiating with a China-headquartered asset manager to serve as sub-advisor for the Market Vectors(R) China ETF (NYSE Arca:PEK(R)), it was announced today.
The sub-advisor expects to receive its Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (“RQFII”) quota soon which, pending approval by the Board of Trustees of Market Vectors ETF Trust, would allow PEK to have direct access to physical A-Shares and provide enhanced access to the Chinese equity markets.
Source: Market Vectors ETF
Turkish lira, Russian rouble bonds to join Barclays Global Index
November 6, 2013--Russian and Turkish local currency bonds may receive billions of dollars in capital inflows after their inclusion into a flagship global index, a vote of confidence for markets that are just recovering from a bruising summer selloff.
Being part of a widely-used index tends to bring in cash because investment funds tracking the index will have to make room in their portfolios for the bond or stock in question.
Source: Todays Zaman
ESMA publishes the list of non-EEA CCPs that applied for recognition
November 5, 2013--ESMA has published the list of central counterparties (CCPs) established in non-EEA countries which have applied for recognition under Article 25 of Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on OTC derivatives, CCPs and trade repositories (TRs) (EMIR).
Source: ESMA
OECD report measures human cost of crisis; underlines need to invest in well-being
November 5, 2013--The global economic crisis has had a profound impact on people's well-being, reaching far beyond the loss of jobs and income, and affecting citizens' satisfaction with their lives and their trust in governments, according to a new OECD report.
How's Life? finds that subjective well-being deteriorated in countries most affected by the crisis. Between 2007 and 2012, reported average life satisfaction declined by more than 20% in Greece, 12% in Spain, and 10% in Italy. However, moderate increases were recorded in Germany, Israel, Russia, Mexico and Sweden.
view the How's Life? 2013 -Measuring Well-being
Source: OECD
IMF Working paper-The International Monetary System: Where Are We and Where Do We Need to Go?
November 5, 2013-- Summary: The North Atlantic financial crisis of 2008-2009 has spurred renewed interest in reforming the international monetary system, which has been malfunctioning in many aspects. Large and volatile capital flows have promoted greater volatility in financial markets, leading to recurrent financial crises. The renewed focus on the broader role of the central banks, away from narrow price stability monetary policy frameworks, is necessary to ensure domestic macroeconomic and financial stability.
Since international monetary cooperation might be difficult, though desirable, central banks in major advanced economies, going forward, need to internalize the implications of their monetary policies for the rest of the global economy to reduce the incidence of financial crises.
Source: IMF
Carbon taxes and emissions trading are cheapest ways of reducing CO2, OECD says
October 4, 2013--Carbon taxes and emission trading systems are the most cost-effective means of reducing CO2 emissions, and should be at the centre of government efforts to tackle climate change, according to a new OECD study.
Effective Carbon Prices shows that taxes and trading systems are preferable to other policies, such as feed-in tariffs, subsidies and other regulatory instruments. For example, the average cost of reducing a tonne of carbon emissions in the road transport sector can be up to eight times higher when instruments other than fuel taxes are used, according to the report.
view the OECD Effective Carbon Prices report
Source: OECD