Global ETF News Older than One Year
SGX and STOXX reach consensus on licensing of the EURO STOXX 50 Index
March 10, 2010--Singapore Exchange (SGX) and STOXX Ltd. (STOXX), a global index provider and the creator of the leading European equity indices, today announced that they have reached a consensus on a licence agreement which will allow the SGX to list U.S. dollar denominated EURO STOXX 50® Index futures and options on futures.
Subject to regulatory approval, the targeted launch date for the U.S. dollar denominated futures and options on futures contracts will be in the second half of 2010. The EURO STOXX 50 Index is Europe’s most successful equity index. It is weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization, and each component's weight is capped at 10% of the index's total free-float market capitalization. The EURO STOXX 50 Index represents 50 supersector leaders in the 12 Euro zone countries Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. It captures approximately 60% of the free-float market capitalization of the EURO STOXX TMI Index, and is widely used as an underlying index for financial products globally.
Source: STOXX
NYSE Euronext Announces Trading Volumes for February 2010 ...
European Derivatives Trading Volumes Increase 44% on Stronger Fixed Income Product Activity;
Largest U.S. Equity Options Exchange Group with Market Share of 27% in February 2010;
European Cash Trading Volumes Increase 9%
March 10, 2010--NYSE Euronext (NYX) today announced trading volumes for its global derivatives and cash equities exchanges for February 2010[1].
Derivatives trading volumes in February 2010 recorded strong year-over-year growth, with European derivatives volumes increasing 44.2% and U.S. options trading volumes increasing 56.4%. Cash equities trading volumes were mixed in February 2010, with European cash transactions increasing 9.1% and U.S. cash equities trading volumes declining 35.7% from prior year elevated levels. Both European and U.S. cash trading volumes, however, remain above fourth quarter 2009 levels.
Source: NYSE Euronext
National Stock Exchange Of India And CME Group Announce Cross-Listing Relationship
March 10, 2010--The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), the largest stock exchange in India, and CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced cross-listing arrangements, including license agreements covering benchmark indexes for U.S. and Indian equities. The parties have also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with respect to other areas of potential cooperation, including related to development and distribution of financial products and services.
Under the cross-listing arrangements, the S&P CNX Nifty Index (the Nifty 50), the leading Indian benchmark index for large companies accounting for 22 sectors of the Indian economy, will be made available to Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), for the creation and listing of U.S. dollar denominated futures contracts for trading on CME, and the rights to the S&P 500® and Dow Jones Industrial Average™ (DJIA®) will also be made available to NSE for the creation and (subject to regulatory approval) listing of Rupee-denominated futures contracts for trading on NSE. The license to the Nifty 50 from NSE's affiliate India Index Services & Products Ltd. (IISL), which is exclusive to CME Group within the Americas and Europe, is in addition to the existing licensing arrangement between Singapore Exchange Ltd. (SGX) and IISL. The sublicenses to the S&P 500 and DJIA indexes, which are exclusive to NSE for Rupee-denominated futures contracts traded within India, are being made available via sublicenses from CME Group and each of Standard & Poor's and Dow Jones, respectively.
Source: CME Group
NASDAQ OMX Commemorates Its 20-Year Anniversary In Silicon Valley
World's Largest Exchange Celebrates Innovation And Entrepreneurship Of America's Game-changers
March 10, 2010--The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) will celebrate the 20-year anniversary of its presence in California's Silicon Valley on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. To mark the milestone, NASDAQ OMX will host several events including remote Opening and Closing Bell ceremonies from San Jose City Hall, and a press briefing to discuss NASDAQ OMX's initiatives, prospects for the valley and its IPO market.
During the remote Closing Bell ceremony, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed will deliver a proclamation naming March 16, 2010 "NASDAQ Day" in honor of the exchange company's significance to Silicon Valley and its role in supporting economic growth over the last 20 years and in the future. In 1990, NASDAQ OMX established its office in Palo Alto, and it is currently based on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California.
Bruce Aust, Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Client Group, NASDAQ OMX, commented, "We are proud that NASDAQ OMX established a presence in the Valley when many of today's major office parks were still fruit orchards. We are also proud to have served as the capital formation engine for so many Valley companies who have truly changed the world. The Silicon Valley area is a unique eco-system that cities all over the world have tried to emulate, and we will continue to play an important role in that growth well into the future."
With 513 listed companies from California and 203 companies from Silicon Valley listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market, the world's largest exchange company has also seen increased listings momentum through IPOs and listing applications since the second half of 2009. Since 2009, NASDAQ OMX has won 41 IPOs that have raised $8.3 billion. Currently the exchange has 102 listing applications in the pipeline from sectors including biotech, technology, and social media. There are 28 companies in Silicon Valley that are part of the NASDAQ-100 index, seven of which are headquartered in San Jose.
Mark Heesen, President of the National Venture Capital Association said, "Over the last 20 years the venture capital industry and NASDAQ have brought to the public markets some of the most exciting and value-added companies trading today. The resulting job creation and innovation have proven to be a tremendous source of economic growth for Silicon Valley and the country. We look forward to working with entrepreneurs to bring more emerging growth companies public on NASDAQ for the next 20 years and beyond."
Credentialed members of the press are invited to attend the NASDAQ OMX Silicon Valley Press Briefing with NASDAQ OMX CEO Bob Greifeld, Executive Vice President Bruce Aust, and San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. The briefing will take place following the remote closing bell from 1:15-2:15 p.m. PST at San Jose City Hall, Room 120. Please RSVP to Marisha.chinsky@nasdaqomx.com.
Source: NASDAQ OMX
Investec To Join FTSE 100 Index
March 10, 2010--South Africa-based investment bank Investec (INVP.L) is set to replace insurance-focussed takeover vehicle Resolution (RSL.L) in the FTSE 100 .FTSE index after the latest quarterly index review on Wednesday.
As at the market close on Tuesday, Resolution was the only blue chip stock below 111th position in a ranking based on market capitalisation, according to index compiler FTSE, setting it up for relegation from the blue chip index.
Source: Reuters
Research and Markets: International Investment & ETFs (Exchange Traded Fund) Review 2010: Comprehensive Guide to Investment Opportunities Worldwide
March 9, 2010--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "International Investment & ETFs Review 2010" report to their offering.
The International Investment & ETFs Review 2010 provides a comprehensive guide to investment opportunities worldwide. Prepared by leading experts from investment banks, law firms and consultancies, the Review contains analysis of securities, debt and equity capital markets, and regulations governing investment worldwide. The Review focuses on significant market trends and developments. The publication serves as a comprehensive guide to the investment market, as well as highlighting opportunities within each specific sector.
Source: Yahoo News
Study to uncover impact of climate change on pension funds
March 9, 2010-- Fourteen pension fund investors and asset owners have signed up to conduct a study with Mercer Consulting to find out what impact climate change will have on the risk and return potential of pension funds.
The giant Norwegian state-owned pension fund and US-based Calpers were the first known names engaging in the project to create a scenario-based framework identifying potential new investment opportunities and future risks for investors in relation to climate change.
Source: IP&E
ETF Landscape: Industry Highlights - End February 2010
March 9, 2010--Highlights
Global ETF and ETP Industry February 2010:
* At the end of February 2010 the global ETF industry had 2,090 ETFs with 3,997 listings, assets of US$1,001.5 Bn, from 115 providers on 40 exchanges around the world.
United States ETF and ETP Industry February 2010:
* At the end of February 2010 the US ETF industry had 807 ETFs, assets of US$678.6 Bn, from 28 providers on two exchanges.
* US domiciled ETFs/ETPs experienced net outflows totalling US$11.8 Bn YTD. Fixed income ETFs saw positive flows with US$5.4 Bn net new assets, while North American equities saw US$14.5 Bn net outflows, and emerging market equities with US$2.6 Bn net outflows.
European ETF and ETP Industry February 2010:
* At the end of February 2010 the European ETF industry had 901 ETFs with 2,490 listings, assets of US$220.1 Bn, from 35 providers on 18 exchanges.
* Net new assets into European domiciled ETFs totalled US$8.7 Bn YTD, with European equities receiving US$2.1 Bn net inflows, followed by fixed income ETFs with US$1.2 Bn and emerging market equity ETFs with US$1.4 Bn net new assets YTD.
Canada ETF and ETP Industry February 2010:
* At the end of February 2010 the Canadian ETF industry had 132 ETFs, assets of US$29.7 Bn, from four providers on one exchange.
Asia Pacific ex-Japan ETF and ETP Industry February 2010:
* At the end of February 2010 the Asia Pacific ex-Japan ETF industry had 137 ETFs with 225 listings, and assets of US$38.0 Bn from 48 providers on 13 exchanges.
Japan ETF and ETP Industry February 2010:
* At the end of February 2010 the Japanese ETF industry had 70 ETFs with assets of US$24.0 Bn from six providers on two exchanges.
Latin America ETF and ETP Industry February 2010:
* At the end of February 2010 the Latin American ETF industry had 20 ETFs with 223 listings, and assets of US$9.3 Bn from three providers on three exchanges.
1 Source: Global ETF Research & Implementation Strategy Team, BlackRock.
Source: Global ETF Research & Implementation Strategy Team, BlackRock.
Russell and NASDAQ OMX to Launch RussellTick
March 9, 2010--Russell Investments and The
NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced that NASDAQ OMX(R)
has been selected as the primary source of real-time index values for
all of Russell's equity indexes via RussellTick™, a new proprietary
data service. Developed by NASDAQ OMX, RussellTick will offer investors
and traders worldwide real-time access to Russell Index values,
including the industry-leading U.S. small-cap Russell 2000(R) Index and
U.S. broad-market Russell 3000(R) Index
In December of 2009, Russell selected NASDAQ OMX to disseminate real-time values for Russell's indexes that reflect the global market, but not the well-known U.S. benchmarks, leveraging NASDAQ OMX's global distribution capabilities through NASDAQ OMX's Global Index Data Service (GIDS). Today's announcement broadens the partnership through the creation of a consolidated primary data service that covers the entire family of Russell Indexes. NASDAQ OMX is scheduled to launch RussellTick on June 1, 2010.
"RussellTick will consolidate all of Russell's intra-day index information for the first time into one data source," said Sara Wilson, regional director for third-party index partners at Russell Investments. "Easy access to real-time index values empowers investors to better gauge market performance and more easily track portfolio investments. We're very pleased to leverage the reliable technology and far-reaching distribution capability of NASDAQ OMX as a single point of access."
"Russell's selection of NASDAQ OMX as an independent provider of its index information is a result of our shared objective of promoting transparency," said Randall Hopkins, Senior Vice President of Global Data Products, NASDAQ OMX. "This development further expands the relationship between our organizations, which share a commitment to providing all market participants access to information in a highly scalable manner."
Russell's and NASDAQ OMX's partnership is made possible by the NASDAQ OMX Global Access program. Global Access enables Russell to distribute its data through one of the largest and most successful data distribution organizations in the world. By leveraging the sales, administrative, technical and brand strength of NASDAQ OMX, Global Access provides customers turn-key access to a premier data business. For details, visit http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/globalaccessprogram.
Source: NASDAQ OMX
Gold May Gain on Concern About Sovereign Debts, Survey Shows
March 5, 2010--Gold may gain on concern about European sovereign debts and rising holdings in exchange-traded funds, a survey showed.
Nineteen of 26 traders, investors and analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, or 73 percent, said bullion would rise next week.
Six forecast lower prices and one was neutral. Gold for delivery in April was up 1.1 percent for this week at $1,131 an ounce at 11:30 a.m. in New York yesterday.
Source: Bloomberg
