Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
Fed selects BlackRock to manage asset purchases
Fed taps into firm’s experience in corporate debt management in move reminiscent of 2008 crisis
The Tokyo Olympics: downside risks prevail
The Bank of Japan’s latest stimulus effort seems to be weak, and comes at a time when the benefits of hosting the Tokyo Olympics may be overstated – even if the games still take place
ETFs are exposing EMEs to global capital flows – Fed paper
Sensitivity of ETF flows to global financial conditions is 2.5 times higher than mutual fund flows, researchers find
Liquidity strain heightened since September – IMF’s GFSR
Regulations and investment innovations could be driving factors, the IMF report says
Kuroda defends BoJ’s asset purchases
Central bank could face problems when it unloads ETFs, former senior official warns
What next for the BoJ’s unprecedented ETF experiment?
No other central bank has attempted such purchases, and exiting the policy may prove extremely challenging, says Sayuri Shirai
A mere tweak or a step toward normalisation?
Sayuri Shirai says the BoJ has controlled market expectations while still opening the door to normalisation
BoJ may tweak policy at next meeting – local media
Speculation comes as Japanese central bank intervenes in bond market for first time since February
The data commons: Taking big data global
The International Monetary Fund’s first-ever overarching strategy on data aims to spread big data expertise among fund members. Louis Marc Ducharme discusses the upcoming challenges.
Experts warn Mexico’s peso defence could be costly
Risks on the horizon prompt concerns around the Bank of Mexico’s approach to forex volatility
Singapore and Malaysia to set up stock market link
The two markets have a combined market capitalisation of more than $1.2 trillion and 1,600 publicly listed companies
Asset manager of the year: BlackRock
BlackRock delivered some innovative new products and a highly regarded training scheme to build on its already strong foundation in reserve management services
UK Royal Mint to use blockchain to track gold trades
System will track ownership of gold traded on new platform without the need of a central database; new system will charge small transaction fees but abolish storage fees
Research can help BoE keep pace with automation – Salmon
As algorithms continue to make markets faster, regulation will need to be adapted, says BoE director; academic research will aid central bank efforts
Latin American central bank interventions 'mitigate' liquidity shocks
Central banks more concerned with global factors than structural changes to forex markets; post-crisis regulation and tech advancements proving problematic for market makers
BoJ boosts ETF purchases in face of global uncertainty
The Bank of Japan nearly doubles pace of ETF purchases to ¥6 trillion per year, and introduces measures to smooth funding in foreign currencies; stock market and exchange rate rise on the announcement
Optimising official reserve portfolios
Bank reserve managers require a modern, flexible approach to achieving the investment trinity of safety, liquidity and return. This strategy is typified by BlackRock’s model multi-asset portfolios, which use indexes as building blocks, maintain high…
Asset manager of the year: State Street Global Advisors
SSGA has helped official institutions to address a complex policy context at a high intellectual level while continuing to offer technically excellent investment services around the world
Bank of Japan tweaks QQE with maturity extension and new ETF purchases
BoJ will continue to buy 80 trillion yen worth of JGBs a year, but with slightly longer to run to maturity; announces new ETF programme to offset sales of old stocks
BoJ predicted to expand QQE, within limits
Analysts are predicting the Bank of Japan will increase asset purchases next month, but researchers are warning of speed bumps ahead
The value of ETFs to central bank reserves managers
Exchange-traded funds have emerged as a means for reserve managers to gain access to new exposures and markets, but are they fit for purpose?