Global ETF News Older than One Year
Economic growth perspectives weakening as recovery slows, OECD says
September 8, 2011-- Economic recovery appears to have come close to a halt in the major industrialised economies, with falling household and business confidence affecting both world trade and employment, according to new analysis from the OECD. Growth remains strong in most emerging economies, albeit at a more moderate pace.
“Growth is turning out to be much slower than we thought three months ago, and the risk of hitting patches of negative growth going forward has gone up,” OECD Chief Economist Pier Carlo Padoan said during a presentation of the OECD’s latest Interim Economic Assessment.
Economic growth in the G7 economies excluding Japan will remain at an annualised rate of less than 1% in the second half of 2011.
Source: OECD
General Mills Added To Dow Jones Summer/Winter Games Index
Number of Index Components Increases to 38 Following Regular Quarterly Review
September 8, 2011-- General Mills, a new official supplier to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, will be added to the Dow Jones Summer/Winter Games Index, Dow Jones Indexes announced today.
The Dow Jones Summer/Winter Games Index measures the performance of all publicly traded securities of companies that are official partners, sponsors or suppliers of the next Olympiad – in this case, the 2012 Summer Olympic Games inLondon.
Source: Dow Jones Indexes
Deutsche Börse AG and NYSE Euronext announce that Alpha Beta Netherlands Holding N.V. will not pursue a takeover law squeeze-out of the remaining Deutsche Börse AG shareholders who have not tendered
September 8, 2011--Deutsche Börse AG (XETRA:DB1) and NYSE Euronext (NYSE:NYX) today announced that the holding company of the merged group, Alpha Beta Netherlands Holding N.V. (“Holdco”) will not pursue a takeover law squeeze-out under, Section 39a and b of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act, of the remaining Deutsche Börse shares that were not tendered in the original exchange offer made by Holdco.
In addition, the Companies also said that Holdco was not currently contemplating the implementation of a corporate squeeze-out under Section 327a et seq. of the German Stock Corporation Act, and that it was anticipated that Deutsche Börse would enter into a domination agreement. The companies encouraged all holders of the untendered Deutsche Börse shares to tender their shares under the terms of the original offer. Shareowners who tender their shares into the original offer will be eligible to receive the one-time special dividend of €2.00 per Holdco share from Holdco’s capital reserves anticipated to be paid shortly after closing of the transaction.
In July 2011, NYSE Euronext achieved overwhelming support from its shareholders for the proposed combination with Deutsche Börse in a special shareholder meeting. Shortly thereafter, 95.41 percent of the shares in Deutsche Börse AG were tendered under the exchange offer made by Alpha Beta Netherlands Holding N.V. to the shareholders of Deutsche Börse by the end of the additional offer acceptance period on August 1, 2011 (midnight, CEST) 2011.
Source: Deutsche Börse
Over-regulation could strain cost of credit
September 7, 2011--Corrado Passera, chief executive of Intesa Sanpaolo, the largest retail bank in Italy, one of the countries at the core of the European sovereign crisis, has warned regulators against over-policing the banking system saying it could put strain on the cost of credit.
Mr Passera told the Financial Times that new rules for capital and liquidity requirements introduced since the financial crisis have so far made the system safer and helped to prevent any credit crunch in the current sovereign turmoil.
Source: FT.com
US Competitiveness Ranking Continues to Fall; Emerging Markets Are Closing the Gap
Switzerland, Singapore and Sweden top the Global Competitiveness Report ranking
The United States continues the decline it began three years ago, falling one more place to fifth position
Emerging economies continue to close the competitiveness gap with OECD economies
September 7, 2011-- Switzerland tops the overall rankings in The Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012, released today by the World Economic Forum. Singapore overtakes Sweden for second position. Northern and Western European countries dominate the top 10 with Sweden (3rd), Finland (4th), Germany (6th), the Netherlands (7th), Denmark (8th) and the United Kingdom (10th). Japan remains the second-ranked Asian economy at 9th place, despite falling three places since last year.
The United States continues its decline for the third year in a row, falling one more place to fifth position. In addition to the macroeconomic vulnerabilities that continue to build, some aspects of the United States’ institutional environment continue to raise concern among business leaders, particularly related to low public trust in politicians and concerns about government inefficiency. On a more positive note, banks and financial institutions are rebounding for the first time since the financial crisis and are assessed as somewhat sounder and more efficient.
Germany maintains a strong position within the Eurozone, although it goes down one position to sixth place, while the Netherlands (7th) improves by one position in the rankings, France drops three places to 18th, and Greece continues its downward trend to 90th. Competitiveness-enhancing reforms will play a key role in revitalizing growth in the region and tackling its key challenges, fiscal consolidation and persistent unemployment.
view the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012
Source: World Economic Forum
China to Back London as Offshore Renminbi Center
September 7, 2011--China is for the first time to give formal backing to moves by British banks to turn the City of London into an offshore trading center for the renminbi, UK government officials have told the Financial Times.
As George Osborne, the chancellor, prepares to hold talks in London with Wang Qishan, the Chinese vice-premier, on Thursday British officials say a joint statement by both countries backing the growth of renminbi trading in London is set to be the centerpiece of their meeting.
Source: FT.com
ETFS Precious Metals Weekly: Gold Price Nears $2000/oz as Sovereign Risk Concerns Spike
September 6, 2011--Gold price hits all-time high of $1,921/oz as sovereign crisis escalates. The gold price surged through previous all-time highs in early London trade as global
markets continue to reel from growing concerns that Europe’s sovereign crisis is may spiral out of control. Measures of European banking sector risk have surged back to early 2009 levels and Italian, Spanish and peripheral European sovereign debt spreads have widened further.
Weak global growth data raises concerns of further fiscal and sovereign debt deterioration. The trigger for the most recent bout of risk aversion has been a growing stream of weaker than expected global growth indicators, starting with a weak US payrolls report on Friday and followed by weak PMI releases in Europe on Monday. Slower growth puts further onus on central banks to initiate new rounds of quantitative and other forms of extraordinary monetary easing. Missed Greek fiscal targets, concerns Italy may be losing its fiscal resolve, Finnish demand for collateral for further loans to Greece and a continued lack of a cohesive policy response to the crisis by European leaders has added to the upheaval.
This week all eyes will be on central bank activity with ECB and BOE meetings scheduled and Bernanke due to speak on Thursday. Hints of moves towards further easing are likely, though without concrete new measures to deal with Europe’s deteriorating fiscal and sovereign debt issues, there is a growing risk that events spiral out of their immediate control.
visit www.etfsecurities.com for more info
Source: ETFS Securities
New Study Finds Strong European Demand For U.S. Listed Equity Options
September 6, 2011--The Options Industry Council (OIC) today presented the results of the study, European Demand for U.S. Listed Equity Options, conducted by Tabb Group and commissioned by OIC. The study found that 10 percent of U.S. listed options volume originates from Europe today, and this amount is likely to increase as a result of global regulatory efforts to reduce risk.
The Tabb Group also found that European investors believe U.S. listed options markets are liquid, transparent and deliver unparalleled execution quality. Tabb expects continued demand for U.S. options from European institutional investors because of their broad exposure to U.S. equities. European holdings of U.S. equity-related securities total $1.3 trillion, equal to 46 percent of total foreign ownership of U.S. equities.
There are, however, barriers to the trading of U.S. listed options in Europe, including unfamiliarity with the trading process and U.S. options market structure. This presents a challenge and opportunity for OIC in its mission to educate investors in the responsible use of equity options.
To access OIC's summary and the full study (registration required), visit: http://optionseducation.org/tabb
Source: Options Industry Council (OIC)
Traders on edge over return of La Niña
September 6, 2011--The US National Weather Service on Thursday warned that La Niña, the weather condition that caused turmoil in the commodities markets this year, had returned and was likely to strengthen throughout the rest of the year.
La Niña, caused by a fall in water temperature in the tropical Pacific, typically triggers wetness in eastern Australia, and drier than normal conditions in the midsection of the US and countries in the southern hemisphere including Brazil and Argentina.
Source: FT.com
Bullion tumbles on Swiss move
September 6, 2011--Gold prices tumbled more than 2.5 per cent in a matter of minutes after the Swiss central bank said it would put a ceiling on the strength of the franc for the first time in more than three decades.
Measured in Swiss francs, gold rose to SFr1,631.55 a troy ounce ...
Source: FT.com
