Global ETF News Older than One Year
WTO report: Full trade recovery at risk without equitable vaccine roll-out
July 29, 2021--WTO economies from mid-October 2020 to mid-May 2021 exercised trade policy restraint and refrained from an acceleration of protectionism that would have further harmed a world economy reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Director-General's mid-year report on trade-related developments presented to members on 29 July.
The report calls on WTO members to ensure that markets remain open and predictable, and warns that failing to ensure wider access to COVID-19 vaccines could undermine the global economic and trade recovery. "This report clearly suggests that trade policy restraint by WTO members has helped limit harm to the world economy. However, some pandemic-related trade restrictions do remain in place and the challenge is to ensure that they are indeed transparent and temporary." said Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who presented the report to WTO members.
Source: wto.org
Thematic ETFs that could be the ones to watch
July 30, 2021--Investors' Chronicle convenes a panel once a year to discuss ETFs that could prove promising
The bumper year thematic funds had in 2020 is not reflected in the Investors' Chronicle 2021 IC Top 50 ETFs, for good reason.
That list focuses on more conventional tracker funds that work well as the building blocks of an investment portfolio, so it only includes four thematic exchange traded funds.
We also remain cautious about holding thematics as the mainstay of a portfolio due to their serious drawbacks and the substantial due diligence required before you buy them and while you hold them. Thematics are not necessarily "sleep easy at night" products.
Source: FT.com
ETFGI reports record assets and net inflows in ESG ETFs world-wide of US$293 billion and US$83 billion respectively at the end of H1 2021
July 29, 2021--ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm covering trends in the global ETFs and ETPs ecosystem, reported today record assets and net inflows in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ETFs and ETPs listed globally of US$293 billion and US$83 billion respectively at the end of H1 2021.
ESG ETFs gathered net inflows of US$9.09 billion during June, bringing year-to-date net inflows to a record US$83.04 billion which is much higher than the US$29.49 billion gathered at this point last year. Total assets invested in ESG ETFs and ETPs increased by 4.6% from US$280 billion at the end of May 2021 to US$293 billion, according to ETFGI's June 2021 ETF and ETP ESG industry landscape insights report, is a monthly report which is part of an annual paid-for research subscription service. (All dollar values in USD unless otherwise noted.)
Highlights
Record $293 Bn invested in global ESG ETFs and ETPs industry at end of H1 2021.
Assets have increased 51.6% in H1 going from $193 Bn at end of 2020 to $293 Bn at end of H1 2021.
Record H1 net inflows of $83.04 Bn beating prior record of $29.49 Bn gathered in H1 2020.
$83.04 Bn H1 net inflows are just $5.91 Bn below full year 2020 record net inflows $88.95 Bn.
$199.35 Bn in net inflows gathered in the past 12 months.
64th month of consecutive net inflows
Equity ETFs and ETPs listed in Europe gathered a record $59.61 Bn in net inflows in H1 2021.
Source: etfgi.com
World Bank-EFI Prospects Group Global Monthly-July 2021
July 27, 2021--Overview
Incoming data point to solid but moderating global activity in the second quarter.
Resurgences of new COVID-19 cases continue to hinder the recovery across many EMDEs, especially in East Asia and Pacific and in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Financing conditions, while still benign, have tightened in EMDEs amid worsening pandemic trends and uncertainty about the path for monetary policy in advanced economies.
Special Focus: Emerging Inflationary Pressures-Cause for Alarm?
Inflation has risen above pre-pandemic levels globally, at a faster pace than after previous global recessions.
A plunge in aggregate demand during the pandemic contributed significantly to global inflation developments.
While inflation pressures are expected to abate beyond 2021, high inflation in the short term may complicate policy choices, especially in those EMDEs that rely on highly accommodative domestic policies to ensure a durable recovery.
Source: worldbank.org
New IOSCO SPAC Network discusses regulatory issues raised by SPACs
July 27, 2021--IOSCO's SPAC network held its first meeting yesterday to discuss the issues raised by special purpose acquisition companies.
While SPACs have long existed, transactions have surged recently, drawing regulatory attention to the issues SPACs raise. While SPACs may offer alternative sources of funding and provide opportunities for investors, they may also raise regulatory concerns.
Following an initial discussion on this issue, the IOSCO Board agreed at its meeting on 9 June 2021 to establish an IOSCO SPAC Network to facilitate information sharing about SPACs and monitor developments in this area. The IOSCO SPAC network will be chaired by Jean-Paul Servais, Chairman of the Financial Services and Markets Authority, Belgium and Vice-Chair of the IOSCO Board.
Source: IOSCO
Drawing Further Apart: Widening Gaps in the Global Recovery
July 27, 2021--The global economic recovery continues, but with a widening gap between advanced economies and many emerging market and developing economies. Our latest global growth forecast of 6 percent for 2021 is unchanged from the previous outlook, but the composition has changed.
Growth prospects for advanced economies this year have improved by 0.5 percentage point, but this is offset exactly by a downward revision for emerging market and developing economies driven by a significant downgrade for emerging Asia.
We estimate the pandemic has reduced per capita incomes in advanced economies by 2.8 percent a year, relative to pre-pandemic trends over 2020-2022, compared with an annual per capita loss of 6.3 percent a year for emerging market and developing economies (excluding China).
Source: IMF
IOSCO consults on ESG Ratings and Data Providers
July 26, 2021--The Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) is soliciting feedback on a set of proposed recommendations regarding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Ratings and Data Providers.
The IOSCO Consultation Report on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Ratings and Data Providers (Consultation Report) aims at assisting IOSCO members in understanding the implications of the activities of ESG ratings and data providers and in establishing frameworks to mitigate risks stemming from these activities. In doing so, it proposes a set of recommendations to mitigate these risks and address some of the challenges faced by users of products and services from ESG ratings and data providers, and the companies that are the subject of these ESG ratings and data products.
Source: IOSCO
ETFGI reports record assets and net inflows for Smart Beta ETFs and ETPs listed in globally of US$1.24 trillion and US$102.03 billion respectively at the end H1 2021
July 19, 2021-- ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm covering trends in the global ETFs/ETPs ecosystem, reports record assets and net inflows for Smart Beta ETFs and ETPs listed in globally of US$1.24 trillion and US$102.03 billion respectively at the end H1 2021.
Smart Beta ETFs and ETPs providing equity exposure listed globally gathered net inflows of US$14.27 billion during June, bringing year-to-date net inflows to a record US$102.03 billion which is higher than the US$12.36 billion gathered at this point last year.
Year-to-date through the end of June 2021, Smart Beta Equity ETF/ETP assets have increased by 23.8% from US$999 billion to US$1.24 trillion, with a 5-year CAGR of 22.8%, according to ETFGI's June 2021 ETF and ETP Smart Beta industry landscape insights report, a monthly report which is part of an annual paid-for research subscription service. (All dollar vales in USD unless otherwise noted.)
Highlights
Record $1.24 Tn invested in Smart Beta ETFs and ETPs industry at end of H1 2021.
Assets have increased 23.8% in H1 going from $999 Bn at end of 2020 to $1.24 Tn.
Record H1 net inflows of $102.03 Bn beating prior record of $44.77 Bn gathered in H1 2015.
$102.03 Bn H1 net inflows are $49.71 Bn greater than the full year 2020 record net inflows $52.32 Bn.
$142.72 Bn in net inflows gathered in the past 12 months.
11th month of consecutive net inflows
Equity Smart Beta ETFs and ETPs listed gathered a record $102.03 Bn in net inflows in H1 2021.
Source: etfgi.com
Carbon Market Could Drive Climate Action
July 19, 2021--Trading commenced on China's national emissions trading system (ETS) on Friday. With a trading volume of about 4 billion tons of carbon dioxide or roughly 12 percent of the total global CO2 emissions, the ETS is now the world's largest carbon market.
While the traded emission volume is large, the first trading day opened, as expected, with a relatively modest price of 48 yuan ($7.4) per ton of CO2. Though this is higher than the global average, which is about $2 per ton, it is much lower than carbon prices in the European Union market where the cost per ton of CO2 recently exceeded $50.
Source: worldbank.org
ETF industry on track for record year as investor inflows reach $659bn
July 15, 2021--Increased use of exchange-traded products by active managers has given the sector a boost.
Investors are pouring money into exchange traded funds at a historic pace as equity and corporate bond markets rally to new peaks and asset managers increasingly turn to the vehicles to build portfolios.
Source: ft.com
