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CME Group Volume Averaged 14.9 Million Contracts per Day in June 2011, Up 22 Percent From June 2010
July 5, 2011---- CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced June volume averaged 14.9 million contracts per day, up 22 percent from June 2010.
Total volume for June was 327 million contracts, of which a record 85 percent was traded electronically. June 2011 month-end open interest reached 94 million contracts, up 9 percent from the same period last year. Second-quarter 2011 volume averaged 13.5 million contracts per day, in line with strong second-quarter 2010 results which included record May 2010 average daily volume.
In June 2011, CME Group interest rate volume averaged 7.1 million contracts per day, up 50 percent compared with June 2010. Treasury futures volume averaged 2.9 million contracts per day, up 44 percent compared with same period a year ago. Treasury options volume averaged 351,000 contracts per day, up 43 percent from June 2010. Eurodollar futures volume averaged 2.8 million contracts per day, up 69 percent versus prior June, and Eurodollar options volume averaged 839,000 contracts per day, up 30 percent, and included a monthly record for 2-Year Eurodollar Midcurve options.
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Source: CME Group
Dodd-Frank delay spells OTC dealer reprieve
July 5, 2011--A sudden slowdown in the implementation of key financial market reforms has delayed the shifting of over-the-counter derivatives to electronic trading platforms, allowing banks to cling on to a lucrative source of business for longer than expected.
One thrust of the post-crisis clean-up of the financial system, enshrined in G20 commitments agreed in 2009, was to require that the largely bank-controlled OTC derivatives markets be shifted on to formal trading platforms.
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Source: FT.com
Best quarter in nearly two years for munis
July 5, 2011--US municipal bonds have enjoyed their best quarter in nearly two years, in a recovery that comes ahead of what is expected to be a challenging period for America’s states, cities and other public entities.
“Muni” bonds gained 4.45 per cent in the last three months, the largest return since 8.07 per cent in the third quarter of 2009, a Bank of America Merrill Lynch index showed.
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Source: FT.com
CFTC Publishes Two New Data Sets on Daily Net Position Changes
July 5, 2011-- The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today announced the release of two new data sets that add further transparency to commodity futures markets. The new reports, entitled “Large Trader Net Position Changes” and “Trading Account Net Position Changes,” build on the CFTC transparency program initiatives.
The data and explanatory notes, as well as average values for both measures, can be found on our website. The CFTC is providing this data to the public on a one-time basis.
A core mission of the CFTC is to promote transparency,” CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler said. “The new data will provide the public, for the first time, with a view of the amount of trading that results in daily net position changes. The balance of trading is due to day trading or trading in calendar spreads. The data shows that, in many cases, less that 20 percent of average daily trading volume results in traders changing their net long or net short all-futures-combined positions. The data should provide the public, academia and traders with further insight into the nature of market liquidity. I thank the CFTC staff for their hard work.”
view Data on Net Position Changes
Source: CFTC.gov
Standard & Poor's Announces Changes In The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index
July 4, 2011--Standard & Poor's will make the following changes in the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index after the close of trading on Monday, July 4, 2011:
Tag Oil Ltd. (TSXVN:TAO) will be removed from the index. The company will graduate to trade on TSX under the same ticker symbol.
Tag Oil will remain a constituent of the S&P/TSX Venture 30 Index until the next index rebalancing in the middle of July, 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
Brazil risks tumbling from boom to bust
July 4, 2011--Back in February, in an earlier Insight column, we highlighted the major build up of consumer debt at extremely high rates of interest, putting a significant cash flow burden on the repayment capacity of borrowers.
Since then, the situation has deteriorated further. Pressures are building in the Brazilian credit cycle.
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Source: FT.com
First Trust Advisors L.P. Introduces First Cloud Computing ETF
July 3, 2011--First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”), announced today that the first exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) focused on the cloud computing industry is expected to launch on The NASDAQ Stock Market® under the ticker symbol SKYY on Wednesday, July 6, 2011.
The First Trust ISE Cloud Computing Index Fund is based on the ISE Cloud Computing™ Index. This index is a modified equal-dollar weighted index designed to provide a benchmark for investors interested in tracking companies involved in the cloud computing industry. The Index is owned and was developed by International Securities Exchange, LLC.
“The ISE Cloud ComputingTM Index reflects the evolution of technology infrastructure and provides new and dynamic opportunities for investors,” said Kris Monaco, Head of New Product Development at ISE. “We are very pleased to work again with First Trust on this unique exchange-traded fund focused on this rapidly expanding industry.”
“Cloud computing is projected to be one of the fastest growing IT markets this year, according to IDC Research,” said Ryan Issakainen, Senior Vice President, ETF Strategist. “As businesses and consumers continue to migrate to a cloud environment, we believe there are significant growth opportunities for the companies involved in all aspects of cloud computing. The ETF provides a way to gain exposure to those companies. Forrester Research is projecting total public cloud revenues to go up 27% annually to reach nearly $160 billion by 2020, up from $15 billion in 2010.”
“Offering specialty products that provide investors with targeted, efficient exposure to specialized segments of the market has helped First Trust to become the fastest growing ETF sponsor among the ten largest sponsors (by assets raised) since 2010,” Issakainen added. Mr. Issakainen will ring the opening bell of The NASDAQ Stock Market® at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 to recognize the launch of the Fund. To view the live webcast of the opening bell, visit the NASDAQ website (http://www.nasdaq.com/about/marketsitetowervideo.asx) at 9:20 a.m. (Eastern Time).
Source: Marketwire
CFTC.gov Commitments of Traders Reports Update
July 1, 2011--The current reports for the week of June 28, 2011 are now available
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Source: CFTC.gov
CBOE Holdings Reports June 2011 Trading Volumes:
CBOE Holdings Averages 4.5 Million Options Contracts Per Day in June, Up 10% from June 2010
C2 and CBOE Futures Exchange Set All-Time Monthly and ADV Records
July 1, 2011--CBOE Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBOE) today reported that June trading volume for options on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and C2 Options Exchange (C2), the company's alternative all-electronic market, combined, totaled 99.4 million contracts; average daily volume (ADV) was 4.5 million contracts, up 10 percent from June 2010.
C2 and CBOE Futures Exchange (CFE) achieved their busiest months ever in June, with monthly ADV exceeding 200,000 contracts and 50,000 contracts, respectively, for the first time.
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Source: CBOE
SEC Provides Additional Guidance, Interim Relief and Exemptions for Security-Based Swaps Under Dodd-Frank Act
July 1, 2011 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today provided additional guidance to clarify which U.S. securities laws will apply to security-based swaps starting July 16 -- the effective date of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
That Act created a new regulatory framework for over-the-counter derivatives, authorizing the SEC to regulate security-based swaps and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to regulate other swaps. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, starting July 16, 2011, security-based swaps are defined as “securities” subject to existing federal securities laws, including the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
As one part of today’s action, the Commission approved an order granting temporary relief and interpretive guidance to make clear that a substantial number of the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to securities will not apply to security-based swaps when the revised definition of “security” goes into effect on July 16. Nevertheless, federal securities laws prohibiting fraud and manipulation will continue to apply to security-based swaps after that date. To enhance legal certainty for market participants, the Commission also provided temporary relief from provisions of U.S. securities laws that allow the voiding of contracts made in violation of those laws.
view the EXEMPTIONS FOR SECURITY-BASED SWAPS
Source: SEC.gov
