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Direxion files with the SEC
August 30, 2010--Direxion has filed a post-effective amendment, registration statement with the SEC.
view filing
Statement on High-Speed and Algorithmic Trading
August 30. 2010--Commissioner Bart Chilton
This week, news articles reported what may be yet another example of high-speed trading run amok. It was reported that an “error” caused the price of oil to spike by a dollar on NYMEX in a matter of seconds back in February. Whether it was truly an error or not, the fact is that high-speed computerized trading has caused tectonic plate shifts in the way market participants engage in financial trading and investing.
But are these new types of high frequency traders (HFTs) truly contributing to fundamental capital formation, risk management and price discovery functions of our markets, or are they "sideline" trading, on the edges of the real markets? There is a good argument to be made that "parasitical trading" doesn't truly contribute to fundamental market functions. While I'm not saying all HFT is inimical to the markets, I think there's a great possibility that some of it is. There may be some Cyber Cowboys out there and they could be giving respectable traders a bad name, while not contributing much to basic market functions.
I continue to say that without HFTs, the Flash Crash of May 6 wouldn't have been so volatile. I'm also not ruling out that these new players may have sought false profits from the Flash Crash by arbitraging using price quotes from market feed delays. I also continue to believe we need to ensure that these delays in price quotes were not instigated by HFTs at a time when exchange servers were not at full capacity due to system upgrade work. I said this several weeks ago and remain concerned that these issues be fully examined to ensure we have looked for all potential smoking guns from these Cyber Cowboys.
In general, we as regulators must get a better handle on overseeing high frequency and algorithmic trading. We know we can have serious problems when prices can change so much and so rapidly, and we have to find ways for the market to pause and "take a deep breath" when that starts to happen. Regulators have a responsibility to step it up and get ahead of the game in this area--otherwise, the American consumer will continue to pay the price for any problems caused by what may be harmful new trading technologies.
CFTC Releases Final Rules Regarding Retail Forex Transactions
August 30, 2010-- The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today announced the publication in the Federal Register of final regulations concerning off-exchange retail foreign currency transactions. The rules implement provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which, together, provide the CFTC with broad authority to register and regulate entities wishing to serve as counterparties to, or to intermediate, retail foreign exchange (forex) transactions.
“These rules of the road will help protect the American public in the largest area of retail fraud that the CFTC oversees: retail foreign exchange,” CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler said. “All CFTC registrants involved in soliciting and selling retail forex contracts to consumers will now have to comply with rules to protect the investing public. This is also the first final rule that the Commission has published to implement the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. We look forward to publishing additional rules to protect the American public.”
The final forex rules put in place requirements for, among other things, registration, disclosure, recordkeeping, financial reporting, minimum capital and other business conduct and operational standards. Specifically, the regulations require the registration of counterparties offering retail foreign currency contracts as either futures commission merchants (FCMs) or retail foreign exchange dealers (RFEDs), a new category of registrant. Persons who solicit orders, exercise discretionary trading authority or operate pools with respect to retail forex also will be required to register, either as introducing brokers, commodity trading advisors, commodity pool operators (as appropriate) or as associated persons of such entities. “Otherwise regulated” entities, such as United States financial institutions and SEC-registered brokers or dealers, remain able to serve as counterparties in such transactions under the oversight of their primary regulators.
The final rules include financial requirements designed to ensure the financial integrity of firms engaging in retail forex transactions and robust customer protections. For example, FCMs and RFEDs are required to maintain net capital of $20 million plus 5 percent of the amount, if any, by which liabilities to retail forex customers exceed $10 million. Leverage in retail forex customer accounts will be subject to a security deposit requirement to be set by the National Futures Association within limits provided by the Commission. All retail forex counterparties and intermediaries will be required to distribute forex-specific risk disclosure statements to customers and comply with comprehensive recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
State Street files with the SEC
August 27, 2010--State State (SPDR SERIES TRUST) has filed a post-effective amendement, registration statement with the SEC.
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Van Eck files with the SEC
Augsut 27, 2010--Van Eck has filed a third amended and restated application for exemptive relief with the SEC.
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John Hancock files with SEC
August 27, 2010--John Hancock Advisors has filed an amended and restated application for exemptive relief with the SEC.
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WisdomTree files with the SEC
August 27, 2010--WisdomTree has filed an amended and restated Application for exemptive relief with the SEC.
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Van Eck files with the SEC
August 27, 2010--Van Eck has filed a post-effective amendment, registration statement with the SEC for
High-Yield Municipal Index ETF
(HYD)
Intermediate Municipal Index ETF
(ITM)
Long Municipal Index ETF
(MLN)
Pre-Refunded Municipal Index ETF
(PRB)
Short Municipal Index ETF
(SMB)
iShares files with the SEC
August 27, 2010--iShares has filed a post-effective amendment, registration statement with the SEC for
iShares Cohen & Steers Realty Majors Index Fund.
view filing
National Income and Product Accounts; Gross Domestic Product, 2nd quarter 2010 (second estimate); Corporate Profits, 2nd quarter 2010 (preliminary estimate)
August 27, 2010--Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property
located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the second quarter of 2010,
(that is, from the first quarter to the second quarter), according to the "second" estimate released by the
Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP increased 3.7 percent.
The GDP estimates released today are based on more complete source data than were available for
the "advance" estimate issued last month. In the advance estimate, the increase in real GDP was 2.4
percent (see "Revisions" on page 3).
The increase in real GDP in the second quarter primarily reflected positive contributions from nonresidential fixed investment, personal consumption expenditures, exports, federal government spending, private inventory investment, and residential fixed investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.
The deceleration in real GDP in the second quarter primarily reflected a sharp acceleration in imports and a sharp deceleration in private inventory investment that were partly offset by an upturn in residential fixed investment, an acceleration in nonresidential fixed investment, an upturn in state and local government spending, and an acceleration in federal government spending.
CFTC.gov Commitments of Traders Reports Update
August 27, 2010--CFTC.gov Commitments of Traders Reports have been updated for the week of August 24, 2010.
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Standard & Poor's Announces Changes In The S&P/TSX Canadian Indices
August 27, 2010--Standard & Poor's Canadian Index Operations announces the following index changes:
The shareholders of Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation (TSX:GNA) have accepted the $US11.00 cash per share offer from Gerdau S.A. Gerdau Ameristeel will be removed from the S&P/TSX Composite and Capped Composite, the S&P/TSX Equity and Capped Equity, the S&P/TSX Completion and Equity Completion, the S&P/TSX Capped Materials and the S&P/TSX Clean Technology Indices effective after the close of trading on Tuesday, August 31, 2010.
The shareholders of Lihir Gold Limited (Nasdaq:LIHR) have accepted the share exchange offer from Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX:NCM) under a Merger Implementation Agreement. The shares of Lihir Gold will be removed from the S&P/TSX Global Gold and Global Mining indices after the close of trading on Friday, August 27, 2010.
Company additions to and deletions from an S&P equity index do not in any way reflect an opinion on the investment merits of the company.
RevenueShares files with the SEC
August 27, 2010--RevenueShares has a filed a post-effective amendment, registration statement with the SEC for
RevenueShares Large Cap Fund(RWL)
RevenueShares Mid Cap Fund (RWK)
RevenueShares Small Cap Fund (RWJ)
RevenueShares Financials Sector Fund (RWW)
RevenueShares ADR Fund(RTR)
RevenueShares Navellier Overall A-100 Fund
NASDAQ OMX and DWS Investments Launch Volatility Target Index to Manage Investment Risk
Augsut 26, 2010-- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) and DWS Investments, the U.S. retail unit of Deutsche Bank's global Asset Management division, today jointly announce the launch of the DWS NASDAQ-100 Volatility Target Index (Nasdaq:VOLNDX), a new benchmark designed to provide exposure to the NASDAQ-100 Index(R) in a risk-controlled manner.
"The ability to manage risk cannot be overemphasized in these volatile market conditions," said NASDAQ OMX Executive Vice President John Jacobs. "The DWS NASDAQ-100 Volatility Target Index incorporates a volatility control mechanism, providing investors with adequate levels of exposure to world-class companies while simultaneously limiting risk."
The Index provides variable exposure to the NASDAQ-100 Index using a volatility control mechanism designed to limit risk by dynamically adjusting exposure between the NASDAQ-100 Index (the "NASDAQ Component") and a cash investment (the "Cash Component"). As the volatility of the NASDAQ-100 Index increases, the Index decreases exposure to the NASDAQ-100 Index. As volatility decreases, exposure to the NASDAQ-100 Index increases, potentially becoming leveraged. For more information on the DWS NASDAQ-100 Volatility Target Index, including index methodology, visit NASDAQ.com/indexes.
"Recent market events combined with changing demographics have altered the investment landscape," said Chris Warren, Managing Director and Head of Structured Products Americas at DWS Investments. "Consequently, investment objectives are more complex than just going long the market - investing in a risk-controlled manner is critical given an increased focus upon wealth preservation."
Included in the NASDAQ-100 Index are the 100 largest domestic and international non-financial securities reflecting companies across major industry groups including computer hardware and software, telecommunications, retail/wholesale trade and biotechnology listed on the NASDAQ. For more information about the NASDAQ-100 Index, including detailed eligibility criteria, visit NASDAQ.com/indexes.
CFTC to Publish Federal Register Notice Seeking Public Input on Areas of Rulemaking to Implement the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
August 26, 2010- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today announced that it will publish in the Federal Register a notice seeking public input on the CFTC’s proposed rulemaking areas to implement the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
“The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act will greatly improve transparency and lower risk in the derivatives markets,” CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler said. “The CFTC is charged with writing rules to effectively and comprehensively implement the Dodd-Frank Act. We look forward to hearing the views of the public on this important rulemaking process both before we write the rules and after we published proposed rules.”
The CFTC on July 21, 2010, released the list of 30 areas of rulemaking for over-the-counter derivatives to implement the Act (see CFTC Press Release 5856-10, July 21, 2010).
Instructions for submitting input are in the Federal Register notice. Public input will be posted in their entirety on the Commission’s website.
