Global ETF News Older than One Year
AltaVista Research-2Q13 Reporting Monitor: Half of Sectors to Post Profit Decline
July 17, 2013--HIGHLIGHTS:
At the outset of reporting season, S&P earnings are poised to gain 3.7% YoY, with the biggest contributions coming from the Financials (XLF) and Consumer Discretionary (XLY) sectors. Five sectors are forecast to post annual declines in earnings...
Sales may only post a gain of about 1% due to a $31 billion drag from lower Energy (XLE) revenues. Excluding Energy, revenue growth would be about 2.5%. Margins look to be mixed with Financials showing the only real improvement vs. Q2 2012, while Utilities (XLU), Tech (XLK) and Materials (XLB) could have significant declines...
Although still early, Tech firms have fallen short of expectations so far, while Financials continue to surprise on the upside...
Source: AltaVista Research
IOSCO publishes Principles for Financial Benchmarks
July 17, 2013--IOSCO publishes Principles for Financial Benchmarks
The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published today the final report on Principles for Financial Benchmarks, which provides an overarching framework of principles for benchmarks used in financial markets.
The principles form an integral part of IOSCO´s work in leading efforts to enhance the integrity, the reliability and the oversight of benchmarks by establishing guidelines for benchmark administrators and other relevant bodies in the following areas:
Governance: to protect the integrity of the Benchmark determination process and to address conflicts of interest;
Benchmark quality: to promote the quality and integrity of Benchmark determinations through the application of design factors;
view the IOSCO Principles for Financial Benchmarks-Final Report
Source: IOSCO
IOSCO publishes paper on cyber-crime, systemic risk and global securities markets
July 16,2013--The Research Department of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) today published a joint Staff Working Paper, with the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE),entitled Cyber-crime, securities markets and systemic risk.
The report explores the evolving nature of cyber-crime in securities markets and the threat it poses to the fair and efficient functioning of markets. Importantly, it highlights the urgent need to consider cyber threats to securities markets as a potential systemic risk.
view the Cyber-crime, securities markets and systemic risk report
Source: IOSCO
Twenty-One Thousand New Indexes Provide Investors a Broad Representation of the Global Investable Marketplace
July 15, 2013--The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. today announced the introduction of the second suite of the NASDAQ Global Index Family-resulting in the launch of more than 21,000 new NASDAQ Global indexes.
The NASDAQ Global Index Family represents more than 98% of the global equity investable marketplace and is now comprised of over 25,000 indexes. The family consists of global securities broken down by market segment, region, country, size and sector. The NASDAQ Global Index Family covers 9,000 securities with a combined float-adjusted market capitalization of over $37 trillion.
Source: NASDAQ OMX
ETF Securities-Precious Metal Prices Surge on Dovish Fed Comments, Strong China Data
July 15, 2013--Key points
Gold and silver price rebound accelerates as Fed highlights dovish position.
Platinum and palladium prices back in focus on South African strikes.
Gold Forward Offered Rates (GOFO) rates turn negative for the first time since the Lehman crisis.
Bernanke’s dovish comments sent precious metals higher last week as bond yields and the US dollar fell, and a short covering rally added to the rebound. Strong,loan data from China also helped reduce fears of a broad credit crunch, improving sentiment towards the more industrially-oriented precious metals. The Chairman of the Fed emphasised the need for highly accommodative policy for the foreseeable future, even if the Fed does start to taper its enormous programme. The minutes of the Fed’s last meeting also appeared dovish, with emphasis on the downside risks to growth.
Source: ETF Securities
EDHEC-Risk Institute study shows that investors should embrace construction risk in properly structured infrastructure debt portfolios
July 15, 2013--This paper produced as part of the NATIXIS research chair on "Investment and Governance Characteristics of Infrastructure Debt Instruments," is the first of a series discussing the opportunity for long-term institutional investors such as pension funds, insurance companies or sovereign wealth funds, to invest in large portfolios of infrastructure debt, both to manage their liabilities and to enhance yield.
In "Who is afraid of Construction Risk," the authors focus on the question of credit risk in infrastructure investment but also address a public policy question that has come to the fore since the financial crisis of 2007-9: should pension funds and insurance companies invest significantly in new infrastructure projects?
visit www.edhec-risk.com for more info
view the Who is afraid of Construction Risk paper
Source: EDHEC
Professor Elroy Dimson appointed Chair of FTSE Policy Group
July 15, 2013--FTSE Group, the global index provider, is pleased to announce that Professor Elroy Dimson has accepted the position of Chairman of the FTSE Policy Group, the most senior position within the FTSE Governance Committees.
Professor Dimson, who was involved in setting up FTSE's first indices in 1984, replaces David Hobbs who has chaired the Policy Group since March 2010. David will continue to advise FTSE as a consultant.
Source: FTSE
HSBC announces smart beta push
July 12, 2013--HSBC has launched a new suite of alternative weighted indices in anticipation of a significant shift by pension funds and other institutional investors into "smart beta" passive investment strategies in the next few years.
Chris Cheetham, global chief investment officer at HSBC Global Asset Management, said he expected to see a big move into alternative weighting investment strategies over the next three to five years.
Source: FT.com
EPFR Global News Release-Flows bounce back as central bankers hit some of the right notes in early July
July 12, 2013-- With the US unemployment rate remaining 60 basis points north of the level perceived as a "go" signal for the US Federal Reserve to start scaling back its quantitative easing, investors turned some of their attention to the second quarter earnings season in early July.
Optimism about the prospects for US, Japanese and some European companies helped US and Europe Equity Funds post their biggest weekly inflows since 3Q11 and 2Q12 respectively while Japan Equity Funds extended an inflow streak stretching back to mid-January.
Overall, EPFR Global-tracked Equity Funds attracted a net $13.6 billion during the week ending July 10 with retail commitments at a 21 week high while Bond Funds recorded outflows of $2.69 billion. Money Market Funds took in $34 billion, a 27 week high, with US Money Market Funds accounting for over two-thirds of that total.
Visit www.epfr.com for more info
Source: EPFR
The hidden costs of investing
July 12, 2013--Picture the scene. You've splashed out on the latest Aston Martin. But as you climb into the driver's seat you're asked to pay a fee for the key to the car and another charge for its manual.
Then, just as you're about to drive off the dealer's forecourt you're hit with yet more charges- an exit fee for leaving the garage, followed by separate charges for the leather seats and passenger door.
Source: FT.com
