Khazanah Joins Sovereign Funds’ Expansion Spree: Southeast Asia

When Khazanah Nasional Bhd. announced 2013 returns last month, the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund highlighted its international presence for the first time and plans to continue expanding abroad.

U.S. mortgage applications slip in latest week: MBA

(Reuters) - Applications for U.S. home mortgages fell, including both new purchases and refinancings, in the latest week, an industry group said on Wednesday.

Kravis Says Private Equity Does Poor Job of Discussing Its Benefits

BERLIN – Henry Kravis, the co-founder of the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and other industry leaders think the private equity sector has a bit of an image problem.

A year on from the financial hurricane, Cyprus president pushes for unification

Makarios Avenue is a sorry sight. Once the archetypal image of Cyprus's rejuvenation after its 1974 invasion by Turkey, the high-end boutiques of Nicosia's main shopping street are boarded up, its fashion shops plastered with "for rent" signs and its once- thriving cafes closed and shuttered.

G20 meeting targets an additional 2% economic growth

Financial leaders from the 20 biggest economies have set a goal of generating $2 trillion (£1.2 trillion) in extra output over the next five years.

Asia Currencies Have Worst Week Since August on China Concern

Asian currencies had their worst weekly loss in six months as signs of a deeper economic slowdown in China and the Federal Reserve’s support for tapering asset purchases weighed on emerging markets.

With Ban on Ads Removed, Hedge Funds Test Waters

It looks like the kind of motivational poster on a college student’s dorm room wall. Snowboarders stand at the peak of a steep mountain, reveling in victory, with the tag line, “Performing in all conditions.”

Eurozone business growth slowed in February, PMI study suggests

Business growth in the eurozone eased this month but the bloc's economy continued to expand at a "robust pace", a closely watched survey suggests.

EMERGING MARKETS-Ukraine's assets hit, Russia's rouble sets all-time euro low

LONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Ukraine's sovereign bonds and currency tumbled on Wednesday as a renewed wave of violence hit the capital Kiev, adding pressure on Russia's rouble which has hit an all-time low against the euro.

Nowotny eyes 'self-correction' of low inflation, strong euro

(Reuters) - Low euro zone inflation and the strong euro could both start to self-correct this year without necessarily requiring any action from the European Central Bank, one its policymakers Ewald Nowotny said on Tuesday.

Worst over for stocks? Depends on earnings

Thanks to a strong rally last week, the S&P 500 is now down only slightly for the year while the Nasdaq is up nearly 2%.

Hedge Funds Raise Gold Bull Bets as Paulson Holds: Commodities

Hedge funds raised bullish gold wagers to a three-month high as signs of slowing U.S. economic growth spurred demand for haven assets. Billionaire John Paulson maintained his bullion holdings last quarter.

AFRICA INVESTMENT: African nations race to build sovereign funds

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Resource-rich African countries are busy setting up sovereign wealth funds, but critics say the funds may not serve the long-term interests of poor countries that still need to invest in basics such as schools and roads.

World’s Biggest Sovereign Fund Needs to Add Risk, Olsen Says

Oeystein Olsen, the governor of Norway’s central bank, said he’s planning to petition the government to allow the nation’s $830 billion wealth fund to cut bond holdings further to help it generate bigger returns.

Asia Asset Management Honors Northern Trust for Best Client Servicing in Asia-Pacific

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For the third consecutive year, Asia Asset Management has recognized Northern Trust for “Best Client Servicing in Asia-Pacific,” citing its commitment to personalized client service, integrated business intelligence, product innovation and customizable capabilities.

Strong China January trade data sparks cheers, doubts

(Reuters) - China surprised markets with a thumping trade performance in January as import growth hit a six-month high, drawing some skepticism about the data but still allaying fears of a deepening economic malaise.

Bank of England launches inquiry into forex manipulation claims

The Bank of England has launched an internal inquiry into allegations that its officials endorsed sharing of information between traders in the foreign exchange market, the central bank's deputy governor told MPs.

Deutsche Bank cuts Europe ETF prices to win institutional business

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank (GER:DBK) will cut commissions on four of its biggest European exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, in a move to take market share from rivals such as Vanguard and BlackRock (BLK.N) and win over big institutional investors.

Rupee weakens on caution ahead of U.S. jobs data

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The rupee ended marginally lower on Wednesday as sentiment remained cautious with foreign funds continuing to be steady sellers of local debt ahead of key U.S. nonfarm payrolls data.

Puerto Rico’s Second Cut to Junk Debt

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Puerto Rico’s general-obligation debt to junk status on Friday, intensifying a cash squeeze on the island and prompting some residents to blame hard-nosed creditors for their mounting troubles.

U.S. Said to Probe Banks Over Sovereign Wealth Fund Deals

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether financial firms made improper payments to secure investments from sovereign wealth funds, according to two people familiar with the matter.

A hawk pushes against majority at Fed on trimming stimulus

(Reuters) - Going a step further than his colleagues at the Federal Reserve, a hawkish policymaker said on Wednesday the U.S. central bank should wind down its bond purchases faster than planned and end it before mid-year.

Pension Funds Face New Era of Disclosure On Climate Risks

For more than a decade, as part of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), investors have been asking the companies they invest in to disclose their carbon emissions, in theory so that they could get a better idea of the exposure of their investments to climate change risks and reduce that risk accordingly.

World markets battered again

Asia stocks took yet another dive on Tuesday, as fearful investors cut their losses amid a broad regional slump. Japan's benchmark Nikkei index fell 4.2%, extending its tumble this year to just over 14%.

DOJ probes finance firms' dealings with Libya: WSJ

(Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating banks, private equity firms and hedge funds that may have violated anti-bribery laws in their dealings with Libya's government-run investment fund, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Bonds Outperform Stocks in Best Start to a Year Since 2008

Bonds beat stocks last month for the first time since August as fixed-income securities worldwide enjoyed their best start to a year since 2008.

A Ray of Hope for Emerging Markets?

A new indicator of cross-border capital flows unveiled Thursday may give emerging markets a ray of hope in what has been a pretty dark week.

U.S. consumer spending rose in December, confidence slips this month

(Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending rose in December, but an ebb in consumer confidence and signs of cooling in factory activity this month suggested economic growth could moderate in the first quarter.