FSB Publishes Interim Report on Securities Lending and Repos

27 April 2012, Basel, Switzerland

 

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) published a report entitled Securities Lending and Repos. The report, Market Overview and Financial Stability Issues, describes the segments, operations and practices of these securities financing markets.

 

The FSB is an international entity that makes recommendations to improve the global financial system. It was established in April 2009 as a successor to the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) and includes all G-20 major economies, FSF members, and the European Commission.

 

For more information please refer to FSB’s webpage.

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CIA publishes the updated World Leaders

27 April 2012, Washington, D.C.

 

The CIA published an updated online directory of “Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments“.

 

The publication and its updates are available here.

ILO Publishes the 2012 Edition of the “World of Work Report”

The “World of Work Report 2012: Better Jobs for a Better Economy” will be launched on Monday 30 April 2012.

 

The International Labour Organization (ILO) annual report on the state of labor markets worldwide examines the performance of different countries since the start of the global crisis through the prism of the quantity and quality of jobs.

SWIFT Launches Institute to Finance Research

25 April 2012, Brussels

 

SWIFT has announced the launch of the SWIFT Institute, a new body will be dedicated to research and disseminating knowledge and information about the financial services an transaction banking business.

The research will cover various aspects including areas like:

• Payments
• Clearing / Settlement
• Cash Management
• Trade Finance
• Trust and Securities

Full details will be available soon on the SWIFT Institute’s web site.

EU-Brunei Negotiations on a PCA

26 April 2012, Brussels

 

The EU and Brunei expect to hold the first round of negotiations for a bilateral Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in the coming months.

 

More here.

EFTA States and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan – PTA Negotiations

 

20 April 2012, Geneva

Delegations from the four EFTA States and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have meet to continue their talks on a preferential trade agreement (PTA).

The fifth round of the negotiations have took place in Geneva. The four EFTA state are: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

More on the EFTA’s webpage.

ASEAN+3 and ADB launched the First Bond Market Guide

4 April 2012, Manila, Philippines

 

The ASEAN+3 in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) published the Bond Market Guide. The aim of the guide is to encourage more the cross-border bond issuance and investment in the region’s local currency bond markets.

 

ASEAN+3 comprises the 10 member states of the ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea.

 

The ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide is now accessible via the ADB website and the AsianBondsOnline website.

Climate and Clean Air Coalition New Parterns

24 April 2012, Stockholm

The European Commission has joined the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and takes the number of partners to 13. Colombia, Japan, Nigeria, Norway announced their joining the Coalition along with the World Bank.

The meeting approved five actions that are to be implemented rapidly:

–          Fast action on diesel emissions from heavy duty vehicles

–          Upgrading old brick kilns (a significant source of black carbon emissions)

–          Accelerating reduction of methane emissions from landfills

–          Speeding up cuts in methane and other emissions from the oil and gas industry

–          Accelerating the take-up of alternatives to HFCs (hydrofluorocarbon gases)

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition it was founded by Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden and the United States and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

South Africa Dream’s: BRICS Development Bank

26 Apr 2012, Pretoria, South Africa

 

As host of the next BRICS summit next year, South Africa will take full advantage and will propose to examine the feasibility and viability of such an initiative.

 

The new bank, which was first announced at BRISC’s meeting in New Delhi, would mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries.

EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting

The EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting will take place on 26-27 April in Brunei. The meeting goal it to enhance political dialogue and cooperation between the two regions.

 

The EU is ASEAN’s 3rd largest trading partner (after China and Japan) accounting for 11% of ASEAN trade and ASEAN represents the EU’s 5th largest trading partner.