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U.S. Leveraged Market Quarterly
October 27, 2010--Corporate Credit Themes
Although market fears of a double-dip recession appeared to peak in August and recede somewhat in September, recently released economic data have once again led the market to regard a stagnating economy as the biggest risk factor that could potentially derail the corporate credit recovery moving into 2011.
Sector Spotlight: Media & Entertainment
The media & entertainment sector significantly over-indexed the corporate bond default rate in
2009. Thus far in 2010, from an operating perspective, advertising revenue has rebounded off
of 2009 trough levels. Through the first six months of 2010, advertising is up over 5%. The recovery has been broad based across subsectors, with only newspapers and Yellow Pages still
posting declines. Fitch’s base case for 2011 anticipates a modest growth scenario that should support ad growth of 1%–3% even with the absence of the Olympics and lower political spend.
Sector Spotlight: Latin America The Latin America corporate issuers have performed relatively well since the financial crisis began in the middle of 2007. Only eight cross-border issuers defaulted during this time period. The overall credit quality of Fitch’s lowest rated companies in the region is relatively healthy and the trends are positive.
U.S. High Yield Default Trends
The U.S. default rate continued to trend lower this quarter with eight issuer defaults affecting a combined $2.5 billion in bonds. On a trailing 12-month basis, the default rate fell to 3.5% at the end of September, down from 4.5% at the end of June and 13.7% at the end of 2009. The default rate is expected to finish 2010 at roughly 1%-one of the lowest levels on record according to Fitch’s High Yield Par Default Index.
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Source: Fitch Ratings
U.S. Department of the Treasury Economic Statistics - Monthly Data Update
October 27, 2010--The Monthly Data for U.S. Department of the Treasury has recently been updated, and is now available.
view update
Source: U.S. Deaprtment of the Treasury
Retail investors now piling in to ETFs, says Schwab
October 27, 2010--Over the last six months, The Charles Schwab Corp. has seen flows from individual investors in exchange-traded funds surpass flows from registered investment advisers, marking the first time ever this has happened.
Overall, the ratio of ETF assets held between advisers and investors is 50-50, Peter Crawford, senior vice president of investment management services at Schwab, said in an interview at Schwab's Impact conference, which is being held in Boston this week.
“Registered investment advisers are early adopters,” Mr. Crawford said. But now that investors have a better sense of what ETFs are, they are more comfortable investing in them, he said.
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Source: Investment News
Global X files with the SEC
October 27, 2010--Global X has filed a post effective amendment, registration statement with the SEC for
Global X Gold Explorers ETF
NYSE Arca, Inc: GLDX
view filing
Source: SEC.gov
Barclays Announces Reverse Split of iPath® S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures™ Exchange Traded Notes
October 27, 2010--Barclays Bank PLC announced today that it will implement a 1 for 4 reverse split of its iPath® S&P 500 VIX Short-Term FuturesTM Exchange Traded Notes (the “Notes”) effective Tuesday, November 9, 2010. The Notes trade on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol VXX and on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under ticker symbols VXX and VXX.U.
Barclays Bank PLC has the right (but not the obligation) to initiate such a reverse split if the closing indicative value of the Notes falls below $25.00 on any business day, as described in the pricing supplement relating to the Notes. On October 25, 2010, the closing indicative value of the Notes was $12.68.
The record date for the reverse split will be the close of business, New York time, on November 8, 2010. The closing indicative value of the Notes on the record date will be multiplied by four to determine the reverse-split adjusted value of the Notes. The reverse split will be effective at the open of trading on November 9, 2010 and the Notes will begin trading on the NYSE Arca and the TSX on a reverse-split adjusted basis on such date. The reverse-split adjusted Notes will have a new CUSIP, but will retain the same ticker symbols.
Investors who, as of the record date, hold a number of Notes that is not divisible by four will receive one reverse-split adjusted Note for every four Notes held on the record date and a cash payment for any odd number of Notes remaining (the “partials”). The cash amount due on any partials will be determined on November 16, 2010, based on the closing indicative value of the reverse-split adjusted Notes on such date and will be paid by Barclays Bank PLC on November 19, 2010.
For more information regarding the reverse split process, see the pricing supplement relating to the Notes under the heading “Valuation of the ETNs—Split or Reverse Split” and the Frequently Asked Questions document “iPath® ETNs Splits and Reverse Splits.” The pricing supplement can be found on EDGAR, the SEC website at: www.sec.gov. The pricing supplement and Frequently Asked Questions are also available on www.iPathETN.com.
Source: Barclays
"Financial Reform, What's Next? A US and Global Perspective Examining the Opportunities and Challenges Ahead", Georgetown University
Commissioner Jill E. Sommers
October 26, 2010--Good afternoon. It is an honor to be here today to discuss the current state of regulatory reform at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where I think the CFTC will be heading in the next year or so, and what I believe are some of the more difficult challenges that the CFTC and market participants will face as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is implemented.
But first, a little background. Commodity futures markets have existed in the U.S. since the 1800s and have been regulated at the federal level in one form or another since the Cotton Futures Act was passed in 1916. The Grain Futures Act of 1922 followed, which was replaced by the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA or Act) in 1936. At that time, futures markets were confined to agricultural products and so oversight logically fell to the Department of Agriculture. By the 1970s, when Congress created the CFTC as an independent regulatory agency, most futures trading was still limited to the agricultural sector and swaps markets had not yet developed. Exchange trading took place in open outcry pits where floor brokers wearing colorful jackets flashed hand signals and jostled each other for position. Back then, co-location meant that a firm’s trading desk was closer to the pit than another firm’s desk, or a firm’s broker was taller than other traders and more easily seen by potential counterparties. Although a small percentage of trading is still devoted to agricultural products and limited open outcry trading still exists, today’s global markets include a vast array of futures and options on financial, energy and metals products electronically executed at lightning speed. Over the past 20 years, trading in over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives or swaps also gained traction. And now these markets dwarf exchange traded futures.
As the markets have evolved, so has regulation. While the CFTC’s mission has always been to protect and foster the crucial risk management and price discovery functions of futures markets by detecting and deterring fraud, manipulation and abusive trading practices, Congress has amended the Commission’s mandate in significant ways over the years to respond to changing market conditions and prevailing regulatory philosophies.
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Source: CFTC.gov
Statement on Support of the Dodd-Frank Rulemaking of Chairman Gary Gensler
October 27, 2010--Statements for the record on each rule:
Anti-Manipulation Rulemaking
I support the proposed rulemaking to enhance the Commission’s ability to protect against manipulation. Today’s rule builds upon important new authorities that Congress granted the Commission to protect market participants in the commodities, futures and swaps markets. Together with the authority granted by Congress to prohibit disruptive trading, this proposed rule gives the Commission the broad new ability to effectively combat fraud and manipulation. The proposed rulemaking promotes fair and efficient markets, for the first time allowing the Commission to protect against fraud-based manipulation. I thank Senator Cantwell for her leadership in bringing this important new authority to the Commission.
Disruptive Trading Practices Rulemaking
I support the proposed Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning disruptive trading practices. Congress expressly prohibited three trading practices that it deemed were disruptive of fair and equitable trading. In addition, Congress granted the Commission authority to prohibit other trading practices that are disruptive of fair and equitable trading. Today’s advanced notice of proposed rulemaking asks 18 questions, the answers to which will inform moving forward with a proposed rule on this issue. Commission staff also will lead a roundtable on December 2 on disruptive trading practices. I am particularly interested in hearing from the public on algorithmic trading. In addition to the public comments and the December 2 roundtable, we will benefit from the input of the Joint CFTC-SEC Advisory Committee on Emerging Regulatory Issues.
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Source: CFTC.gov
Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) Reports to Congress Update
October 26, 2010--The Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program has issued a Quarterly Report to Congress dated October 26, 2010.
view the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) Quarterly Report to Congress October 26, 2010
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury
BlackRock Forms Global iShares Investment Strategy Group
Russ Koesterich Appointed iShares Chief Investment Strategist
October 26, 2010--BlackRock, Inc. today announced that its iShares(R) Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) business, the world's largest provider of ETFs, has created the Global iShares Investment Strategy Group and appointed Russ Koesterich as Global Chief Investment Strategist to lead the team. The creation of the investment strategy group and the position of a dedicated ETF Chief Investment Strategist is in response to strong interest from clients about ETF investment trends and insights.
"Clients are increasingly asking us our views on markets around the world in which iShares offers access and liquidity, and our expertise on how to manage portfolios in various market conditions," said Michael Latham, Global Head of iShares at BlackRock. "The creation of the Global iShares Investment Strategy Group is a natural progression of our partnership with clients and our commitment to deliver to them the best services on top of the largest ETF offering."
The Global iShares Investment Strategy Group will provide clients with insights on a variety of economic and investment topics, covering the asset classes, sectors and markets in which iShares offers access to investors. The group is a key component of the business' effort to offer an investment platform that includes not only the largest ETF product lineup in the market, but also high-quality investment expertise ranging from broad market insights to customized investment solutions. The group will work closely with the wider iShares research, product and client teams, as well as the larger BlackRock organization to leverage the large collection of investment professionals for the benefit of iShares clients.
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Source: BlackRock, Inc
iShares files with the SEC
October 26, 2010--iShares has filed a Form S-1 registration statement with the SEC for
iShares Copper Trust.
view filing
Source: SEC.gov