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US inflation expectations lowest for a year
September 27, 2011--Market expectations for US inflation have dropped to their lowest level in a year and are now below the Federal Reserve’s unofficial target, as investors respond to the central bank’s latest attempt to stimulate the economy.
The expected rate of inflation over the next 30 years, as measured by the difference between Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, Tips, and cash government bonds, dropped as low as 1.85 per cent in recent days from 2.73 per cent since last month. The rate was just under 2 per cent on Tuesday.
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Source: FT,com
BlackRock New ETF Landscape Report: US Handbook – Q2 2011
September 27, 2011--Q2 2011 is a comprehensive directory of all 1,288 Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) with assets of US$1,100.7 Bn from 48 providers on two exchanges in the United States, as at the end of June 2011.
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Source: BlackRock
SEC to Publish for Public Comment Updated Market-Wide Circuit Breaker Proposals to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility
September 27, 2011--The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that the national securities exchanges and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) are filing proposals to revise existing market-wide circuit breakers that are designed to address extraordinary volatility across the securities markets. When triggered, these circuit breakers halt trading in all exchange-listed securities throughout the U.S. markets.
The proposals being filed today would update the market-wide circuit breakers by among other things reducing the market decline percentage thresholds necessary to trigger a circuit breaker, shortening the duration of the resulting trading halts, and changing the reference index used to measure a market decline.
If approved by the Commission, the new market-wide circuit breaker rules would replace the existing market-wide circuit breakers, which were originally adopted in October 1988 and have only been triggered on one day in 1997.
“This new market-wide circuit breaker together with the other post-Flash Crash measures is designed to reduce extraordinary volatility in our markets,” said SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro. “We look forward to reviewing the comments, including any views on how the proposed circuit breaker changes might work together with the proposed limit up-limit down mechanism for individual securities.”
The SEC will seek comment on the proposed rule changes, which are subject to Commission approval following a 21-day public comment period.
Market-Wide Circuit Breaker Proposal The proposals would revise the existing market-wide circuit breakers by:
Reducing the market decline percentage thresholds necessary to trigger a circuit breaker from 10, 20, and 30 percent to 7, 13, and 20 percent from the prior day’s closing price.
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Source: SEC.gov
SEC to Publish for Public Comment Updated Market-Wide Circuit Breaker Proposals to Address Extraordinary Market Volatility
September 27, 2011--The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that the national securities exchanges and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) are filing proposals to revise existing market-wide circuit breakers that are designed to address extraordinary volatility across the securities markets. When triggered, these circuit breakers halt trading in all exchange-listed securities throughout the U.S. markets.
The proposals being filed today would update the market-wide circuit breakers by among other things reducing the market decline percentage thresholds necessary to trigger a circuit breaker, shortening the duration of the resulting trading halts, and changing the reference index used to measure a market decline.
If approved by the Commission, the new market-wide circuit breaker rules would replace the existing market-wide circuit breakers, which were originally adopted in October 1988 and have only been triggered on one day in 1997.
“This new market-wide circuit breaker together with the other post-Flash Crash measures is designed to reduce extraordinary volatility in our markets,” said SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro. “We look forward to reviewing the comments, including any views on how the proposed circuit breaker changes might work together with the proposed limit up-limit down mechanism for individual securities.”
The SEC will seek comment on the proposed rule changes, which are subject to Commission approval following a 21-day public comment period.
Market-Wide Circuit Breaker Proposal The proposals would revise the existing market-wide circuit breakers by:
Reducing the market decline percentage thresholds necessary to trigger a circuit breaker from 10, 20, and 30 percent to 7, 13, and 20 percent from the prior day’s closing price.
read more
Source: SEC.gov
Northern Trust Names Head of ETF Sales and Servicing
September 27, 2011--Northern Trust announced today the appointment of Marie Dzanis as Senior Vice President and Head of ETF Sales and Servicing. In this role, Dzanis will lead the sales and servicing team for Northern Trust's FlexShares exchange traded funds.
Dzanis will be based at Northern Trust's Chicago headquarters and report to Shundrawn A. Thomas, Managing Director and Global Business Head of the Exchange-Traded Funds Group.
"Marie's in-depth knowledge of exchange traded fund sales and the broader asset management industry will be invaluable for Northern Trust," said Thomas. "Her relationships with financial advisory teams and broker dealers across the United States will advance our business goals."
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Source: Northern Trust
Standard & Poor's Announces Changes In The S&P/TSX Canadian Indices
September 26, 2011--Standard & Poor's Canadian Index Operations announces the following index changes:
Intact Financial Corporation (TSX:IFC) has completed the acquisition of AXA Canada. The relative weight of Intact Financial Corporation will increase in the S&P/TSX Composite and Capped Composite, the S&P/TSX Equity and Capped Equity, the S&P/TSX Capped Financial, the S&P/TSX Completion and Equity Completion and the S&P/TSX Composite Dividend indices to reflect this issuance of Intact Financial shares.
These changes will be effective after close on Monday, October 3, 2011.
Company additions to and deletions from an S&P equity index do not in any way reflect an opinion on the investment merits of the company.
Source: Standard & Poor's
Standard & Poor's Announces Changes In The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index
September 26, 2011--Standard & Poor's will make the following changes in the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index after the close of trading on Tuesday, September 27, 2011:
Rainy River Resources Ltd. (TSXVN:RR) will be removed from the index as well as the S&P/TSX Venture Select Index.
The company will graduate to trade on TSX under the same ticker symbol.
Company additions to and deletions from an S&P equity index do not in any way reflect an opinion on the investment merits of the company.
Source: Standard & Poor's
S&P may face action over CDO ratings
US SEC considers action against Standard & Poor's for giving top ratings to mortgage-backed investments shortly before they imploded in the financial crisis
September 26, 2011--US regulators have warned credit rating agency Standard & Poor's they are considering taking action over its rating of mortgage-backed investments ahead of the 2008 financial meltdown.
It would be the first time a ratings agency has been called to account by a US regulator since the credit crisis.
S&P's parent company McGraw-Hill confirmed it has received notice that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is considering action over ratings the agency gave to portfolios of mortgages and other debts known as collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) dating back to the financial crisis.
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Source: Guardian.co.uk
Northern Trust Launches FlexShares Family of Exchange Traded Funds
September 26, 2011 —Northern Trust, a leading provider of financial services for institutions and individuals, announced today the launch of FlexShares, a new family of exchange traded funds based on indexes created and maintained by Morningstar, Inc. and Markit. Four ETFs are now available, each designed to provide flexibility to construct, allocate and manage portfolios according to real-world goals
The FlexShares funds available on the New York Stock Exchange include:
FlexShares Morningstar Global Upstream Natural Resources Index Fund
FlexShares Morningstar U.S. Market Factor Tilt Index Fund
FlexShares iBoxx 3-Year Target Duration TIPS Index Fund
FlexShares iBoxx 5-Year Target Duration TIPS Index Fund
"FlexShares represent Northern Trust's global expertise in asset management, investment solutions and risk management," said Shundrawn Thomas, head of Northern Trust's Exchange Traded Funds Group. "With $684 billion in assets under management, Northern Trust has deep connections to sophisticated investors, and FlexShares reflect our insights into investor needs in an evolving marketplace. FlexShares are designed to help construct and manage portfolios that seek to achieve investor goals, while offering all the traditional benefits of ETFs."
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Source: Northern Trust
Morgan Stanley-US ETF Weekly Update
September 26, 2011--Weekly Flows: $6.5 Billion Net Outflows
ETF Assets Stand at $960 Billion, down 4% YTD
Launches: 9 New ETFs
Direxion to Make ETF Changes & Close Airline ETF
Rydex Assumes Guggenheim Name
US-Listed ETFs: Estimated Flows by Market Segment
After five consecutive weeks of net inflows, ETFs posted net outflows of $6.5 bln last week
Net outflows last week were primarily driven by US Equity ETFs (combined $10.7 bln net outflows)
Fixed Income ETFs have exhibited net inflows for six straight weeks ($7.8 bln net inflows over the six weeks)
ETF assets stand at $960 bln, down 4% YTD amid weak equity markets
13-week flows were mixed among asset classes; combined $17.6 bln net inflows
Fixed Income ETFs up $10.9 bln; US Sector & Industry ETFs down $5.1 bln
We estimate ETFs have generated net inflows 23 out of 38 weeks in 2011; net inflows of $72.3 bln YTD
US-Listed ETFs: Estimated Largest Flows by Individual ETF
Despite having significant European exposure, the iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (EFA) posted net inflows of $3.0 bln, the most of any ETF; shares outstanding reached a recent high in EFA
After generating net inflows of $6.3 bln during the week of 9/12/11, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) more than
gave it back last week, posting net outflows of $7.8 bln
8 out of the 10 ETFs to exhibit the largest net outflows last week were US equity-based
US-Listed ETFs: Change in Short Interest
Data Unchanged: Based on data as of 8/31/11
IWM exhibited the largest increase in USD short interest since last updated
$1.1 billion in additional short interest
Highest level of shares short for IWM since 5/31/11
SPY exhibited the largest decline in USD short interest since last updated
$4.0 billion in reduced short interest
Despite SPY’s lower levels of shares short compared to 8/15/11, SPY’s shares short remain near an all-time
high
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Source: Morgan Stanley
