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BlackRock promises to support more shareholder votes on climate change
December 10, 2020--BlackRock has pledged to support more shareholder resolutions on climate and social issues at annual meetings, as the world's largest asset manager faces increasing pressure to use its influence to change corporate behavior.
The $ 7.8 billion asset manager has known for years critical after overwhelmingly supporting management rather than voting for shareholder proposals on issues such as climate change companies.
From Vaccine Delivery to Remote Working, Experts Predict Internet-Enabled Devices Will Shape Global COVID-19 Recovery
December 9, 2020--Increased dependency on technology during the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the enormous benefits and new challenges posed by our connected world
37 world-leading initiatives in six continents have come together as part of a multi-year effort to shape the development of the internet of things
As the world awaits a COVID-19 vaccine, attention is focused on how to track and safely deliver these temperature-sensitive vaccines to billions of people. Sensors and internet-enabled devices are expected to play a central role in this process, much as they have throughout the pandemic.
COVID-19 has accelerated global trends towards remote working, telehealth, distance learning and automation, according to a new report by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with the Global Internet of Things (IoT) Council and PwC. The pandemic is also boasting adoption of wearable technologies like fitness trackers and smart-home devices. As the dependency on connected technologies increases, so do the associated risks and the need for good governance.
view the World Economic Forum State of the Connected World 2020 Edition
Navigating Capital Flows-An Integrated Approach
December 9, 2020-In a continuous effort to help countries manage volatile cross-border capital flows, the IMF has taken a major step toward a new analytical macroeconomic framework that can guide appropriate policy responses.
The work reflects evolving thinking on macroeconomic policy and will feed into the upcoming review of the IMF's Institutional View on the Liberalization and Management of Capital Flows, which currently guides the Fund’s advice and assessments of members' policies.
While flexible exchange rates can act as a useful shock absorber in the face of capital flow volatility, this mechanism does not always offer sufficient insulation, in particular when access to global capital markets is interrupted or market depth is limited.
ETF inflows surge to beat previous monthly record by 14.5%
December 9, 2020--Industry is on course for peak year as Joe Biden's victory and vaccine news lift sentiment
Exchange traded funds attracted record inflows of $121bn in November, a jump of 14.5 per cent on the previous best month for new business, as Joe Biden's victory in the US presidential election and successful developments for coronavirus vaccines unleashed a surge of new investment.
The huge monthly haul brings net global inflows in the first 11 months of this year to $659.3bn, 15.4 per cent more than the $571.1bn gathered over the same period in 2019, according to ETFGI, a London-based consultancy
A Greener Future Begins with a Shift to Coal Alternatives
December 8, 2020--As the world economy emerges from the COVID-19 crisis, the consumption of coal is expected to recover from its sharp decline during the pandemic.
Demand for coal remains strong and helps to fuel economic development in emerging markets.
Yet many countries, seeking a more sustainable future, have been taking steps to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, especially coal. Obstacles to their efforts have proven difficult to overcome, not least because people who work in the coal industry depend on it for their livelihoods-but the right policy levers can help.
Vaccine news spurs valuations, eclipsing uncertain outlook: BIS Quarterly Review
December 7, 2020--Markets rebounded in November as positive vaccine news and the US election outcome boosted sentiment, although concerns about the daylight between valuations and the economic outlook persisted.
Government bond yields stayed unusually low supported by accommodative monetary policy, sustaining a search-for-yield environment.
The relative performance of EME currencies partly reflects the structure of production in the respective economies.
According to the BIS Quarterly Review, risky assets received a fillip in early November from positive vaccine news and the US election outcome, approaching and, in some cases, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Optimism about business conditions and continued policy support also fuelled markets' buoyancy.
At the same time, the Review reports that a divergence in the assessment of corporate vulnerabilities appeared to be emerging. On the one hand, credit spreads in advanced economies compressed further, approaching pre-pandemic lows. On the other, banks tightened lending standards throughout the review period. Investors' search for yield and the specifics of policy support appeared to underpin these contrasting developments.
Cyber Risk is the New Threat to Financial Stability
December 7, 2020--Many of us take for granted the ability to withdraw money from our bank account, wire it to family in another country, and pay bills online.Amid the global pandemic, we've seen how much digital connection matters to our everyday life. But what if a cyberattack takes the bank down and a remittance doesn't go through?
As we become increasingly reliant on digital financial services, the number of cyberattacks has tripled over the last decade, and financial services continue to be the most targeted industry. Cybersecurity has clearly become a threat to financial stability.
Given strong financial and technological interconnections, a successful attack on a major financial institution, or on a core system or service used by many, could quickly spread through the entire financial system causing widespread disruption and loss of confidence.
Fintech Market Reports Rapid Growth During COVID-19 Pandemic
December 3, 2020--The fintech market has continued to help expand access to financial services during the COVID-19 pandemic-particularly in emerging markets-with strong growth in all types of digital financial services except lending, according to a joint study by the World Bank, the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance at the University of Cambridge's Judge Business School, and World Economic Forum.
Access to affordable financial services is critical for poverty reduction and economic growth. For poor people, especially women, access to and use of basic financial services can raise incomes, increase resilience, and improve their lives. Fintech innovations are helping reduce the cost of providing services, making it possible to reach more people, and reducing the need for face-to-face interactions, essential for keeping up economic activity during the pandemic.
view the World Bank The Global Covid-19 FinTech Market Rapid Assessment Study report
BlackRock Survey Shows Acceleration of Sustainable Investing
December 3, 2020--Investors representing US$25 trillion in assets plan to double ESG assets in five years
Climate-related risks are the top sustainability portfolio concern for 88% of respondents
Concerns about quality of sustainable data are the biggest barrier to adoption
Global health and economic challenges this year have not slowed investor demand and outlook for sustainable investing, according to BlackRock's Global Client Sustainable Investing Survey. In fact, investors plan to double their allocations to sustainable products over the next five years, and 20% said that the pandemic would actually accelerate their sustainable investing allocations.
OPEC and Russia Reach Deal to Raise Oil Production
December 3, 2020--Oil producers in the OPEC Plus group reached a compromise on a modest production increase, but the talks revealed strains in the group.
OPEC and other oil-producing nations led by Russia, trying to gauge the strength of the global economy as the coronavirus continues to rage but with vaccines on the horizon, reached a compromise on Thursday to modestly increase production in January.
But the talks revealed strains in the unwieldy group, known as OPEC Plus, which has tried to manage the oil market since 2016. These tensions could make it more difficult for the producers to stay in line with production targets as the global economy recovers in the coming months.
