EPFR Global Fund Data News Release-EM Funds extend lead as rush to equities slowed by rocky macroeconomic terrain
January 25, 2013--Heading into the final week of January EPFR Global-tracked Equity Funds outgained Bond Funds for the seventh week running and Emerging Markets Equity Funds trumped Developed Markets Equity Funds for the seventh time in eight weeks.
But the pace of inflows ebbed again as recent European data and IMF forecasts prompted investors to take a more sober look at their assumptions for 2013. Equity Funds did attract retail money for the third consecutive week, something they last achieved in February 2011.
Overall, Equity Funds absorbed a collective $5.65 billion -- of which over 70% flowed into Emerging Markets Equity Funds – during the week ending Jan. 23 while Bond Funds took in a net $3.71 billion and Money Market Funds saw $6.78 billion redeemed. Year-to-date Equity and Bond Funds have posted inflows of $39 billion and $18.7 billion respectively versus $15.82 billion and $17.84 billion for the comparable period last year.
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Source: EPFR
MSCI reshuffles index business management team
January 24, 2013--MSCI has announced a number of changes to its index business management team, with the appointment of Deborah Yang to lead the MSCI index business across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India.
Yang joined MSCI in 2001, most recently serving as managing director and head of client coverage for MSCI Asia ex Japan, based in Hong Kong. Prior to working at MSCI, she was with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette based in New York and San Francisco.
Source: Investment Europe
Global FDI recovery derails
Global foreign direct investment declined by 18 per cent in 2012-a level close to the trough reached in 2009-due mainly to macroeconomic fragility and policy uncertainty for investors.
January 24, 2013--Global foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows declined by 18 per cent in 2012, down from $1.6 trillion in 2011 to an estimated $1.3 trillion.
The strong decline of FDI flows is in stark contrast to other macroeconomic variables, including gross domestic product (GDP), trade and employment growth, which all remain in positive territory.
The FDI recovery that had started in 2010 and 2011 will now take longer than expected. FDI flows could rise moderately to $1.4 trillion in 2013 and $1.6 trillion in 2014, due to slight improvements in macroeconomic conditions and the reprofiling (e.g. releasing record cash reserves for investment) of transnational corporations (TNCs). However, significant risks to this scenario persist, including structural weaknesses in major developed economies and in the global financial system, and significant policy uncertainty in areas crucial for investor confidence. Should these risks prevail, the FDI recovery could be further delayed.
view the Global Investment Trend Monitor, No. 11
Source: UNCTAD.org
Bankers Call for Better-Not More -Regulation
Leaders of financial institutions disagree over whether the sector is still too complex and opaque
Financial institutions must take risks to fuel economic growth, but these risks must be managed
Regulation is needed, but global regulation may be a challenge in today's rapidly changing, multipolar world
January 23, 2013--Leaders of the world's largest financial institutions participating in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting today agreed that the sector is still too complex and opaque, with the exception of James Dimon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, JPMorgan Chase & Co., USA.
Participants agreed on the need for regulation, but disagreed on how much is too much and whether or not global regulation is possible in today’s rapidly changing, multipolar world.
Source: World Economic Forum
World Economic Outlook Update-Gradual Upturn in Global Growth During 2013
January 23, 2013--Global growth is projected to increase during 2013, as the factors underlying soft global activity are expected to subside. However, this upturn is projected to be more gradual than in the October 2012 World Economic Outlook (WEO) projections. Policy actions have lowered acute crisis risks in the euro area and the United
States.
But in the euro area, the return to recovery after a protracted contraction is delayed. While Japan has slid into recession, stimulus is expected to boost growth in the near term. At the same time, policies have supported a modest growth pickup in some emerging market economies, although others continue to struggle with weak external demand and domestic bottlenecks. If crisis risks do not materialize and financial conditions continue to improve, global growth could be stronger than projected. However, downside risks remain significant, including renewed setbacks in the euro area and risks of excessive near-term fiscal consolidation in the United States. Policy action must urgently address these risks.
Source: IMF
WFE Publishes 2012 Global Market Highlights
Market Capitalization Growth Rate Up, Volume of Exchange-Traded Products Down
January 23, 2013--The World Federation of Exchanges' (WFE) annual survey of global markets found that while the global market capitalization increased 15.1% in 2012, the volume of all products traded on WFE member exchanges fell significantly.
According to worldwide statistics compiled by the WFE, the value of Electronic Order Book (EOB) share trading was down 22.5%, and the number of derivative contracts traded on-exchange decreased by 20%.
“We appreciate our members’ commitment to helping us compile our Annual Market Statistics, as we believe it is important to offer a true, objective picture of the current state of on-exchange trading worldwide,” said Hüseyin Erkan, CEO of the WFE. “Our 2012 Global Market Highlights offers the most comprehensive series of data covering a large range of exchanges’ activities, allowing for a more detailed approach of markets.”
According to the WFE figures, which are gathered from WFE member exchanges, the number of listed companies remained stable in 2012, while both ETFs and securities derivatives increased their listings. Specific 2012 highlights from WFE are as follows:
Equity Markets
In 2012, the WFE global market capitalization increased by 15% reaching US$ 54 trillion, getting back to its end-of 2010 level. The best performance was observed in the Americas (+17.2%) followed by Asia-Pacific (+15.4%) and Europe Africa Middle East (EAME) (+11.6%). In the Americas, the growth was primarily driven by the U.S. exchanges that increased 19%.
read more Source: World Federation of Exchanges (WFE)
Macro Matters-EM: Economic Recovery Maintains
January 22, 2013--Economic growth accelerated for the first time in 2 years.
Earlier last week the Chinese A share market by buoyed by news that the market regulation would increase the quota for overseas investors by 10 times.
Investors expect rise in foreign capital inflows to benefit brokerage firms. Moreover, the upward trend was further supported by speculation government may increase investment in green energy as the nation’s capital experienced the worst air pollution in recent years over the weekend.
However, the best news came on Friday. The government reported that the economy expanded at a faster pace than expected. The world’s second largest economy expanded at 7.9% yoy and 7.8% in 4Q12 and 2012, respectively.
India-Market welcomes government’s partial deregulation of diesel price.
Indian stock market gained last week with Sensex surpassing the 20,000 pt level. Along with better-than-expected earnings, announcements by the government buoyed market sentiment.
Indian stock market gained last week with Sensex surpassing the 20,000 pt level. Along with better-than-expected earnings, announcements by the government buoyed market sentiment.
Brazil-BCB maintains the Selic rate flat at 7.25%.
Equities posted further gains in the week ending January 17th, the MSCI Brazil climbing 30bps to sit +6.3% in the month in USD terms. The BRL denominated Ibovespa index rose 80bps and sits +4.4% in the month.
The Brazilian Central Bank (BCB) maintained the Selic rate flat at 7.25% during its January Copom Meeting. The post meeting communiqué highlighted a deterioration in recent inflation risks, alongside a less intense recovery in domestic activity.
Russia-Russia outperformed within emerging markets in Dec.
The global asset class has enjoyed a strong December-January period, buoyed by marginally positive, or simply less negative data from Europe, the US and China.
The US debt ceiling debate will intensify over the coming weeks, causing a potential increase in volatility, however the VIX volatility index is currently at lows not seen since 2007, indicative of the improvement in sentiment in recent months.
Source: Mirae Asset Financial Group
IMF Working paper-Regionalization vs. Globalization
January 22, 2013--Summary: Abstract: Both global and regional economic linkages have strengthened substantially over the past quarter century. We employ a dynamic factor model to analyze the implications of these linkages for the evolution of global and regional business cycles.
Our model allows us to assess the roles played by the global, regional, and country-specific factors in explaining business cycles in a large sample of countries and regions over the period 1960–2010. We find that, since the mid-1980s, the importance of regional factors has increased markedly in explaining business cycles especially in regions that experienced a sharp growth in intra-regional trade and financial flows. By contrast, the relative importance of the global factor has declined over the same period. In short, the recent era of globalization has witnessed the emergence of regional business cycles.
view the IMF Working paper-Regionalization vs. Globalization
Source: IMF
S&P Capital IQ Teams with Clearwater Analytics to Provide Fixed Income Pricing and Reference Data to Financial Professionals Globally Through Secure, Web-Based Investment Accounting Solution
January 22, 2013--Recognizing the expanding information needs of corporations, insurance companies, and asset management firms for timely data to manage their portfolios, S&P Capital IQ, a leading provider of multi-asset class data, research and analytics, today announced an agreement with Clearwater Analytics to provide a broad range of fixed income evaluated pricing and terms and conditions data
to industry professionals through Clearwater's global investment accounting and reporting platform. The expanded service will be available beginning February 20, 2013.
"Expanding the availability and delivery speed of pricing and descriptive data from S&P Capital IQ through trusted platforms like Clearwater's is yet another way we are working to improve services to financial professionals who manage investments," said Rui Carvalho, Managing Director, S&P Capital IQ. "We are providing access to pricing and descriptive data on over 3 million fixed income securities. S&P Capital IQ Valuations provides investors with a cross-market approach to assessing risk and value in portfolios, offering independent valuations across asset classes for global fixed income securities and hard-to-price instruments using both market and model approaches".
Source: S&P Capital IQ
IOSCO Publishes Suitability Requirements for Distribution of Complex Financial Products
January 21, 2013--The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) today published a final report on Suitability Requirements with respect to the Distribution of Complex Financial Products, which sets out principles relating to the distribution by intermediaries of complex financial products to retail and non-retail customers.
The report, which forms part of IOSCO’s ongoing drive to promote customer protection, introduces nine principles that cover the following areas related to the distribution of complex financial products by intermediaries:
Classification of customers
General duties irrespective of customer classification
Disclosure requirements
Protection of customers for non-advisory services
Source: IOSCO