Americas ETP News
If your looking for specific news, using the search function will narrow down the results
CFTC.gov Commitments of Traders Reports Update
June 26, 2013--The updated current reports for the week of July 23, 2013 are now available.
view more
Source: CFTC.gov
IMF-United States: 2013 Article IV Consultation-Staff Report
July 26, 2013--KEY ISSUES
Context: The U.S. economic recovery remains modest but is gaining ground, supported by a rebound in the housing market, still easy financial conditions, and a boost to
household net worth from higher house and stock prices. These factors are helping to offset the impact of strong fiscal adjustment on consumer spending.
But the economy is still far from normal conditions, with high unemployment and a large negative output
gap.
Fiscal Policy: The fiscal consolidation should be more balanced and gradual. The automatic spending cuts (sequester) not only reduce growth in the short term but could also undermine potential in the medium term through indiscriminate cuts to education and infrastructure. They should be replaced with back-loaded entitlement savings and new revenues. Even though the fiscal deficit is declining rapidly, approving a plan to restore long-run fiscal sustainability remains a priority. Early action is needed for measures that slow entitlement spending, as their effects build gradually over time.
Monetary Policy: Given the still-large output gap and well-anchored inflation expectations, the highly accommodative monetary policy stance is appropriate. While unwinding monetary policy accommodation is likely to present challenges, including for financial stability, the Fed has a range of tools to help manage the exit. Effective communication and careful timing will be critical to avoid disruptions, for both the United States and other countries.
view the IMF-United States: 2013 Article IV Consultation-Staff Report
Source: IMF
IMF United States: Selected Issues
July 26, 2013--THE U.S. MANUFACTURING RECOVERY: UPTICK OR RENAISSANCE?1
A. Introduction
1. A notable rebound of manufacturing production following the Great Recession has generated renewed interest in this sector among analysts and policy makers alike. Amid
increasing anecdotes of a "renaissance" in U.S. manufacturing, many commentators have argued that the sector may contribute more significantly to domestic GDP and global industrial output
going forward.2
They note that a number of favorable conditions—including a more depreciated
exchange rate, lower domestic energy prices, volatile shipping costs, and significant increases in labor costs in emerging markets—could support steady increases in U.S. manufacturing output and employment, beyond those that could be attributed to just a cyclical rebound. The potential for
growing demand from booming shale oil and gas activity have also been noted.
At the same time, promoting manufacturing as an engine of high-wage jobs and growth is a key part of the U.S. administration’s economic policies.3 Others analysts are more skeptical, and argue that manufacturing output is merely rebounding to its pre-crisis level.4
2. This chapter investigates whether a renaissance is evident in U.S. macroeconomic data, and whether manufacturing could make a first-order contribution to long-term growth. First, it examines current and pre-crisis production levels for sub-sectors, as well as the share of manufacturing in U.S. and global GDP. Second, it documents a number of key structural factors contributing to the profitability of the U.S. manufacturing sector (in particular declining labor and energy costs). Third, it explores whether manufacturing could make a first order contribution to U.S. economic growth in the coming decade—on the back of relative cost advantages and the pull from growing shale oil and gas activity in the U.S.
view the IMF United States: Selected Issues paper
Source: IMF
PowerShares DWA SmallCap Technical Leaders Portfolio Passes One-Year Mark
July 26, 2013--LocalShares, Inc. today announced that the Nashville Area ETF (NYSE: NASH), the nation''s first city-based exchange-traded fund (ETF), is anticipated to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE-ARCA) beginning at opening bell on Thursday, August 1st.
The Nashville Area ETF will enable investment in a basket of qualifying Nashville area publicly-traded companies. Opening day shares for NASH will initially be priced at $25 per share and available through any securities broker. The Nashville Area ETF will provide an investment security comprised of publicly traded companies, which are part of middle Tennessee's diverse economy.
view more
Source: LocalShares, Inc.
Epic Fail: An 'F' For Failure to Understand Failed ETF Trades
July 26, 2013--Exchange traded funds, in what has been a relatively short life span compared to other financial products, have erroneously been blamed for everything from increased market volatility to flash crashes.
Give it some time and some folks will probably find a way to blame ETFs for famine, war and Detroit's bankruptcy.
view more
Source: Fox Business
S&P Dow Jones Indices, TMX Group Launch High Income Energy Index
Index Licensed to Guggenheim Investments for ETF Development
July 25, 2013-- S&P Dow Jones Indices and TMX Group announced today the launch of the S&P/TSX High Income Energy Index.
The new index has been licensed by S&P Dow Jones Indices to Guggenheim Investments for an Exchange Traded Fund listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The S&P/TSX High Income Energy Index is designed to measure income producing securities with specific exposure to the Energy sector. The Index includes the constituent stocks of the S&P/TSX Composite Index that are classified as Energy companies according to the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), that also meet specific yield requirements.
view more
Source: Standard & Poor's Canadian Index Operations
Silver ETF holdings soar as retail interest returns
The tonnage of silver bullion bars held by the U.S. silver ETF increased 144 tonnes, or 1.4 percent, on Wednesday to 10,428 tonnes, a two-month high
July 25, 2013--The world's largest silver-backed exchange-traded fund iShares Silver Trust posted its biggest one-day jump in holdings since January as a rebound in silver prices triggered resurgent buying from longer-term retail investors, analysts said on Thursday.
The tonnage of silver bullion bars held by the U.S. silver ETF increased 144 tonnes, or 1.4 percent, on Wednesday to 10,428 tonnes, a two-month high.
view more
Source: MineWeb
WisdomTree Launches Industry's First U.S. SmallCap Dividend Growth Fund (DGRS)
New exposure to small-cap dividend growth leaders who may be well positioned for rising interest rates, improving U.S. economy
July 25, 2013--WisdomTree (NASDAQ: WETF), an exchange-traded fund ("ETF") sponsor and asset manager, today announced the launch of the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Growth Fund (DGRS) on the NASDAQ Stock Market.
DGRS is designed to provide exposure to small-cap dividend-paying stocks with growth characteristics and has an expense ratio of 0.38%.
Jeremy Schwartz, WisdomTree Director of Research, said, "WisdomTree’s family of dividend growth ETFs offer a unique, forward-looking dividend growth methodology. A number of dividend growth indexes focus on backward-looking dividend-screening criteria that we believe exclude many dividend initiators and fast-growers that are often found in the small-cap arena. DGRS is the first, and only, strategy focusing on the U.S. market’s small-cap dividend growth leaders, a segment we believe offers some of the most attractive dividend growth opportunities."
view more SIFMA Releases Mid-Year 2013 Economic Forecast view the SIFMA Mid-Year 2013 Economic Outlook PowerShares DWA SmallCap Technical Leaders Portfolio Passes One-Year Mark Since inception, the PowerShares DWA SmallCap Technical Leaders Portfolio (DWAS) has outperformed the Russell 2000 Index market-cap weighted benchmark by a margin of 9.44%. For the one-year period ending July 19, 2013, DWAS achieved a total return of 41.84% based on NAV, outperforming the Russell 2000 Index which had a total return of 32.40% during the same period. (Note: total return figures include all dividends).1
view more
Source: WisdomTree
July 24, 2013-SIFMA's Economic Advisory Roundtable today released its outlook for the second half of 2013 and predictions for 2014, forecasting that the economy will grow at a rate of 1.7 percent in full-year 2013 and 2.6 percent in 2014.
"Our Roundtable maintains their forecast for moderate economic growth for 2013 and 2014, with upside and downside drivers varied among respondents," said Kyle Brandon, managing director and director of research at SIFMA. "Generally, the continued housing recovery and low energy prices were seen as positive drivers of growth, while external factors such as Europe and emerging markets featured as the downside risks to the economy."
Source: SIFMA
PowerShares Momentum ETF Assets Increase Over 50% in 2013
July 24, 2013--Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC, a leading global provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), today celebrates the one-year anniversary of the PowerShares DWA SmallCap Technical Leaders(TM) Portfolio (DWAS).
Listed July 19, 2012, the PowerShares DWA SmallCap Technical Leaders Portfolio is part of the broad suite of DWA Technical Leaders™ ETFs covering US, developed and emerging market segments.
Source: Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC
