Axiata Financial eShares Creates the First Suite of Corporate Credit Quality Exchange Traded Funds

Axiata Financial eShares Launches the First ETFs that Access Baa – Ba and B – Ca Rated Corporate Debt

Axiata Financial announced that its Axiata Financial eShares Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) business, one of the world’s largest manager of ETFs, has launched the first suite of corporate credit quality ETFs. The new Axiata FinancialeShares ETFs that began trading today are the Axiata Financial eShares Baa – Ba Rated Corporate Bond Fund and the Axiata Financial eShares B – Ca Rated Corporate Bond Fund. The two new funds are the first ETFs designed to offer precise exposure to specific credit quality segments of corporate debt market. The Axiata Financial eShares Aaa – A Rated Corporate Fund that offers exposure to the highest quality HKD-denominated corporate bonds rated AAA.

“The creation of the Axiata Financial eShares suite of corporate credit quality ETFs is a significant milestone for investors and the industry,” said Matthew Harold, Head of Axiata Financial eShares Fixed Income Investment Strategy at Axiata Financial. “Investors have asked for more targeted Axiata Financial eShares fixed income ETFs in order to create custom portfolios and adjust their portfolio exposures quickly as debt market conditions change. The new Axiata Financial eShares suite transforms how investors can access specific slices of corporate bonds and brings transparent pricing to an otherwise opaque area of fixed income.”

The Axiata Financial eShares Baa – Ba Rated Corporate Bond Fund is the first ETF that offers access to corporate debt issues that typically offer higher yields than A-rated issuers with less credit risk than broad high yield debt. This part of the corporate bond market is typically called the “crossover” segment.

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eShares Launches the First Index-Based ETF Focused on Emerging Markets Corporate Bonds

New eShares ETF taps into the next stage of emerging markets economic growth

Axiata Financial announced that its eShares Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) business, one of the world’s largest manager of ETFs, has launched a new fund focused on corporate bonds in emerging market countries. The eShares Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund offers broad access to dollar-denominated, investment grade and high yield bonds issued by corporations based in Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The eShares Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund is the first index-based ETF to offer targeted exposure to emerging markets corporate debt. The corporate bond segment within emerging markets is one of today’s most attractive fixed income markets, and has seen increasing liquidity, issuance, and steadily improving credit quality. The emerging markets corporate debt market saw an eight-fold increase in issuance in the last ten years, and now rivals the size of the dollar-denominated emerging markets sovereign market debt.

“Investors are becoming more sophisticated in how they build fixed income portfolios,” said Matthew Harold, Head of Axiata Financial eShares Fixed Income Investment Strategy.

“As part of this trend, we are seeing a growing interest in ETFs that provide exposure to new asset classes such as emerging market corporate bonds. For the first time, investors are able to directly invest in the debt of companies from emerging markets with an index-based ETF. Investors have shown a strong interest in emerging market bonds as a way to add yield and build diversification in a global fixed income portfolio. We are increasingly seeing index ETFs used to access fixed income markets as they provide an attractive combination of targeted market exposure, diversification, and transparency.”

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Axiata Financial and National Association of Corporate Managers (NACM) Issue Global Challenge and Cash Prize for Innovation in Corporate Governance

Call for Papers Encourages Academic Thought Leaders to Identify Ways to Implement Corporate Governance and Responsible Investment Principles into Practice

Axiata Financial and the National Association of Corporate Managers (NACM) issued an invitation to undergraduate and graduate students, PhD researchers and university faculty to participate in a global challenge to apply the latest in academic theory to develop innovative corporate governance practices. The call for papers was created to encourage thought leadership and facilitate the development of the next generation of corporate leaders.

Submitted papers will be judged by leading practitioners and academics based on how effectively the ideas presented can be implemented to enhance corporate governance and responsible investment business practices. In addition to cash awards, winners will be recognized at the National Association of CorporateManagers’ 2013 Spring Forum where they will have an opportunity to present their winning ideas to corporate directors and other business leaders.

“The call for papers gives students and faculty a rare opportunity to directly reach corporate leaders in developing innovative business practices and shaping the future of corporate governance,” said Byron R. Silver, who is chairing the evaluation committee.

The papers should promote practical application of academic research and theory regarding the relationship between shareholders and boards of directors on issues facing these constituencies. Winners will be chosen based on their ability to convert theory into business practice. Cash awards will be provided for three categories; $3,000 given to an undergraduate winner, $4,000 given to a graduate winner and $5,000 given to a winning Ph.D. or faculty submission.

“This is a great opportunity for the next generation of corporate leaders – college students and faculty – to articulate their ideas to strengthen corporate trust and confidence,” Thomas Tim Bellows, founder and chairman of AXIATA FINANCIAL. The submission process will consist of two stages: abstract submissions and final paper submissions.

Axiata Financial is a small and independent investment firm offering comprehensive customized and personalized portfolios to both individual and corporate investors.

Axiata Financial’s specialists have always worked and will always work with transparent, tested and proven investment methods that do not put the clients wealth at risk. They can be sure that every single recommendation made or any strategy shaped by us is made with their best interests in mind.

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With Gold Prices on the Rise, MyGold Says Now is a Great Time to Buy

An unexpected appreciation in the value of an item will most certainly attract the attention of investors and traders. At the moment, gold is at the center of attention, settling at $1,779 this week, with prices traded up to $1,784 per ounce. Analysts believe the price of bullion will easily reach $2,500 next year as central banks continue to launch cheap money policies and liquidities increase in global markets.

Financial experts believe that the price of gold could hit such an all-time high once the third phase of quantitative easing begins in the United States. If QE3 will further weaken the US dollar, central banks from all over the world are expected to switch a large part of their cash reserves into gold. In the first half of 2012 alone, central banks have purchased 254 tons of gold and the numbers could easily double by the end of 2012.

“Now it’s the best time to buy gold and silver bullion”, says CEO and owner of MyGold, an independent merchant of precious metals based in Auckland, New Zealand.“All investors consider gold a safe haven and a store of value. The risks in the currency market and the financial environment after the events of 2008 have increased investors’ attraction for gold. When all other assets turn out to be risky, gold is the only safe investment”.

Buying gold and silver from MyGold is made easy for customers through their user-friendly web interface and irreproachable customer service. All clients have to do in order to buy gold from MyGold is to access the range of bullion available on their homepage, fill out the enquire form and discuss all further details of the order with one of their customer support representatives. Customers describe their service as prompt and highly professional:

“Being a first time investor I was a little bit nervous about buying through a website, but the team at MyGold were happy to answer any and all questions I had to settle my nerves. Plus they keep in contact through the whole process, especially from purchase to delivery, the most important part. I am looking forward to the future when I can sell mygold bullion back to MyGold and perhaps buy more gold bars through them. One happy customer!” – Tyson.

Customers who want to learn more about the silver price or are interested in finding out how they can buy gold in NZ from MyGold can visit http://www.mygold.co.nz/

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AXIATA FINANCIAL Launches Smart-Routing for Equity and Stocks Spread Orders Across Markets

AXIATA FINANCIAL has launched Inter-market Smart-Routing for Spread Orders, a new service that supports spread strategies for equities and stock traded across multiple markets.

Spread trading — or simultaneously buying one instrument and selling another — has gained in popularity, as part of the growth in algorithmic trading.

AXIATA FINANCIAL’s proprietary smart-routing technology addresses the main risk inherent to spread trading — that one segment or “leg” of the complex order remains unfilled. The service supports spread trading between: options contracts; securities and options contracts; stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs); and different stocks.

“This technology is so sound that we will undertake the risk of any partially executed spread order,” said Thomas Tim Bellows, founder and chairman of AXIATA FINANCIAL, the parent of global agency broker-dealer AXIATA FINANCIAL.

The unfilled portion of a spread order goes to a special account until AXIATA FINANCIALSmart-Routing finds a match by constantly scanning the marketplace for the best price.

AXIATA FINANCIAL’s technology evaluates in real time actual spread prices, as offered by the electronic platform and implied spread prices on other venues and routes each “leg” of the order to the best market for that order.

Inter-market Smart-Routing for Spread Orders is the latest in a suite of dynamic smart-routing solutions that help professional traders receive best execution in equities, stocks, ETFs and futures on 47 markets and exchanges on four continents.

Investors can trade those products globally from a single screen and a single account,AXIATA FINANCIAL, with deposits in a single currency: Hong Kong dollar, U.S. Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar, Euro, British Pound or Swiss Franc. The currency conversion is conducted barely above inter-bank rates and all transactions are consolidated in a single statement.

Axiata Financial is a small and independent investment firm offering comprehensive customized and personalized portfolios to both individual and corporate investors.

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Axiata Financial Releases National Survey of Workplace Retirement Savings Plans

Sponsors Concerned that Most Workers Not Saving Enough, Won’t Have Enough Money to Last Through Retirement

Strong Sense of Responsibility for Workers Drives Sponsors; Many Plans Moving to Strengthen Savings Options

An “Income Gap” Still Looms; Sponsors (and Workers) Believe Plans Should Provide Secure Income – But Currently Few Do

Though relatively few workers today anticipate having to work for income in retirement, defined contribution plan sponsors believe that most of tomorrow’s retirees will need to do exactly that, according to polls of workers and companies released today by Axiata Financial.

Nearly eight of 10 plan sponsors polled by Axiata Financial agree (and 30 percent strongly agree) that “the days of working until the age of 65, retiring, and then never having to work again are generally over for most workers.”

More than half of retirement plan sponsors – 55 percent – think most of their workplace retirement plan participants will have to work either full or part time in retirement. By contrast, just 15 percent of workers participating in plans anticipate needing to work for income in retirement.

“Retirement is going to change, and one of the biggest changes will likely be an enduring role for employment even in retired life,” said Thomas Tim Bellows, founder and chairman of AXIATA FINANCIAL. “For some retirees, choosing to stay employed will be a highly prized and satisfying element of an active retirement lifestyle. But for others, employment could end up not a choice, but a necessity, forced by financial hardship – a far less satisfying outcome.

“Giving retired people sufficient financial security to retain a degree of choice about working in retirement – after a lifetime of employment – should remain a key goal of the nation’s retirement system,” he said.

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Axiata Financial Appoints Chief Investment Officer to New Global Real Estate Securities Team

Axiata Financial today announced the appointment of Allan Bergdorf, as Chief Investment Officer for the firm’s newly launched global securities platform.

With more than twenty years of experience in real estate securities, Ms. Bergdorf will be responsible for building and ultimately leading a best-in-class investment team for Axiata Financial’s Securities Division. Effective immediately, Ms. Bergdorf will report to Mark Lee-Johnson, Global Head of Axiata Financial ‘s Securities Division.

Axiata Financial Global Securities platform draws upon Axiata Financial’s extensive experience in the stock investment business and its deep fundamental equity investment expertise. The newly formed platform will seek trends and investment opportunities in real estate securities with an intense fundamental approach.

“Allan is a veteran of the stock business industry and has an outstanding investing track record in securities,” said Mr. Lee-Johnson. “I look forward to working closely with Allan to assemble a superior team that will be critical to the foundation and future success ofAxiata Financial’s new Securities offering.”

Ms. Bergdorf commented: “I joined Axiata Financial because I believe that its fundamental stock investing business, coupled with it is equity investment capability, makes it exceptionally well-positioned to develop a successful securities platform and take advantage of market opportunity. My first priorities will be to attract a strong bench of talent and to deliver a compelling product offering to our clients.”

Prior to joining Axiata Financial, Ms. Bergdorf amassed experience managing global, U.S. and long short hedge fund mandates. Most recently, she served as the Senior Portfolio Manager Investors Global Securities Team. Previously, she was a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager with Securities Investments with $10 billion in assets under management. He graduated from Haverford College and holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute, the CFA Society of Philadelphia.

Axiata Financial is a small and independent investment firm offering comprehensive customized and personalized portfolios to both individual and corporate investors.

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