Global ETF News Older than One Year
EPFR Global Fund Data-Global uncertainty favors US fund groups
July 23, 2012--Global uncertainty favors US fund groups
Flows into EPFR Global-tracked Equity and Bond Funds during the third week of July were dominated by US fund groups as corporate earnings, macroeconomic data and geopolitics provided plenty of mixed signals for investors.
Against a backdrop that included a sharp escalation in Syria’s civil war, data showing China’s economy growing at the slowest pace in three years and Spanish bond yields testing 7% again, investors committed $3.1 billion to US Bond Funds and $6 billion to US Equity Funds. Total flows for all Bond and Equity Funds in the week ending July 18 totaled $4.7 billion and $5.1 billion respectively while Money Market Funds experienced net redemptions of $10.5 billion.
Yield remains an issue for investors at a time when the safest short-term government debt is selling for over 100 cents on the dollar. High Yield Bond Funds took in over $1 billion for the fifth straight week, investors committed over $900 million to Emerging Market Bond Funds and flows into Dividend Equity Funds, which stumbled in mid-June, accelerated for the fourth consecutive week and hit an 11 week high.
The appetite for EM debt did not extend to equities. Redemptions from Emerging Market Equity Funds jumped to a six week high as rising agricultural commodity prices cooled expectations of more fiscal and monetary stimulus in key markets.
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Source: EPFR Global
ETFS Precious Metals Weekly: Investors Move to Sidelines as Spanish Bond Yield Surge to Record Levels
July 23, 2012--Spanish 10 year bond yields break into unchartered territory, pushing precious metals investors to the sidelines. Despite the German parliament's approval of the bailout loan for Spanish banks last week, Spain's 10-year bond yields continued to rise, rising to a Euro-era all
time high above 7.5% in early Monday trade as markets deem current
measures insufficient to save Spain from possible sovereign default.
Risk appetite is also being hit by growing concerns that Greece may not be given the bailout funds necessary to get it through its upcoming August bond payment. The uncertainty around the future of the Eurozone has kept investors on the sidelines, keeping the gold price trading in a relatively narrow range. Last week the much-anticipated Congressional testimony of Fed Chairman Bernanke provided no new information on the timeframe for potential additional monetary stimulus, disappointing gold investors.
Gold-Silver ratio remains near 2-yr high. Silver appears undervalued compared to gold based on their price relationship over the past two years, with the gold-silver ratio near a two year high of 58 versus its two year average of 50. Silver prices have dropped to near their lowest levels in over 18 months, as slowing global industrial demand and the strength of US dollar take their toll. While silver volatility has eased from 2-month highs, normally a positive signal for the metal, more solid economic readings are likely to be required (or additional policy stimulus) before the silver price can make a sustainable move higher. Indeed, silver price moves tend to lag moves in gold so the ratio has potential to move higher in the near-term before, bringing its relative value more in line with its historic averages.
Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) in holding pattern, investors remain cautious. While investors remain cautious about adding to long exposures to PGMs in the current risk-off environment, positive signs remain on a fundamental level. Auto sales, have continued to improve, with North American auto sales recording over 20% gains in Q2. On the supply front, the expected modest sales of Russian state stockpiles and labour unrest in South Africa, leading to potential deficit conditions in 2012, particularly for palladium. However, until policymakers can resolve the myriad issues facing global financial system, the ebb-and-flow of investor risk appetite will likely remain the dominant catalyst for price movements.
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Source: ETF Securities
Wealth doesn't trickle down -it just floods offshore, research reveals
A far-reaching new study suggests a staggering $21tn in assets has been lost to global tax havens. If taxed,that could have been enough to put parts of Africa back on its feet-and even solve the euro crisis
July 21, 2012--The world's super-rich have taken advantage of lax tax rules to siphon off at least $21 trillion,
and possibly as much as $32tn, from their home countries and hide it abroad-a sum larger than the entire American economy.
James Henry, a former chief economist at consultancy McKinsey and an expert on tax havens, has conducted groundbreaking new research for the Tax Justice Network campaign group – sifting through data from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and private sector analysts to construct an alarming picture that shows capital flooding out of countries across the world and disappearing into the cracks in the financial system.
Source: The Guardian
Announcement Pursuant To Rule 703(1) Of The Listing Manual -Market Rumours About Potential Merger Between The London Stock Exchange And SGX
July 20, 2012--Singapore Exchange (SGX) wishes to make a clarification on market rumours today about a potential merger between the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and SGX.
SGX has not engaged in talks with the LSE on a potential merger. However, we are open to collaborations and partnerships which may benefit our shareholders and the company. SGX will notify the market of any material developments as required under the Securities and Futures Act and the SGX-ST Listing Rules.
Source: Singapore Exchange (SGX)
IMF Working Paper-Accelerating And Sustaining Growth: Economic and Political Lessons
July 19, 2012--Summary: The paper reviews and draws lessons from the experience of fast growing economies including a sub-set of these termed High Growth Economies (HGEs) with a decadal rate of over 7 per cent.
It then reviews the history of the Indian growth acceleration following the reforms of the 1990s and its future prospects given the recent slowdown. It analysis the potential dangers and reasons for India’s growth slowdown and proposes policy reforms for sustaining fast growth.
view the IMF Working paper-Accelerating And Sustaining Growth: Economic and Political Lessons
Source: IMF
DCGX Academy: FED SPEAK : Ben says options for easting on Anvil, but no definatives actions, assets rise
July 18, 2012--HIGHLIGHTS--COMMODITIES
Copper surplus to lessen on Mining Concerns
Gold to rise as Bernanke points towards stimulus
Copper Rises on US Stimulus optimism
Oil declines on China and Eurpore demand concerns
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Bernanke Says Fed Ready to Take Action
Germany to vote tomorrow on Spain Package
INR falls as importers take advantage of strength
U.S. Assets in demand on EZ concerns
GBP USD declines as UK inflation reduces USD at 15day low before Beige Book Report
AUD rises on Bernanke stimulus indication
Source: DCGX Academy:
Mobile Phone Access Reaches Three Quarters of Planet's Population
Maximizing Mobile-New World Bank Report Points to Human and Economic Development Opportunities
July 17, 2012--Around three-quarters of the world's inhabitants now have access to a mobile phone and the mobile communications story is moving to a new level, which is not so much about the phone but how it is used, says a new report released today by the World Bank
and infoDev, its technology entrepreneurship and innovation program. The number of mobile subscriptions in use worldwide, both pre-paid and post-paid, has grown from fewer than 1 billion in 2000 to over 6 billion now, of which nearly 5 billion in developing countries. Ownership of multiple subscriptions is becoming increasingly common, suggesting that their number will soon exceed that of the human population.
view the Maximizing Mobile-World Bank Report
Source: World Bank
New report analyses trade and development impact of global value chains
July 17, 2012--Economic globalization has been promoting economic convergence and integration, states the report.
In order to benefit from these trends, countries need to grasp the nettle of trade policy reforms at three levels: unilateral, multilateral, and through preferential trade agreements. The temptation to return to protectionism in response to the economic crisis would have serious consequences for the global economy, particularly the most trade-dependent developing states, highlighting the critical role of the WTO in levelling the playing field.
Source: World Economic Forum
HSBC Exec Resigns as Senators Hammer Money-laundering Lapses
July 17, 2012--HSBC Holdings Plc put itself at the mercy of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, acknowledging shortcomings in its anti-money laundering operations and revealing the resignation of a global executive.
David Bagley, a top compliance executive at HSBC since 2002, told a Senate investigative panel that he would step down, after the panel released a scathing report calling out a "pervasively polluted" culture at the bank.
Source: NewsMax
Mirae BRICs Weekly-Markets Call on Countries to Modify Stimulus Program
July 17, 2012--China
GDP growth hits a three-year low of 7.6%YoY.
Last week, the Hang Seng Index fell throughout the week while the China bourses recovered some of its losses towards the end of the week amid positive news including improving liquidity and growth results that were in line with expectations.
China’s GDP growth rose 7.6% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2012. Despite being a three-year low, it matched with the Bloomberg analyst median estimate of 7.7%.
India
Rate cut expected in India.
Indian stock markets stayed flat last week. May industrial production went up 2.4%, while June exports fell 5.5% on a year-on-year basis.
On a sub-sector level, mining trends remained stable, manufacturing rose 2.5% and electricity recorded 5.6% which was in line with trends. Capital goods plunged 7.7%, while consumer sales recorded decent growth.
Brazil
Mixed signals from markets.
Brazilian industrial production decreased by 0.9% month-on-month in May while June’s Brazilian CPI (IPCA) posted an increase of 0.08% MoM, which was below market consensus.
Brazilian equities remain out of favour as the Q2 earnings season begins. Consensus points towards weak or negative earnings growth for sectors such as energy and financials, though recent share price action has largely priced this in.
Russia
Russia’s economy resilient despite global economic slowdown.
Within emerging markets, Russia outperformed, gaining 9.2% despite a fall in the oil price, as commodities more broadly rebounded.
Source: Mirae Asset Management
