Regulators Issue Joint Staff Review of Firms' Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning
August 16, 2013--The Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight today joined the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in issuing a staff advisory on business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
The advisory follows a joint review by regulators in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which caused widespread damage to Northeastern states and closed U.S. equity and options markets for two days in October 2012. The CFTC’s Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE), and FINRA issued the advisory to encourage firms to review their business continuity plans so as to improve responses to and reduce recovery time after significant large-scale events.
CFTC.gov Commitments of Traders Reports Update
August 16, 2013--The current reports for the week of August 13, 2013 are now available.
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Regulators Issue Joint Staff Review of Firms' Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning
August 16, 2013--The Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight today joined the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in issuing a staff advisory on business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
The advisory follows a joint review by regulators in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which caused widespread damage to Northeastern states and closed U.S. equity and options markets for two days in October 2012. The CFTC’s Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE), and FINRA issued the advisory to encourage firms to review their business continuity plans so as to improve responses to and reduce recovery time after significant large-scale events.
Emerging Global Advisors Launches EGShares EM Dividend High Income ETF (Ticker: EMHD)
EGA and FTSE collaborate to design an index that targets high dividend yield
August 15, 2013-- Emerging Global Advisors (EGA) today launched the EGShares EM Dividend High Income ETF (Ticker: EMHD), an exchange-traded fund (ETF) designed for income-oriented investors.
EMHD tracks an index that has a dividend yield of 8.8%1 (as of 7/31/2013) and screens for emerging market (EM) companies that have consistently generated high income for their shareholders.
“The rise of emerging market-based multinationals has greatly expanded the number of companies with the capacity to sustain high dividend payments,” said Marten Hoekstra, CEO of EGA. “EMHD applies our firm’s emerging market expertise to create a high income solution that can provide investors with a global approach to diversifying income streams."
'Alternative' Investments Draw Flak
Investors Flock to New Risky Products, and Regulators Are Raising Concerns
August 15, 2013--Individual investors are pouring tens of billions of dollars into a new generation of complex investment products, and regulators are raising concerns that not all buyers understand the costs and risks.
Outside scrutiny is intensifying on securities firms' sales practices and whether so-called alternative products—ranging from certain types of mutual funds to vehicles that invest in highly indebted companies-are suitable for all of the Americans flocking to them.
FTSE-linked ETFs reach 100 mark in North America
August 15, 2013--The number of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking a FTSE benchmark in North America has passed 100, following a series of recent listings.
New York-based asset manager Emerging Global Advisors today listed the EGShares EM Dividend High Income ETF on NYSE Arca. The new fund tracks the FTSE Equal Weighted Emerging All Cap ex Taiwan Diversified Dividend Yield 50 Index. The listing follows the launch of two equity ETFs with Vanguard Investments Canada for which FTSE has licensed two indices: FTSE Canada All Cap Index and the FTSE Developed ex North America Index.
First Trust files with the SEC
August 15, 2013--First Trust has filed a post-effective amendment no.1, registration statement with the SEC. This Registration Statement relates to First Trust Morningstar Managed
Futures Strategy Fund.
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Fitch and Fed warn on risks from ETFs
August 14, 2013--Parts of the booming market for exchange traded funds risk worsening broader market sell-offs or triggering crashes, according to two studies released this week.
The reports, from the Federal Reserve and Fitch Ratings, come weeks after a sharp sell-off in fixed income sparked scrutiny of certain ETFs and the structure of the industry, which has grown to a market worth more than $2tn.
S&P Dow Jones Indices Announces Changes To The S&P/TSX Canadian Indices-A Deletion From The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index
August 14, 2013--S&P Dow Jones Canadian Index Services will make the following changes in the S&P/TSX Canadian Indices:
The shares of Balmoral Resources Ltd. (TSXVN:BAR) will be removed from the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index after the close of trading on Thursday, August 15, 2013. The company will graduate to trade on TSX under the same ticker symbol.
Global X Top Guru Holdings Index ETF (GURU) Crosses $100 Million
August 14, 2013--Global X Funds, the $2 billion New York-based provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), today announced its Top Guru Holdings Index ETF (GURU) has crossed the $100 million threshold. It has also been ranked the second best-performing out of 938 large cap core mutual funds and ETFs by Lipper, the fund information and fund ratings company.
A unique fund that invests in the largest equity holdings of established hedge funds, GURU serves as a core domestic equity allocation, providing investor access to investment ideas gathered from some of the industry's top hedge funds.
Fitch: Rising Prominence of ETFs in the U.S. High Yield Market
August 14, 2013--Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are playing a more significant role in U.S. fixed income markets, particularly the corporate high yield segment, according to a Fitch Ratings report.
Although U.S. corporate bond ETF assets total less than 2% of the U.S. corporate bond market, their influence on trading activity is relatively more significant. Average daily trading volumes (on a weekly basis) for the five largest high-yield corporate bond ETFs more than tripled from about $470 million in early May to more than $1.5 billion in early June.
CFTC Issues Proposed Rules for Derivatives Clearing Organizations to Align with International Standards
August 13, 2013--The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) proposed rules to establish additional standards for systemically important derivatives clearing organizations (SIDCOs) that are consistent with the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures (PFMIs) and address all of the remaining gaps between part 39 of the Commission's regulations and the PFMIs.
These rules, together with the existing derivatives clearing organizations rules, would establish standards that are consistent with the PFMIs and would allow SIDCOs to continue to be Qualifying Central Counterparties (QCCPs) for purposes of international bank capital standards.
CFTC Adopts Harmonization Rules for Registered Investment Companies
August 13, 2013--The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today issued a final rule with respect to certain compliance obligations for commodity pool operators (CPOs) of investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that are required to register due to the recent changes to Commission Regulation 4.5.
For entities that are registered with both the CFTC and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the CFTC will accept the SEC’s disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping regime as substituted compliance for substantially all of Part 4 of the CFTC’s regulations, so long as they comply with comparable requirements under the SEC’s statutory and regulatory compliance regime. Thus, the final rule allows dually registered entities to meet certain CFTC regulatory requirements for CPOs by complying with SEC rules to which they are already subject.
Nasdaq to take on greater policing role on its stock exchange
August 13, 2013--Nasdaq OMX Group Inc plans to assume a greater role in the policing of its U.S. stock exchange, according to a regulatory filing, in a move that follows calls by Wall Street for an end to the self-regulatory status of exchanges.
As self-regulatory organizations (SROs), exchanges are responsible for monitoring and enforcing their members' compliance with securities laws and exchange rules.
DB-Synthetic Equity & Index Strategy-North America-US ETF Handbook Series - ETF investments for a European recovery
August 13, 2013--A Comprehensive Guide for European ETF Investing
Full coverage of US-listed equity ETFs featuring 47 different regional and country products with details, analytics, comparisons, and commentaries.
Europe holds positive surprise potential and opportunities
Deutsche Bank strategists and economists see developed economies accelerating. Within the developed world, they see the Eurozone entering a cyclical recovery which should help Europe to emerge from recession during H2 2013. In addition, DB strategists see greater positive surprise potential in Europe than in the US, economically as well as earnings-wise.
The House View is strategically bullish on Europe
Broad European exposure or selective country exposure including Germany, France, Italy, and Spain are attractive on Europe recovery hopes and impressive sequentially developing PMIs. Sector-wise, domestic cyclical sectors such as banks, insurance, construction, media, and autos continue to seem more attractive than defensive sectors such as food & beverages. Sell-offs would provide attractive entry points.
ETF flows support fundamental bullish views on Europe
Recent flows into US-listed long-only European-focused ETFs have exhibited the strongest trend momentum from among all major regional exposures. Moreover, this trend has been strong at both broad and single-country benchmarked-ETFs, and has attracted inflows of $2.4bn and $3.0bn in the last 3 months, respectively.
Seven ETF ideas to engage in a European recovery
We provide seven specific ETF ideas to implement DB's views for Europe (Figure 1). In addition, we provide details and analysis for all 47 ETFs offering European regional and country exposure. Products offer access to broad markets, strategies (e.g. currency hedged, dividends, factors), sectors (Financials and Real Estate), and size segments. Content is organized in a way that facilitates peer-to-peer comparisons.
Visit https://eqindex.db.com/etf/ for report