Global ETF News Older than One Year
IMF Regional Outlook Sees Recovery Taking Hold in Caucasus and Central Asia
October 28, 2010--The economic upturn in the Caucasus and Central Asia is gathering momentum, with growth for the region projected to increase to 5¾ percent in 2010, up from 3½ percent in 2009, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its Regional Economic Outlook for Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) released in Almaty today. According to the report, fiscal stimuli applied by many governments in the region—together with a favorable external environment—have helped spur the recovery from the global crisis. The report notes that the upturn in Russia’s economy has benefited the region as well, mainly through trade and remittance channels (see chart), as has the rise in hydrocarbon prices
“The outlook for the region is broadly positive, although in some countries it will take time for per capita disposable income to return to pre-2009 levels,” said Middle East and Central Asia Department Deputy Director David Owen.
Sustained growth for energy exporters
According to the report, growth in 2010 is expected to be strongest among the region’s oil and gas exporters, with projections ranging from 4½ percent in Azerbaijan to 9½ percent in Turkmenistan. With oil prices expected to remain near $80 per barrel in 2011, these countries should grow at similar rates in 2011.
Russia’s upturn helps energy importers
Among the oil and gas importers, Armenia and Georgia are forecast to grow at 4 percent and 5½ percent, respectively, in 2010, compared with negative growth in 2009. In Tajikistan, growth is estimated at 5½ percent for 2010—about 2 percentage points higher than in 2009. Buoyed by Russia’s recovery, all three countries are projected to grow at 4–5 percent in 2011.
view the report-Regional Economic Outlook-Middle East and Central Asia
Source: IMF
Statistics : Trade deficit increases in second quarter of 2010 -OECD
October 27, 2010-- The OECD trade deficit in goods and services with the rest of the world continued deteriorating during the second quarter of 2010, according to new balance of payments data. The deficit was 62.2 $US billion in the second quarter of 2010, after a 37.4 $US billion deficit reported in the first quarter.
The value of imported goods rose by 2.1% over the first quarter of 2010, outpacing a 0.8% growth in goods exports and providing the main driver for the deteriorating deficit. The increased deficit in goods was partly offset by an increased trade surplus in services. Exports of services fell by 1.5%, while imports of services were down 2.5% marking the second consecutive quarter that trade in services values have fallen.
Source: OECD
Economy: Increased foreign exchange volatility bound to dampen growth-OECD
October 28, 2010--Foreign exchange intervention is not the most constructive instrument for managing the macro-economic impacts of currency volatility. A new briefing note from the OECD analyses recent swings in individual currencies, assesses the risks posed and makes the case for greater international co-operation.
view Briefing on Exchange Rate Developments
Source: OECD
October 2010 “Market’s Measure” Preliminary Report - A Monthly Report From Dow Jones Indexes On The Performance Of U.S., European, Asia And Other Global Stock Market Indexes
October 27, 2010--Dow Jones Industrial Average Posts 3.54% Gain in October, European Stocks Gain 4.48%, Asia Rises 3.19% and World Equities Rise by 3.65%
Basic Materials Sector Posts Biggest Gain for October in Europe
Telecommunications Sector Posts Narrowest Gain for October in U.S.
As of October 26, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.54% in October, closing at 11169.46. Stock market indexes in Europe, Asia and globally was up in October, according to preliminary monthly figures from global index provider, Dow Jones Indexes.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.54% in October, closing at 11169.46. Year-to-date, the index is up 7.11%.
The Dow Jones Europe Index rose 4.48% in October to 269.76. So far this year, the index is up 2.09%.
The Dow Jones Asian Titans 50 Index rose 3.19% in October to 136.43. So far this year, the index is up 1.61%.
The Dow Jones Global Titans 50 Index rose 3.65% in October, closing at 170.77
Year-to-date, the index is down -1.66%.
Source: Mondovisione
BATS Europe Study: MTFs Offer Price Formation, Liquidity During Primary Market Outage
October 26, 2010--Executive Summary
At 15:42 BST on Wednesday 13th October 2010, the NYSE Euronext cash markets were halted due to human error. This paper builds upon previous analysis conducted by BATS Europe in relation to Listing Market outages. We have analysed market data and set out metrics by which to assess the impact of this outage on traded volumes on alternative trading venues (BATS Europe, Chi-X Europe and Turquoise), as well as the extent to which price formation took place on these venues during the outage.
The analysis demonstrates that, during the outage, traded volumes and execution rates on the alternative trading venues included in the study continued at a level comparable to normal, although we did not see a significant shift in liquidity from NYSE Euronext to these venues.
In addition, the analysis demonstrates that trading on the MTFs continued to show good price formation during the outage in the absence of a price from the Listing Market and that the prices on these venues were consistent with those of comparable European indices. This contrasts with the trading that took place at divergent – and effectively stale – prices on NYSE Euronext following the re-opening of its market prior to market close and during the Closing Auction.
We consider that the ability of the broad market to continue trading on alternative venues during a Listing Market (or alternative trading venue) outage has and will continue to strengthen the systemic stability of the overall market such that there is no single point of failure. As alternative trading venues continue to demonstrate resilience, consistent volume and reliable price formation during Listing Market outages, we expect more trading firms to be able and willing to continue trading.
Source: BATS Europe
October 2010 “Islamic Market’s Measure” - Preliminary Report - Monthly Report On The Performance Of The Dow Jones Islamic Market Indexes
October 26, 2010--Based on the close of trading on October 25, the global Dow Jones Islamic Market Titans 100 Index, which measures the performance of 100 of the leading Shari’ah compliant stocks globally, gained 4.85% month-to-date, closing at 2155.40. In comparison, the Dow Jones Global Titans 50 Index, which measures the 50 biggest companies worldwide, posted a gain of 3.77%, closing at 170.98.
The Dow Jones Islamic Market Asia/Pacific Titans 25 Index, which measures the performance of 25 of the leading Shari’ah compliant stocks in the Asia/Pacific region, increased 3.84%, closing at 2018.88. The Dow Jones Asian Titans 50 Index, in comparison, posted a gain of 4.12%, closing at 137.67.
Measuring Europe, the Dow Jones Islamic Market Europe Titans 25 Index, which measures the performance of the 25 of the leading Shari’ah compliant stocks in Europe, closed at 2154.44, a gain of 5.51%, while the conventional Dow Jones Europe Index gained 5.47%, closing at 272.30.
Measuring the performance of 50 of the largest Shari’ah compliant U.S. stocks, the Dow Jones Islamic Market U.S. Titans 50 Index increased, closing at 2166.81. It represents a gain of 4.77%. The U.S. blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 3.49%, closing at 11164.05.
Source: Mondovisione
Time to look beyond Chinese rare earths, says EU trade boss
October 26, 2010--European Union trade commissioner Karel De Gucht on Tuesday urged global partners to diversify mining sources for prized rare earths as a battle with China deepened over scarce supplies.
De Gucht spoke out as a row that began between China and Japan over access to 17 essential minerals used in high-tech products ranging from flat-screen televisions to hybrid cars threatened to turn into a worldwide protectionist rallying cry.
"This is going to become a very, very difficult problem if we don't find a way out," De Gucht told an EU-China conference in Brussels.
He insisted that a string of mine closures elsewhere was "very closely linked to the price policy of rare earths by China" and stressed: "I think we should come to a global understanding."
The United States and Australia have 15 and five percent respectively of global reserves, but stopped mining them mainly because of cheaper Chinese competition.
Source: EUbusiness
Crisis and Recovery: Role of the Exchange Rate Regime in Emerging Market Countries-IMF Working paper
October 26, 2010--Summary: This paper examines the role of the exchange rate regime in explaining how emerging market economies fared in the recent global financial crisis, particularly in terms of output losses and growth resilience. After controlling for regime switches during the crisis, using alternative definitions for pegs, and taking account of other likely determinants, we find that the growth performance for pegs was not different from that of floats during the crisis.
For the recovery period 2010-11, pegs appear to be faring worse, with growth recovering more slowly than floats. These results suggest an asymmetric effect of the regime during and recovering from the crisis. We also find that proxies of the trade and financial channels are important determinants of growth performance during the crisis, while only the trade channel appears important for the recovery thus far.
view Crisis and Recovery: Role of the Exchange Rate Regime in Emerging Market Countries
Source: IMF
October 2010 Monthly Preliminary Performance Report Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Indexes
October 25, 2010--The Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index was up 3.24% for the month of October. The Dow Jones-UBS Single Commodity Indexes for Sugar, Cotton and Zinc had the strongest gains with month-to-date returns of 20.19%, 17.45%, and 14.18%, respectively. The three most significant downside performing single commodity indexes were Natural Gas, Orange Juice and Lean Hogs, which were down 13.11%, 7.15%, and 5.64% respectively, in October.
Year to date, the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index is up 4.06% with the Dow Jones-UBS Cotton Sub-Index posting the highest gain of 58.07% so far in 2010. Dow Jones-UBS Natural Gas Sub-Index has the most significant downside YTD performance, down 47.24%.
Source: Mondovisione
FSB publishes report on improving OTC derivatives markets
October 25, 2010--The Financial Stability Board (FSB) published today a report on Implementing OTC Derivatives Market Reforms. The report responds to calls by G20 Leaders at the Pittsburgh and Toronto Summits to improve the functioning, transparency and regulatory oversight of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets.
The report sets out recommendations to implement the G20 commitments concerning standardisation, central clearing, organised platform trading, and reporting to trade repositories. The report represents a first step toward consistent implementation of these commitments. Authorities will need to coordinate closely to minimise the potential for regulatory arbitrage.
The report was developed by a working group comprising international standard setters and authorities with the responsibility for translating the G20 commitments into standards implementing regulations.
view report-Implementing OTC Derivatives Market Reforms-Report of the OTC Derivatives Working Group
Source: Financial Stability Board
