Global ETF News Older than One Year
Mirae-EM Equity Markets Rebounded, Though Sentiment Remains Cautious
Valuations across global equity markets remain attractive relative to long-term historic averages.
August 20, 2013--China: China's economic indicators have been mixed
The Chinese market experienced a mild rebound in July, climbing 4%, but it has yet to reflect a meaningful pickup as sentiment remains depressed due to disappointing economic data and the lack of policy action.
On the economic front, HSBC manufacturing PMI came in at 47.7, the third consecutive monthly drop and the lowest reading in 11months. Additionally, June’s industrial output growth of 8.9% YoY lagged expectations for a 9.1% increase, and trade data remains weak.
Meanwhile, second quarter GDP growth slowed to 7.5% YoY, again igniting concerns over a hard landing. While slowing growth disappointed the market, Premier Li Keqiang’s comments that 7% is the bottom line for tolerance of an economic slowdown provided some reassurance.
India: Concerns about the higher rates on India's growth prospects weigh on market sentiment.
The Indian market finished flat in July, but was volatile during the month on the back of macroeconomic issues, including slowing growth, higher-than-expected inflation, and persistent deficits.
The Indian economy remains under pressure. HSBC manufacturing PMI fell to 50.1 in July, while the latest reading of industrial production showed a decline. At the same time, inflation has begun to accelerate again, while the rupee has continued to weaken. In mid-July, the central bank raised the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate and the Bank Rate both by 200 basis points to 10.25%. Additionally, the RBI capped the amount banks can borrow at the policy interest rate, all in an effort to tighten liquidity and defend the rupee. However, the central bank held the key lending rate steady.
ASEAN: Singapore and Philippines outperformed the rest of ASEAN countries.
In Singapore, inflation inched up to 1.8% YoY in June. On the economic front, HSBC manufacturing PMI climbed to the highest level since April 2011. Meanwhile, second quarter GDP came up from just 0.2% in the first quarter, on the back of strong manufacturing and construction activity.
After increasing to 2.8% in June, inflation in the Philippines declined to 2.5% YoY in July. Unlike some of its ASEAN neighbors, macroeconomic indicators and earnings results remain resilient in the Philippines; however, the demanding valuation level has pushed market volatility higher. In Malaysia, inflation held steady at 1.8% YoY in June, while other data reflected a slowdown in growth. Meanwhile, Fitch revised its outlook for Malaysia’s sovereign debt from stable to negative, citing increased federal government debt, and a widening budget deficit, which increased to 4.7%.
Latin America: Sentiment is expected to remain weak given the numerous challenges to Brazil's economy.
The Brazilian market fell again in U.S. dollar terms during July, with the MSCI Brazil Index losing 1.5%; however, the Bovespa Index returned 1.6% in local currency terms.
A material slowdown in the domestic economy and stubbornly high inflation have resulted in earnings downgrades across the consumer, financials and industrials sectors. Meanwhile, stocks with greater links to the global economy have been hampered by falling commodity prices and decelerating Chinese growth.
On the domestic front, there is growing debate over the health of the Brazilian consumer. Consumer sectors have materially outperformed in recent years based on structural growth trends; however, household leverage and debt servicing requirements are at new highs.
EMEA: Russian market rebounded in line with oil and commodity prices.
The MSCI Russia Index gained 3.7% in July, outperforming emerging markets. The market was lifted by rising oil prices and the rebound of a natural gas producer, as well as optimism that the new central bank governor will pursue market-friendly policies.
On a sector basis, most sectors were positive, led by energy and telecom services. On the other hand, materials significantly underperformed as a major fertilizer company announced that it was leaving a pricing cartel and is willing to sell at significantly lower prices.
Source: Mirae Asset Financial Group
Eurex to Enter Currency Market With Derivatives
August 20, 2013--Eurex will enter the foreign-exchange market for the first time as Europe's largest derivatives exchange seeks to expand into an asset class dominated by its American rival CME Group Inc.
From Oct. 7, Eurex will offer exchange-listed derivatives on the six currency pairs where the bulk of over-the-counter trading takes place. The futures and options will include contracts based on euro-dollar, euro-pound, euro-Swiss franc and pound-dollar, according to a notice sent to members today. The exchange will also make available contracts based on the pound-Swiss franc and dollar-Swiss franc pairs.
Source: Bloomberg
Which Coastal Cities Are at Highest Risk of Damaging Floods? New Study Crunches the Numbers
August 19, 2013--Climate change, rapid urbanization, and subsiding land are putting the world's coastal cities at increasing risk of dangerous and costly flooding, a new study calculating future urban losses from flooding shows.
The study, led by World Bank economist Stephane Hallegatte and the OECD, forecasts that average global flood losses will multiply from $6 billion per city in 2005 to $52 billion a year by 2050 with just social-economic factors, such as increasing population and property value, taken into account. Add in the risks from sea-level rise and sinking land, and global flood damage could cost $1 trillion a year if cities don’t take steps to adapt.
Source: World Bank
ETF Securities Precious Metals Weekly-Silver Surges 12% as US Stocks Stumble
August 19, 2013--Positive precious metal sentiment shifts up a gear. Silver led precious
metals higher last week, as global growth data continued to improve.
Precious metals also benefited on safe haven buying due to unrest in Egypt and as investors looked for laggard value assets as they rotated out of perceived overstretched equities. The more industrially-oriented precious metals (palladium, platinum and silver) we believe will continue to benefit from improving global growth sentiment. With COMEX gold speculative short positions still at extremely elevated levels, physical demand surging, and the gold price trading below its estimated average marginal cost of production, gold reminded us last week of its good value tail risk insurance and diversification benefits. Gold better priced than equities for Fed tapering? It is interesting to note that the gold price is now back down to around where it was just before the second round of US quantitative easing (QE II) was announced in November of 2010.
Source: ETF Securities Research
Myners calls for action over ETP 'stability risk'
August 19, 2013--Former City minister Lord Paul Myners has urged the Financial Conduct Authority to do more to protect financial stability, which he believes could be at risk from the way exchange-traded products track illiquid assets.
In an interview with Financial News, Myners warned that increased trading in ETPs could amplify market volatility in situations such as when redemptions are triggered, leading to sales of the underlying asset. This, in turn, could destabilise markets, particularly where they lack liquidity.
Source: Financial News
Vanguard takes top spots in global sales
August 18, 2013--Vanguard is on track for a bumper year after the world's fourth-largest asset manager took the top three spots in the global fund sales leader board in the first half of 2013, according to Strategic Insight, an asset management research company.
Three of Vanguard’s largest index funds attracted larger inflows than the best selling actively managed fund, the Templeton Global Total Return fund, run by Michael Hasenstab.
Source: FT.com
EPFR Global News Release-Post-recession bounce for Europe fund flows
August 16, 2013--Flows into EPFR Global tracked Europe Bond and Equity Funds hit six and 66 week highs during the second week of August as initial estimates from Eurostat confirmed the end of a recession that has gripped the European Union and Eurozone since 4Q11.
The robust flows into Europe Equity Funds stood out during a week when many investors were on vacation, literally and figuratively, with most major fund groups recording lackluster flows either way.
Visit www.epfr.com for more info.
Source: EPFR
World Gold Council- Gold Demand Trends Q2 2013
August 15, 2013--Executive summary:
Key findings for second quarter 2013 examined by sector and region.
Global Gold Market: Second quarter 2013 review
Jewellery: Multi-year high in the jewellery sector as lower prices generated a surge in demand from consumers.
Investment: Record demand for gold bars and coins was countered by sizeable net outflows from ETFs, resulting in a year-on-year decline in overall investment demand relative to Q2 2012.
Technology: Technology sector saw marginal growth, the 1% year-on-year increase the first in two years.
view the Gold Council- Gold Demand Trends Q2 2013 report
Source: World Gold Council
Silver ETF holdings rise to four-month highs
The amount of silver held by the iShares Silver Trust ETF rose to a four-month high on the back of strong retail interest
August 15, 2013--The amount of silver held by the world's largest silver-backed exchange-traded fund, iShares Silver Trust, rose to a four-month high as a sharp price rally in the metal and economic optimism triggered strong retail interest.
According to the latest update on the ETF's website on Tuesday, the tonnage of silver bullion bars held by the U.S. silver ETF increased nearly 60 tonnes, or 0.6 percent, to 10,454 tonnes, the highest since April 11.
Source: MineWeb
Consultative documents on longevity risk transfer markets and point of sale disclosure issued by the Joint Forum
August 15, 2013--The Joint Forum released today two consultative documents.
The first is Longevity risk transfer markets: market structure, growth drivers and impediments, and potential risks.
The ageing population phenomenon being observed in many countries poses serious social policy challenges. Longevity risk - the risk of paying out on pensions and annuities longer than anticipated - is significant when measured from a financial perspective. For example, certain estimates of the total global amount of annuity- and pension-related longevity risk exposure range from USD 15 trillion to USD 25 trillion. At the same time, pension funds are increasingly looking for ways to hedge or transfer this exposure. The Joint Forum is therefore publishing this forward-looking consultative report to draw attention to this issue of increasing importance, to assist in setting appropriate policies and to help ensure effective supervision of related activities and risk.
Source: BIS
