Mastering the Balanced Fund (B-Fund): The new focus on a 'Mutual Monday'

It's another Mutual Monday and the focus is now on the Databank Balanced Fund also known as the B-Fund. Before we look at this mutual fund, lets recap all we did on the journey to Mastering Mutual Funds in Ghana. I wrote on the following;
1. Mutual Monday: Investment Funds (Mutual funds & Unit Trusts) in Ghana.
2. Mutual Monday: What you must know about EPACK, the 'Praise-the-Lord' fund.
3. How to master mutual funds; focus on the iFUND mutual fund


In the above posts, I stated the various types of mutual funds and unit trusts in Ghana and went further to focus on EPACK and iFUND showing clearly what they invest your funds in.

Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index: So far in 2012

The Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index (GSE-CI) includes all ordinary shares listed on the GSE with the exception of those companies whose shares are listed on other exchanges. (e.g.  ETI, TLW).  The base index is 1000 and the index is a market capitalization weighted index.

Last year, the index closed at 969.03 (30-12-11) below the base index. There were some highs and lows this New Year and investors are hoping to see the index above the base index.

Below is how the index fared so far in 2012. [22-12-11 to 19-01-12]

This Week in focus on the Ghana Stock Exchange (16-01-12 to 20-01-12)

Listing & Trading Rules are set for ETFs on GSE.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are considered by some financial gurus as an investment product of choice for the inexperienced trader all the way to the professional money managers. In emerging financial markets like that of Ghana, ETFs are yet to see the light of the day. The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) announced the introduction of  ETFs in to the market sometime ago and finally, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the Rules for the Exchange Traded Funds. 
The general listing rules prescribing the requirements for obtaining and maintaining the listing of securities on the Ghana Stock Exchange does not apply to ETFs hence different rules were set for listing and trading. With reference to the Rules for ETFs released this month, trades in ETFs shall be settled through the Clearing and Settlement System of the GSE and Securities Depository System of GSE Securities Depository Ltd just like stocks on the GSE.
This same document revealed that an application for the issue of ETFs must include, Net Asset Value (NAV) of the ETF as at the date of application and the Percentage change of the NAV of the underlying basket of securities / index / underlying asset for the previous 6 months on a weekly basis, among others. The criteria for listing revealed that, the ETFs must be open-ended and fully secured at all times: either by the underlying securities/commodities or financial instruments it represents, a proxy security
acceptable to GSE which should be listed, freely tradable and have adequate liquidity or cash. Looking at the current affairs of the capital market, liquidity issues are very important to the GSE & SEC.
Further scrutiny of the rules showed that, ETF issuers must undertake to compute the Net Asset Value of the ETF on a daily basis and make the NAV public to all market participants at the same time through the GSE. Obviously, no insider trading would be encouraged. The condition for listing stipulated among a list of requirements that, GSE may, in its overriding discretion, grant a listing to an Issuer who does not fulfill the requirements set out or refuse a listing to an Issuer who does not comply with the listing requirements on the basis that, in the GSE’s opinion, the grant or refusal of the listing is in the interest of the investing public.

In terms of pricing the ETFs, the rules stated that, the issue price shall be on a basis approved by the Exchange and shall not include management charges and other fees. Moreover all management charges and other fees are required to be separately specified in the offer Document.

The rules for ETFs are very clear and easy to understand. For more analysis of the essence of these rules, join me on Twitter: peagama (click to follow) or facebook: Patrick .... and let's discuss.
For more details on the Rules for ETFs in Ghana, Click to download full document. (Courtesy: GSE, & SEC).