Sovereign Wealth Funds allocate new assets to private equity

• 20% of Sovereign Wealth Fund new assets allocated to private equity
• Property and infrastructure are not the big SWF ‘alternative investment’ story

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Investment opportunities drive Indian, Russian and Chinese capital into UAE

• 2013 Invesco Middle East Asset Management Study
• ‘South-South’ trade in action – local investment opportunities drive Indian, Russian and Chinese capital into UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the key beneficiary of private capital flow into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, according to the fourth annual Invesco Middle East Asset Management Study1, with capital from emerging markets, most notably from India, Russia and China, overtaking those from developed markets (see heat map below). Read more

Global demand for gold jewellery up 12% in Q1 2013

The latest World Gold Council Gold Demand Trends report, which reports on the period January-March 2013, shows a market driven by diverse global demand, and an appetite for owning gold jewellery that continues to grow.

Total jewellery demand was up 12% year-on-year in Q1 2013, driven in the main by Asian markets. Jewellery demand in China was up 19% on the same period last year and stood at a record 185 tonnes(t). Demand in both India and the Middle East was up 15% respectively and in the US, demand showed a significant increase, 6%, for the first time since 2005.

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Private equity focus shifts from emerging markets

Private equity investment activity in the Americas is positioned for a solid year, while markets in Europe and Asia-Pacific tread water; this according to the fourth annual edition of the bellwether report on the state of the industry, released recently by Bain & Company. Read more

Hedge Funds Continue Gaining, Despite Selloff in Commodities

HFRI extends 1Q performance and high watermark with 6th consecutive monthly gain;

Quantitative, Trend Following Macro CTAs post strongest gain in 10 months

Hedge funds posted gains for the sixth consecutive month, as trend-following, quantitative Macro strategies successfully navigated the dramatic selloff in gold and other commodities, according to data released today by HFR, the established global leader in the indexation, analysis and research of the global hedge fund industry. The HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index gained +0.7 percent for the month, with positive contributions from U.S. and Japanese equity exposure, tactical commodity exposure, and falling fixed income yields globally on Bank of Japan stimulus measures and bond purchases. Funds of Hedge Funds also posted a gain for the month, with the HFRI Fund of Funds Index gaining +1.1 percent. Read more

Standard Life announces Asia, Middle East expansion

Standard Life announced today that it will set up a new unit in Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai to oversee and support its Asia and Emerging Markets unit.

The unit will create a more flexible foundation for further growth by streamlining decision-making and being closer to customers in fast-growing emerging markets. It will support all activity in Asia and the Middle East by providing management and shared services. Read more

Luxury Hotels Market Struggle with Decreased Demand in 2013

Luxury hotels have become less attractive for investments, according to a recently issued paper on the current trends in hotel development by a New Hampshire-based research and consulting firm, Lodging Econometrics. Hotel developers in the United States spend less due to the increasing costs and dropping profits. Compared to 2007’s high rate of $213, the RevPAR at luxury properties was only $202 in 2012, according to STR data. Read more

Bank of Japan Introduces Astonishing Stimulus Package

*Written by Marcus Holland from Options-Trading.com

The decision comes with all kinds of risks, but Bank of Japan Leader Haruhiko Kuroda’s goal was to achieve a rate of inflation at 2 percent for Japan’s sluggish economy. The country has experienced a stagnant economy and falling prices in the last two decades. Falling prices hurt the country because companies are less likely to invest and citizens don’t want to spend money. Moreover, Japan has seen its export sector decline. Read more

Societe Generale marks the end of gold era with a forecast cut

Societe Generale came up with a new 27-paged special analysis report on gold prices. The titled of the analysis is called “The End Of The Gold Era” predicts bearish price developments.

The basis forecast for 2013 gold suggests an average price of $1500 per ounce. By the end of the year the bank expect prices to hit $1375 per ounce.

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DAMAC plans IPO

DAMAC Properties is considering launching an initial public offering(IPO) on the stock market. The Dubai privately-owned developer has approached banks including HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs with proposals for advisory roles that may be related to the type of listing and the exact timing. The company bets on the ongoing modest recovery in the Dubai’s real estate market. Read more

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