Americas ETP News
If your looking for specific news, using the search function will narrow down the results
Standard Chartered Says It's The Victim In $250 Billion Hidden Transactions Case
August 7, 2012--"In recent weeks, issues have surfaced around governance and behaviour in banking. At Standard Chartered, we believe it is not just about what we do, but how we do it. Our culture and values continue to be a source of strength and a competitive advantage. Strong corporate governance and an obsession with the basics of banking remain key areas of focus for our board."
So read a statement issued by John Pease, chairman of Standard Chartered bank, last week, reports the Guardian. One would assume that the bank has to sing a different tune as of yesterday, when the New York State Department of Financial Services accused the bank of hiding $250 billion worth of transactions with Iran.
view more
Source: CompliancEX
Russell, Scottrade retreat from US ETF market
August 7, 2012--Two recent entrants to the US exchange traded funds market are pulling back, reflecting the intense competitive pressure from the industry's biggest players.
Russell Investments has put its direct US ETF business under review and is "scaling back" its US ETF team. Meanwhile, Scottrade’s FocusShares unit has announced it is liquidating its ETF family at the end of the month.
read mmore
Source: FT.com
Knight Is Said to Have Spurned $500 Million Citadel Loan
August 7, 2012--Knight Capital Group Inc. (KCG) rejected a last-minute, $500 million rescue-loan offer from Citadel LLC on Aug. 5 as it worked on a competing plan from a group of investors, said two people with knowledge of the matter.
The loan terms would have given Citadel a minority stake in Jersey City, New Jersey-based Knight’s stock and an interest in the market maker’s HotSpot foreign-exchange subsidiary, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private. Citadel, the $12.5 billion hedge fund run by billionaire Ken Griffin, competes with Knight’s market-making and electronic-trading business.
read more BofA Merrill Lynch Increases Benefit Plan Assets to $20B The growth the business has seen so far comes as it has boosted its number of plans to about 3,700, up 200 from the same time last year, including 401(k), defined benefit, equity and non-qualified deferred compensation.
read more After Knight, Unfair Knocks Knight Capital Group Notice Regarding Capital Infusion Transaction And Reliance On Exemption To NYSE's Shareholder Approval Policy view more BM&FBOVESPA-Institutional investors lead participation in volume of index funds (ETFs) traded on the Exchange in July view the Click here to access the July Bulletin on ETF activities. Previous months are also available NYSE Euronext Temporarily Re-assigns Knight Capital DMM Responsibilities to GETCO DMM for Certain Securities
Exchange rules permit the temporary reallocation of any security whenever the Exchange believes such reallocation would be in the public interest. Upon Knight Capital Group, Inc.'s completion and approval of a recapitalization plan, all temporarily reassigned NYSE and NYSE MKT securities as well as DMM staff, operations and systems oversight will be returned to Knight Capital Americas in a timely manner.
"We believe this interim transition is in the best interests of investors, our listed issuers, market stability and efficiency, as well as Knight, as the firm finalizes its equity financing transaction," said Larry Leibowitz, Chief Operating Officer, NYSE Euronext. read more Knight Capital Group Completes $400 Million Equity Financing Agreement Infusion of new capital and resulting liquidity will allow Knight to resume normal operations immediately view more
CFTC.gov Financial Data for Futures Commission Merchants Update
Source: Bloomberg
August 7, 2012-- Bank of America Merrill Lynch has grown its new financial benefit plan assets to a record $20 billion this year as it leverages stronger ties between its bank and brokerage forces.
The $20 billion total the firm reached through new and existing company customers as of the end of June surpasses the $19 billion total new assets for that business in 2011 and $17 billion in 2010.
Source: On Wall Street
August 7, 2012--ETF liquidity, electronic trading and rogue algorithms all came under renewed scrutiny in the wake of the Knight Capital debacle. But the pundits got it wrong: The ETF market is liquid and sound.
The recent event at Knight Capital, which was in reality nothing more than a technology glitch, once again gave various media outlets and talking heads an excuse to theorize about issues of liquidity in ETFs and the effects of electronic trading in our market place.
Source: Wealth Management.com
August 6, 2012--Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE Euronext: KCG) today announced that it has issued shares of convertible preferred stock convertible into approximately 267 million shares of common stock pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement entered into by Knight with several purchasers on August 6, 2012 in exchange for an aggregate of $400 million.
This capital infusion was undertaken in response to the extraordinary trading loss experienced by Knight on August 1, 2012, which significantly depleted Knight's capital base and in turn precipitated a loss of customer and counterparty confidence and liquidity crisis that, if not immediately addressed, would have threatened Knight's ability to continue to operate. Today's capital infusion provides the liquidity and capital necessary to restore confidence to customers and the market and enables Knight to continue as an active participant in the capital markets. Because the shares issued represent, on an as-converted basis, approximately 73% of the outstanding common stock of Knight on a post-issuance basis, the issuance of convertible preferred stock would normally have required approval of Knight's stockholders according to the Shareholder Approval Policy of the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange").
Source: Knight Capital Group
August 6, 2012--Institutional investors led with a 35.5% participation of the total volume of index funds (ETFs) traded on the Exchange in July, followed by foreign investors (24.2%), financial institutions (22.6%), individuals (14.5%) and public and private companies (3.2%).
In July, shares of the iShares Ibovespa Index Fund were the most traded on BM&FBOVESPA. The BOVA11 ticker accounted for 89.6% of total volume of ETFs traded on the Exchange.
Source: BM&FBOVESPA
NYSE Euronext Temporarily Re-assigns Knight Capital DMM Responsibilities to GETCO DMM for Certain Securities
Working in cooperation with both firms, interim transfer ensures orderly markets while Knight Capital completes anticipated recapitalization plan
August 6, 2012--In accordance with applicable rules, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NYSE MKT have temporarily assigned custodial responsibility for approximately 524 New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and 156 NYSE MKT listed securities from the Designated Market Maker (DMM) unit of Knight Capital Americas LLC to the DMM of GETCO LLC,
which currently serves some 896 NYSE- and NYSE MKT-assigned securities, effective Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.
Source: NYSE Euronext
August 6, 2012--Knight Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE Euronext: KCG) announced $400 million in equity financing with Wall Street firms including Jefferies Group, Inc., which conceived and structured the investment, as well as Blackstone, GETCO LLC, Stephens, Stifel Financial Corp. and TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation.
"We are grateful for the support of these leading Wall Street firms that came together to invest in Knight," said Tom Joyce, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Knight Capital Group. "The array of participants in this capital infusion underscores Knight's critical role in the capital markets. With our financial position strengthened and liquidity restored, we will continue to provide clients with trading in a broad range of securities, high-quality execution and outstanding client service."
Source: Knight Capital Group
August 6, 2012--Selected FCM financial data as of June 30, 2012 (from reports filed by August 1, 2012) is now available.
view updates
Source: CFTC.gov
