New Study Finds That Certain Options- and Futures-Based Benchmark Indexes Could Help Manage Tail Risk of Traditional Indexes
March 12, 2012--The merits of using options-based and futures-based strategy benchmark indexes to hedge and manage tail risk is the subject of a new study-"Key Tools for Hedging and Risk Management"-released today by investment-advisory firm Asset Consulting Group (ACG).
The study, the second of two ACG papers commissioned by Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), compares the performance of "traditional" indexes with the performance of five strategy benchmark indexes that use index options or VIX® futures: the CBOE S&P 500 95-110 Collar Index (CLL), CBOE VIX Tail Hedge Index (VXTH), S&P 500 VIX Mid-term Futures Index (VXMT), S&P 500 Dynamic VIX Futures Index (DyVX), and S&P 500 VIX Futures Tail Risk Index - Short Term (VTRsk).
view the Key Tools for Hedging and Risk Management study
Brazil takes more steps to curb currency
March 12, 2012--Brazil extended the reach of a financial tax on foreign debt on Monday in yet another attempt to slow an avalanche of dollar inflows that has driven up the value of its currency, threatening a fragile economic recovery.
President Dilma Rousseff extended the scope of a 6% tax known as the IOF on foreign borrowing, applying it to debt maturing in up to five years, according to a decree in the government’s official daily gazette on Monday.
Warning on high-yield ETF returns
March 11, 2012--Investors are pouring money into high-yield bond funds as they move to embrace higher risk against a backdrop of desultory yields on investment grade corporate and sovereign bonds.
But some industry figures have warned investors that returns are likely to be significantly lower than those posted by the mainstream high-yield bond indices due to high trading costs and inefficiencies in the market.
Update Monitoring the Economy -US Department of the Treasury
March 9, 2012--The Office of Economic Policy monitors key economic indicators to produce the following summary tables of monthly and quarterly U.S. economic statistics.
view monthly update February 2012
DB Equity Research - North America-US ETF+ Monthly Directory-February 2012 ETPs
March 9, 2012--This document includes all US listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded vehicles (ETVs), plus a special section covering exchange-traded notes (ETNs). The directory is organized by asset class and asset-class-related sub sections.
Within each sub section it has also been sorted. For Equity and Fixed Income ETPs it is sorted by country (or sub region for regional products) in alphabetical order and by AUM in descending order, and for the other ETP asset classes it is sorted by sub sector in alphabetical order and by AUM in descending order. A number of key information points per product has been included in order to enable the reader to get an overview in their respective area of interest. Among the key numeric information we include avg. daily turnover, assets under management, and cash flows (all in $US). If you have any questions for any of the products listed, or any suggestions on how to improve the directory going forward, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Standard & Poor''s Announces Changes In The S&P/TSX Canadian Indices
March 9, 2012--Standard & Poor's Canadian Index Operations announces the following index changes as a result of the Quarterly S&P/TSX Composite Index Review.
These changes will be effective at the open on Monday, March 19, 2012:
CFTC Announces Process to Designate the Provider of CFTC Interim Compliant Identifiers
March 9, 2012--The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is requesting submissions from industry participants who wish to be considered for designation by the Commission as the source for identifiers to be used for identification of swap counterparties in swap recordkeeping and swap data reporting under the jurisdiction of the Commission beginning on July 16, 2012.
Background. The CFTC’s final swap data recordkeeping and reporting rule, 77 FR 2136, requires swap counterparties to be identified in recordkeeping and swap data reporting pursuant to the rule by a legal entity identifier. The rule sets out both technical and governance principles that the identifier used in such reporting must follow. The rule provides that the Commission will determine, prior to the start of swap data reporting on July 16, 2012, based on factors set forth in the rule, whether an identifier system satisfying the requirements of the rule is available to provide identifiers to swap market participants required to comply with the rule. If the Commission determines that an appropriate identifier source is available, the rule calls for the Commission to designate the system as the provider of identifiers to be used in complying with the rule, by means of a Commission order.
CFTC.gov Commitments of Traders Reports Update
March 9, 2012--The current reports for the week of March 6, 2012 are now available.
view update
Van Eck files with the SEC
March 9, 2012--Van Eck has filed a post-effective amendment, registration statement with the SEC for the Global Chemicals ETF.
view filing
FlexShares filed with the SEC
March 9, 2012--FlexShares has filed a third and restated application for exemptive relief with the SEC.Applicants are seeking the Order to permit the Trust to create and operate an actively-managed series of the Trust.
view filing
Arrow Investment Advisers, LLC files with the SEC
March 9, 2012--Arrow Investment Advisers, LLC has filed an application for exemptive relief with the SEC.
view filing
Exchange Traded Concepts Trust files with the SEC
March 9, 2012--Exchange Traded Concepts Trust has filed a post-effective amendment, registration statement with the SEC for the Yorkville High Income MLP ETF.
view filing
SPDR INDEX SHARES FUNDS -SEC Filing
March 9, 2012--A post-effective amendment, registration statement has been filled with the SEC-SPDR INDEX SHARES FUNDS.
view filing
IIF Releases Latin America Regional Economic Overview
March 8, 2012--The Institute of International Finance today released its Latin American Regional Economic Overview which stresses that Latin America has grown increasingly resilient to global disturbances.
The policy response to external shocks has relied heavily on exchange rate flexibility and monetary easing.
The report noted that the regional economy is in the midst of a soft patch due to global headwinds and it underscored that growing exposure to China’s business cycle calls for reinforcement of defenses against terms of trade losses.
The report highlighted the fact that the region’s improved standing is appreciating local currencies, highlighting the need for productivity-enhancing reforms
view the Latin America Regional Overview
Russell files with the SEC
March 8, 2012--Russell has filed post-effective amendment, registration statement with the SEC for the Russell High Dividend Yield ETF (HDIV)
Russell Small Cap High Dividend Yield ETF (DIVS).
view filing