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Financial crisis curbs global aid-OECD
April 4, 2012--Spending on foreign aid by the world's major donors fell for the first time since 1997, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Wednesday, as developed economies tightened budgets in the wake of the global financial crisis.
The OECD said aid to developing countries dropped 3% in 2011, with poor sub-Saharan African nations in particular receiving less than promised.
Aid flows last year equated to 0.31% of the gross national income (GNI) of the 23 wealthy donor countries which make up the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC).
ETF providers split in support for index-tracking standard
April 4, 2012--Market participants have given qualified support to proposals by a European regulator to publish data that shows how successfully an exchange-traded fund tracks its chosen index.
The verdicts by trade associations, fund managers and data providers were given in submissions to a consultation paper on the impact of ETFs on investor protection and market integrity, which was queried by central banks and regulatory bodies last year.
Appetite sharpens for equity ETPs
April 4, 2012--Investors flocked to exchange-traded fund products to ride the first quarter rally in equity markets, with inflows to the products contrasting with outflows from equity mutual funds.
Some $67bn was invested in exchange-traded products in the first three months of the year, with $50bn of that in equity-focused funds, according to data from BlackRock.
As Carbon Prices Sink, Unease Rises
April 4, 2012--The market for carbon emissions is running out of gas.
Prices of emission allowances, which award the holder the right to release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, have tumbled this week to a record low.
They are down 11% from the start of the year and now trade at less than one-fourth of their July 2008 value.
The latest blow came Monday, when the European Union released preliminary data showing its carbon emissions fell by a larger-than-expected amount last year. While decreasing amounts of pollution out of Europe are a boon for the environment, it raises questions about the viability of a market that was hailed as a forerunner for the rest of the world.
read moe Global Information Technology Report Highlights Emergence of a New Digital Divide Despite efforts over the past decade to develop information and communications technologies (ICT) infrastructure in developing economies, a new digital divide in terms of ICT impacts persists, according to the latest rankings of The Global Information Technology Report 2012: Living in a Hyperconnected World, released today by the World Economic Forum. Sweden (1st) and Singapore (2nd) top the rankings in this year’s report in leveraging information and communications technologies to boost country competitiveness. Switzerland (5th), the Netherlands (6th), the United States (8th), Canada (9th) and the United Kingdom (10th) also show strong performances in the top 10.
However, ICT readiness in sub-Saharan Africa is still low, with most countries showing significant lags in connectivity due to insufficient development of ICT infrastructure, which remains too costly, and displaying poor skill levels that do not allow for an efficient use of the available technology. Even in those countries where ICT infrastructure has been improved, ICT-driven impacts on competitiveness and well-being trail behind, resulting in a new digital divide. view the The Global Information Technology Report 2012
Development: Aid to developing countries falls because of global recession Industry Response to the European Banking Authority, European Securities Markets' Association and European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority Joint Discussion Paper on Risk Mitigation Techniques for Trades not Cleared by a Central Counterparty In particular we agree with the concepts of Minimum Transfer Amounts (see question 14) and the
requirement, where appropriate, to mark collateral to market daily. We believe that a very significant proportion of uncleared OTC trades will be covered by these requirements. In setting out
the matters below where we feel that further discussion is needed, this should be seen in the context of a broad agreement as to aims and objectives and a willingness to work together with regulators to ensure that the proposals are sensitive to industry practice, risk sensitive and
workable. Further we fully support the proposals in paragraph 15 of the paper to disapply the collateral requirements to Non Financial Counterparties which are not above the (clearing)
threshold. Dow Jones Indexes To Add Banco Santander Brasil S.A. To Dow Jones BRIC 50 DR Index OECD annual inflation rate remains stable at 2.8% in February 2012 ETF sector agrees with ASIC report
State Street Global Advisors Asia Pacific head of SPDR ETFs Frank Henze said the emphasis on education was timely.
April 4, 2012--The 11th edition of The Global Information Technology Report 2012: Living in a Hyperconnected World was launched today with a special focus on the transformational impacts of ICT on the economy and society.
The report's evolved framework introduces a new set of impact-oriented metrics to measure networked readiness on country competitiveness.
Sweden ranks first among 142 economies, followed by Singapore and Finland; the Nordic countries lead the ICT revolution.
The United States, ranked 8th, benefits from strong ICT infrastructure, but weaknesses in the political and regulatory environment hinder its overall performance.
Despite recent improvements in overall competitiveness rankings, the BRICS, led by China at 51st, lag behind more advanced economies.
April 4, 2012--Major donors' aid to developing countries fell by nearly 3% in 2011, breaking a long trend of annual increases. Disregarding years of exceptional debt relief, this was the first drop since 1997. Continuing tight budgets in OECD countries will put pressure on aid levels in coming years.
OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría encouraged donors to meet their commitments, “The fall of ODA is a source of great concern, coming at a time when developing countries have been hit by the knock-on effect of the crisis and need it most. Aid is only a fraction of total flows to low income countries, but these hard economic times also mean lower investment and lower exports. I commend the countries that are keeping their commitments in spite of tough fiscal consolidation plans. They show that the crisis should not be used as an excuse to reduce development cooperation contributions.”
April 3, 2012--A. Introduction
The International Swaps and Derivatives Association ("ISDA") together with members of the Financial Services Industry ("The Industry") welcome the opportunity to comment on the above Joint Discussion Paper ("the Paper").
The Industry is supportive of the Paper’s aims and objectives and
understands the desire expressed by the G20 nations to require Over the Counter ("OTC") derivatives to be cleared where appropriate and for uncleared trades to be subject to robust
operational processes and capital requirements.
Thailand's Total Access Communication PCL To Join Dow Jones Emerging Markets Telecommunications Titans 30 Index
Telefonica Brasil S.A. Added To
Dow Jones Emerging Markets Sector Titans Composite 100 Index
CPFL Eenergia S.A. Selected To Dow Jones Brazil Titans 20 ADR Index
April 3, 2012--The sale of Brazil's Tele Norte Leste Participacoes S.A. to Oi S.A. of Brazil has prompted Tele Norte Leste Participacoes to be removed from four of Dow Jones Indexes' market gauges.
Dow Jones Indexes, a global index provider, today announced that Tele Norte Leste Participacoes will be removed from:
the Dow Jones BRIC 50 DR Index and replaced by Banco Santander Brasil S.A. ADS;
the Dow Jones Emerging Markets Telecommunications Titans 30 Index and replaced by Total Access Communication Public Company Limited;
the Dow Jones Emerging Markets Sector Titans Composite 100 Index and replaced by Telefonica Brasil S.A. ADS; and
April 3, 2012--OECD area annual inflation was stable at 2.8% in the year to February, with diverging and offsetting movements in energy and food price inflation.
Energy prices accelerated to 7.9% in the year to February, up from 7.4% in January, while food price inflation slowed to 3.9% in the year to February, down from 4.3% in January.
April 2, 2012--Education is key to market confidence
April 2, 2012--providers have responded in favour of the corporate regulator's sector report.
Three of the largest Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) issuers have welcomed ASIC's report on the $4.3 billion sector, saying it will lift investor confidence.