Countries should make carbon pricing the cornerstone of climate policy, says OECD
October 9, 2013--Credible and consistent carbon pricing must be the cornerstone of government actions to tackle climate change, according to a new OECD report.
Releasing the report Climate and carbon: Aligning prices and policies during a Lecture organised jointly with the London School of Economics, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said that a transformation of the global energy system is needed if countries hope to limit climate change to a 2ºC temperature increase from pre-industrial levels, as agreed by the global community. He called for a coherent approach to carbon pricing, to ensure that price signals sent to consumers, producers and investors alike are consistent and facilitate the gradual phase-out of fossil fuel emissions. He also questioned how much impact existing climate policies can have when countries around the world continue to subsidise the exploration, production and use of fossil fuels. Read Mr. Gurría's speech on The climate challenge: achieving zero emissions.
view the OECD report-Climate and carbon: Aligning prices and policies
Source: OECD
Chinese, European central banks strike currency swap deal
October 9, 2013--The Chinese and European central banks said Thursday they reached agreement to set up a "currency swap" mechanism for the purchase and repurchase of their respective currencies, the yuan and euro.
The "bilateral currency swap arrangement" will be valid for three years, the European Central Bank said in a statement on its website.
Source: EUbusiness
JPMorgan launches $3.3 billion physical commodity business sale
October 9, 2013--JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) has launched the sale of its physical commodities business, circulating offering documents to potential buyers and valuing the assets at $3.3 billion, according to a person familiar with the matter.
JPMorgan's sales pitch comes after the bank announced it was exiting physical commodity trading in July, as Wall Street faces heightened scrutiny from regulators and politicians on their role in the natural resources supply chain.
Source: Reuters
NYSE Euronext Announces Trading Volumes for September 2013
Global Derivatives ADV Down Year-over-Year but Up Sequentially
European and U.S. Cash Equities ADV Down Year-over-Year but Up Sequentially
October 9, 2013--NYSE Euronext (NYX) today announced trading volumes for its global derivatives and cash equities exchanges for September 20131.
Global derivatives average daily volume ("ADV") of 6.5 million contracts, excluding Bclear in September 2013 decreased 7.5% compared to September 2012, but increased 12.7% from August 2013. U.S. equity options volumes in September 2013 decreased 11.7% compared to September 2012, but increased 8.8% sequentially. ADV in U.S. cash equities declined 9.3% year-over-year, but increased 13.1% month-over-month. European cash equities ADV in September 2013 decreased 5.8% compared to September 2012, but increased 4.8% from August 2013 levels.
Source: NYSE Euronext
IMF Global Financial Stability Report--Transition Challenges to Stability
October 9, 2013--The October 2013 Global Financial Stability Report examines current risks facing the global financial system as it undergoes a series of transitions along the path toward greater financial stability.
The United States may soon move to less accommodative monetary policies and higher long-term interest rates as its recovery gains ground. Emerging markets face a transition to more volatile external conditions and higher risk premiums. Japan is moving toward the new "Abenomics" policy regime, and the euro area is moving toward a more robust and safer financial sector. Finally, the global banking system is phasing in stronger regulatory standards.
view the IMF Global Financial Stability Report-Transition Challenges to Stability
Source: IMF
London increases share of global renminbi trade
October 8, 2013--London is strengthening its position as a global hub for offshore renminbi, as new market players drive a rapid rise in international trading of the Chinese currency.
The UK capital, the world's dominant centre for foreign exchange transactions, now accounts for 62 per cent of renminbi trading conducted outside China and Hong Kong, according to data from Swift, the global payments company, up from 54 per cent in January this year.
Source: FT.com
World Gold Council-Infographic: The direct economic impact of gold
October 8, 2013--The World Gold Council-Infographic: The direct economic impact of gold is available for viewing.
Source: World Gold Council
World Gold Council-The Direct Economic Impact of Gold report
October 8, 2013--A new independent research report, The direct economic impact of gold, commissioned by the World Gold Council and produced PwC, reveals striking insights into the direct economic contribution of gold in the world's major gold producing and consuming countries.
This research is ground-breaking in the breadth of its perspective, covering the entire value chain of the gold industry, from mining and refining to end-user consumption.
view the World Gold Council-The Direct Economic Impact of Gold report
Source: World Gold Council
STOXX Introduces Strong Quality Index Family
October 8, 2013--STOXX Limited, the market-moving provider of innovative, tradable and global index concepts, today announced the launch of the STOXX Global Strong Quality 50, STOXX Europe Strong Quality 30, STOXX Asia/Pacific Strong Quality 30 and STOXX USA Strong Quality 50 indices, which represent strong quality companies in the respective region.
The new indices are designed to act as an underlying for exchange-traded products and other investable products, and as a benchmark for actively managed funds that share the same investment philosophy. "With the launch of the STOXX Strong Quality Index family, we offer market participants a tool to access the performance of highly profitable companies that sell at attractive valuations when compared to their peers, " said Hartmut Graf, chief executive officer, STOXX Limited. "Strong quality companies tend to share the following traits: these businesses are less prone to distress, they tend to have longer cash flow durations and enjoy lower levels of operating leverage. Through a set of powerful fundamental screening metrics, our new indices offer market participants access to these companies."
Source: STOXX
Markit sends rivals message of intent
October 7, 2013--Less intrusive than a phone call, more personal than an email. For many traders instant messaging has become the main way market participants keep in contact with customers and other traders.
However, behind this most modern of communication tools lies an often controversial battle between the world’s largest investment banks and the market’s critical data providers over the cost and influence involved in providing what has become an industry utility.
Source: FT.com