Equities and bonds strengthened worldwide, but the dollar weakened because of the Fed's more dovish tone on future rate rises. Whilst now at 1%, there is the suggestion another two rate rises will happen in 2017, this is still below some of the market's more fearful projections.

As shown by the correlation between the risk premium and productivity trend growth, the current 5.9% risk premium anticipates a return to productivity gains at 3%, which is the level we saw during the dot com boom at the end of the 1990s.

The four iShares ETFs provide targeted exposure to S&P 500 companies in the consumer staples, industrials, materials and utilities sectors. These launches bring the total number of US sector funds to nine, adding to five existing exposures to consumer discretionary, energy, financials, healthcare and information technology sectors.

BlackRock has launched a Green Bond Index Fund, responding to the growing demand from investors for this fast-growing part of the fixed income market. BlackRock is one of the leading asset managers in the Green Bond market, with extensive experience of managing Green Bond mandates...

Quantlab Financial LLC ("Quantlab"), a leading, global quantitative trading firm based in Houston, Texas, today announced that it has acquired certain technology and intellectual property assets of the Teza Group.