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Great American Life Introduces New Three-Year Fixed-Indexed Annuities
April 18, 2019-- Great American Life(R) is pleased to announce the availability of two new fixed-indexed annuity products.
The American Landmark(R) 3, available in the Retail channel, and AssuranceSelect(R)3 Plus, available in the Financial Institutions channel, are designed for consumers seeking growth opportunity with the flexibility to access their funds penalty-free after just three years.
These new products offer indexed strategies linked to well-known indexes and ETFs, including the S&P 500(R), iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF, and iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, providing upside potential in diverse markets with complete protection against market loss.
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Source: Great American Insurance Group
BlueStar Israel Equity Review & Outlook Israeli Stocks Continue to Outpace International Markets; Israeli Tech Adds to Already Impressive Year; Shekel On the Rise Following Israel's Elections
April 17, 2019--Israeli stocks, as defined by the BlueStar Israel Global Index(R) (BIGI(R)), outpaced all major market indexes in January, posting a solid 10.68% gain. BIGI(R), now nearly recovered from the December sell-off, extended its 2018 dominance against MSCI EAFE by an additional 4.09% YTD.
Israeli technology stocks, as defined by The BlueStar Israel Global Technology IndexTM (BIGITech(R)), bounced back strongly in January, erasing December woes, with an impressive 11.48% return to lead global tech markets YTD.
BIGI(R) outperformed the local TA-125 Index by 1.53% in January, as the TA-125 has missed out on the performance of some of Israel's top foreign-listed technology companies.
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Source: BlueStar Indexes
Lipper U.S. Mutual Funds & ETPs Q1 2019 Snapshot
April 17, 2019--In this issue of Lipper's U.S. Mutual Funds & Exchange-Traded Products Snapshot we feature a summary of total net assets (TNA), estimated net flows, new fund creations, and fund liquidations for conventional funds and exchange-traded products (ETPs) for Q1 2019, comparing the changes to those of prior quarters and highlighting the largest individual gainers and losers of both groups.
The Snapshot provides readers a powerful, easy-to-use guide and quick-reference tool to help them discern fund trends during the quarter.
Highlights:
Total net assets (TNA) in the conventional funds business (not including exchange-traded products [ETPs] and variable insurance products [VIPs]) rose 8.86%, increasing $1.6 trillion from Q4 2018 to just a little less than $19.304 trillion for Q1 2019.
TNA in U.S. ETPs (including exchange-traded funds, exchange-traded notes, exchange-traded commodities, limited partnership commodity pools, master limited partnerships, and exchange-traded fund unit investment trusts) rose 11.88% from $3.400 trillion for Q4 2018 to a little more than $3.804 trillion for Q1 2019.
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Source: Refinitiv
Beige Book-April 17, 2019
April 17, 2019--Overall Economic Activity
Economic activity expanded at a slight-to-moderate pace in March and early April. While most Districts reported that growth continued at a similar pace as the previous report, a few Districts reported some strengthening.
There was little change in the outlook among contacts in reporting Districts, with those expecting slight-to-modest growth in the months ahead. Reports on consumer spending were mixed but suggested sluggish sales for both general retailers and auto dealers. Reports on tourism were generally more upbeat. Reports on loan demand were mixed, but indicated steady growth. Reports on manufacturing activity were favorable, although contacts in many Districts noted trade-related uncertainty. Most Districts reported stronger home sales, although some Districts noted low demand for higher-priced homes. Among reporting Districts, agricultural conditions remained weak, with contacts expressing concerns over the impact of current and future rainfall and flooding.
view the Beige Book-April 17, 2019
Source: federalreserve.gov
Horizons ETFs to Launch World's First U.S.-Focused Marijuana Index ETF
April 17, 2019--With the launch of HMUS, Horizons ETFs' suite of Cannabis-focused ETFs will be the largest in the world
Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. ("Horizons ETFs") is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of the Horizons US Marijuana Index ETF ("HMUS"). Units of the exchange traded fund will begin trading tomorrow morning on the NEO Exchange ("NEO") under the ticker symbols HMUS (Canadian dollar units) and HMUS.U (U.S. dollar units).
HMUS is the first index ETF to provide direct exposure to the emerging U.S. Cannabis industry and is the third addition to Horizons ETFs' suite of cannabis-focused ETFs. Horizons ETFs' other cannabis funds-the Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF ("HMMJ") and the Horizons Emerging Marijuana Growers Index ETF ("HMJR") -also use an index (or passive) management structure. Together, they account for close to CAD $1 billion in assets under management.
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader and part of the S&P 500(R) Index, today announced it has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the retirement plan custody and trust assets from TD Ameritrade Trust Company, a subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Company (Nasdaq: AMTD). view more European Dividend Growth Fund Announces ETF Conversion Date Lower Management Fee and MER: The management fee payable by the ETF will be reduced from the Fund's current level of 1.25% of net asset value ("NAV") plus applicable taxes to 0.75% of NAV plus applicable taxes. The Manager also intents to waive a portion of the management fee of the ETF and/or reimburse the ETF to ensure that the sum of the management fee and operating expenses, in each case inclusive of GST/HST, is limited to approximately 0.95% of the NAV of the ETF. view more IndexIQ Merger Arbitrage ETF (MNA) Hits $1 Billion Mark "When we launched MNA nearly a decade ago, we knew we were breaking new ground for ETF investors. To that point, there were no low cost, liquid, transparent means through which to add merger arbitrage exposure to a portfolio. That meant investors were missing the opportunity to add the risk mitigation and volatility dampening aspects that merger arb can provide,"said Sal Bruno, chief investment officer of IndexIQ. view more CFTC.gov Swaps Report Update
The acquisition will expand Broadridge's suite of solutions for the growing qualified and non-qualified retirement plan services market and the support it provides for third-party administrators, financial advisors, record-keepers, banks, and brokers.
Source: Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
April 17, 2019--Brompton Funds Limited (the "Manager"), the manager of European Dividend Growth Fund (the "Fund") is pleased to announce that the Fund will convert into an exchange traded fund (the "Conversion") called Brompton European Dividend Growth ETF (the "ETF") at the open of trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on April 23, 2019.
Unitholders of the Fund approved the Conversion at a special meeting held on February 14, 2019. Commencing April 23, 2019, the new ticker symbol of the ETF will be EDGF.
The benefits of the Conversion are as follows:
Source: Brompton Funds
April 17, 2019--Fund is the second IndexIQ ETF to cross the $1 billion mark; has built nearly decade--long track record of providing investors with risk mitigation, volatility dampening and exposure to market upside
IndexIQ, a New York Life Investments Company and a leading provider of innovative investment solutions, proudly announces that the IQ Merger Arbitrage ETF (MNA) has surpassed $1 billion in assets under management (AUM)
Source: IndexIQ
April 17, 2019--CFTC's Weekly Swaps Report has been updated, and is now available.
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Source: CFTC.gov