Americas ETP News
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ETFs Shatter Records, Climb Above $2 Trillion in Assets
December 26, 2014--When the history of the investment world is written, 2014 might go down, in part, as the year of the ETF.
ETFs hit new record
Assets in U.S. listed exchange traded funds and other exchange traded products, which were initially designed to offer investors low fee exposure to various "beta" market investments, have reached over $2 trillion in assets under management, according to new research from ETFGI.
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Source: ValueWeek
SEC Issues Annual Staff Reports on Credit Rating Agencies
September 24, 2014--The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued its annual staff report on the findings of examinations of credit rating agencies registered as nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs).
The agency also submitted an annual staff report on NRSROs to Congress.
"The two reports reflect an evolving industry," said Thomas J. Butler, director of the SEC's Office of Credit Ratings. "The examination report shows that the SEC’s vigilant oversight is improving compliance at NRSROs, while the annual report to Congress depicts an industry that is growing more competitive and transparent."
view the Annual Report on Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations
Source: SEC,gov
Precidian Takes Another Pass at Non-Transparent ETFs
December 24, 2014--Precidian Investments earlier this week modified a proposal for non-transparent exchange-traded funds after retreating from an initial version that met scrutiny from regulators.
In October, the Securities and Exchange Commission told Precidian that its model for shielding stock holdings from public view might prevent specialized dealers from keeping funds’ prices in line with their net-asset values.
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Source: Barron's
CFTC.gov Swaps Report Update
December 24, 2014--CFTC's Weekly Swaps Report has been updated, and is now available.
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Source: CFTC.gov
Mutual Fund Store, once skeptical of ETFs, joins the fray
RIA with $9.5 billion from ordinary people branches into the funds
December 23, 2014--It may be the Mutual Fund Store, but company executives are not dogmatic about the "mutual fund" part.
Starting in 2015, the $9.5 billion registered investment adviser known for selling mutual funds and financial advice to the masses will add a product to its repertoire: ETFs.
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Source: Investment News
ProShares Announces Changes to ETF Lineup
December 23, 2014--ProShares announced today that it plans to close and liquidate 17 ETFs. The funds all trade on NYSE Arca.
"We continually review our lineup of ETFs to ensure our products meet the changing needs of investors," said Steve Cohen, managing director and head of strategy for ProShare Advisors, LLC. "Investor preferences and client feedback indicate these funds have little long-term demand."
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Source: ProShares
Ten iPath(R) Exchange Traded Notes to Switch Listing to Nasdaq
December 23, 2014--Nasdaq today announced that Barclays Bank PLC ("Barclays") will be transferring the listing of ten iPath(R) exchange-traded notes (ETNs) from NYSE Arca to The Nasdaq Stock Market, effective on or about Monday, December 29, 2014. The ETNs will be traded as a designated security.
"We are excited to expand our relationship with Barclays through the transfer of these ten ETNs to The Nasdaq Stock Market," said Jeffrey McCarthy, Head of ETP Listings at Nasdaq.
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Source: Nasdaq.com
Robust economic growth in third quarter raises hopes that a boom is on horizon
December 23, 2014--The U.S. economy is growing at an increasingly rapid pace, government data released Tuesday shows, raising hopes that a slow-going American recovery is transforming into a far more robust expansion.
The 5 percent annualized growth reported Tuesday-for the three-month period ending in September-has led some analysts to believe that the U.S. economy could expand next year at a clip reminiscent of the booming late 1990s.
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Source: Washington Post
Morgan Stanley US ETF Weekly Update
December 23, 2014--Weekly Flows: $13.0 Billion Net Inflows
Eleventh Consecutive Week of Net Inflows
High-conviction ETF Recommendations Slide
ETF Assets Stand at $2.0 Trillion, Up 17% YTD
Four ETF Launches Last Week
Direxion Announces ETF Closure
US-Listed ETFs: Estimated Flows by Market Segment
ETFs posted net inflows of $13.0 bln last week; 11th consecutive week of net inflows
Over the last 11 weeks, ETFs have generated net inflows of $92.4 bln
Last week's net inflows were led by Fixed Income ETFs at $5.3 bln; conversely, International - Developed ETFs posted net outflows of $1.5 bln, the most of any category we measured
Thirteen of the 15 categories we measured posted net inflows last week; ETFs have generated net inflows of $204.6 bln YTD; notably, the fourth quarter is typically the strongest quarter for ETF flows
ETF assets stand at $2.0 tln, up 17% YTD
13-week flows remain positive among most asset classes; combined $91.4 bln in net inflows
US Large-Cap ETFs generated net inflows of $30.0 bln over the last 13 weeks, the most of any category, and slightly outpaced Fixed Income ETFs, which exhibited $28.1 bln in net inflows over the same time period
International - Emerging ETFs exhibited net outflows of $4.3 bln over the last 13 weeks; flows in the category were driven by the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM), which posted net outflows of $6.0 bln over this period
US-Listed ETFs: Estimated Largest Flows by Individual ETF
SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) posted net inflows of $3.6 bln last week, the most of any ETF
Notably, the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) and the iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) also had big weeks and had a combined $2.2 bln in net inflows last week; both products track the Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index
The SPDR Retail ETF (XRT) generated net inflows of $569 mln last week, which equates to 34% of its current market cap; XRT's flows were likely driven by a decline in gasoline prices, which should benefit consumers and the places they shop
The iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) posted net inflows of $401 mln last week; HYG has struggled the past few months from a performance standpoint given its meaningful allocation to energy issuers
Despite posting a +2.0% market price return last week, the PowerShares QQQ (QQQ) posted another week of net outflows, at $1.9 bln; QQQ has exhibited three consecutive weeks of net outflows totaling $4.5 bln
US-Listed ETFs: ETF Dollar Volume
ETF monthly $ volume as a % of listed trading volume declined in November to 23% and is the lowest reading since June 2014; over the last 5 years, ETF monthly $ volume as a % of listed trading volume averaged 28%
Over the last five years, ETF monthly $ volume as a % of listed trading volume peaked in August 2011 at 36%
ETF $ volume surged by $190 bln last week compared to the prior week and is 55% above its 13-week average
US Large-Cap ETFs accounted for 49% of ETF $ volume last week compared to their 13-week average of 43% and was primarily driven by SPY; this compares to the category's 27% market cap share
US-Listed ETFs: Short Interest Data Unchanged: Based on data as of 11/28/14
SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) had the largest increase in USD short interest at $1.8 bln
Notably, the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) had a $603 mln decline in short interest compared to the prior period; TLT's shares short are at their lowest level since 10/15/13
661 ETFs exhibited short interest increases while 632 experienced short interest declines over the last period
Aggregate ETF USD short interest increased by $267 mln over the period ended 11/28/14
The average shares short/shares outstanding for ETFs is currently 4.2%, up from 3.9% last period
The CurrencyShares Euro Trust (FXE) is the most heavily shorted ETF as a % of shares outstanding at 333%
Eight of the 10 most heavily shorted ETFs as a % of shares outstanding are sector based (SMH, XOP, DRV, XRT, XBI, IYR, RKH, BRAF)
Based on multiple borrowings and the ability to continuously create new shares, shares short as a % of shares outstanding can exceed 100% (only seven ETFs exhibited shares short as a % of shares outstanding greater than 100%)
US-Listed ETFs: Most Successful Recent Launches by Assets
$8.4 bln in total market cap of ETFs less than 1-year old
Active ETFs account for 33% of recently launched ETF market share, the most of any ETF category
The recently launched International - Developed ETF category was the only ETF group to post net outflows last week, at $27 mln
188 new ETF listings and 65 closures YTD (additional four closures announced)
The top 10 most successful launches make up 48% of the market cap of ETFs launched over the past year
Four ETF sponsors and two asset classes (equity and fixed income) were represented in top 10 most successful launches
The First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF (FV) generated $56 mln in net inflows last week, the ETF's 42nd consecutive week of positive flows; FV comprises five First Trust sector and industry ETFs that are selected based on price momentum
request report
Source: Morgan Stanley
ISE Gemini Introduces Flat Pricing for Price Improvement Auctions
December 22, 2014--ISE Gemini announced the introduction of a new "flat" pricing structure for price improvement mechanism (PIM) auctions as of January 2, 2015, subject to regulatory clearance.
With this new model, both PIM auction initiators and responders will pay the same fee of $0.05 per contract.
Priority Customers on the originating side of a PIM order will continue to be free. The new structure will create additional transparency and a more level playing field in auction pricing. It also has the potential to deliver a higher level of price improvement to the end customer by increasing competition among auction responders at a fee level substantially lower than competing auction mechanisms.
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Source: ISE (International Securities Exchange)
