TABB Group: US Futures Industry Set for Renewed Growth Due to Rising Focus on Risk Management and Advanced Execution Methodologies
January 12, 2010--According to TABB Group in a new industry benchmark study, “Trends in US Futures Trading: The Buy Side Perspective,” the US futures industry is set to rebound in 2010 after trading volume suffered its first decline since 1995.
The combination of stricter risk controls across the brokerage industry and closure of hedge and proprietary trading funds – “more than 2,000 have blown up or disappeared in a cloud of smoke” - were key factors behind the 23% volume decline in 2009. Based on a TABB estimate, trading is projected to surge 14% in 2010 as interest rate volume recovers.
While risk management has always been critical, traders tell TABB they have a new view of risk and reward, says Andy Nybo, a principal at TABB, head of derivatives and author of the study. “True, the bad news is that volume’s down, but there is plenty of good news ahead. Trading activity is beginning to stabilize, with pockets of strength in core asset classes such as energy, commodities and foreign exchange beginning to accelerate. As trading volume returns, rising open interest indicates that participants are using futures for ‘longer term’ risk management and commercial strategies.”
Nybo believes that futures will continue to become a more important weapon in the trader’s arsenal of tools used to manage risk and enhance exposure in desired asset classes. “The events of the past year are clearly focusing attention on the use of futures as a way to better manage exposures across a broad range of asset classes.”
Source: TABB Group
Global ETF assets break through $1 trillion milestone at the end of 2009
January 13, 2010--Highlights
Global ETF and ETP Industry 2009:
* Global ETF assets have hit an all time high of US$1,032 Bn at year end 2009; 4.3% above the previous all time high of US$982 Bn set in November 2009.
* At the end of December 2009 the global ETF industry had 1,939 ETFs with 3,775 listings and assets of $1,032.3 Bn, from 109 providers on 40 exchanges around the world.
* Globally, net sales of mutual funds (excluding ETFs) were US$13.3 Bn, while net sales of ETFs were US$93.8 Bn during the first nine months of 2009 according to Strategic Insight.
* Additionally, there were 619 other Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) with assets of US$154.52 Bn from 40 providers on 19 exchanges.
* Combined, there were 2,558 products with 4,687 listings and assets of US$1,186.5 Bn from 132 providers on 43 exchanges around the world.
US ETF and ETP Industry 2009:
* US ETF assets have hit an all time high of US$705 Bn at year end 2009 which tops the previous all time high of US$665 Bn set in November 2009.
* At the end of December 2009 the US ETF industry had 772 ETFs and assets of $705.5 Bn, from 28 providers on two exchanges.
* In the US, net sales of mutual funds (excluding ETFs) were minus US$131.5 Bn, while net sales of ETFs domiciled in the US were positive US$64.0 Bn in the first nine months of 2009 according to Strategic Insight.
* Additionally, there were 142 other Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) with assets of US$88.1 Bn from 17 providers on one exchange.
* Combined, there were 914 products with assets of US$793.6 Bn from 41 providers on two exchanges in the US.
European ETF and ETP Industry 2009:
* European ETF assets have hit an all time high of US$223 Bn at year end 2009 which is 3.1% above the previous all time high of US$217 Bn set in November 2009 and 39.7% above the high of US$160 Bn recorded in July 2008.
* At the end of December 2009 the European ETF industry had 821 ETFs with 2,359 listings and assets of $223.5 Bn, from 32 providers on 18 exchanges.
* In Europe net sales of mutual funds (excluding ETFs) were US$210.5 Bn while net sales of ETFs domiciled in Europe were US$36.5 Bn during the first ten months of 2009 according to Lipper FMI.
* Additionally, there were 184 other Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) with assets of US$19.1 Bn from six providers on six exchanges.
* Combined, there were 1,005 products with assets of US$242.6 Bn from 34 providers on 18 exchanges in Europe.
Source: ETF Research and Implementation Strategy, Blackrock
NASDAQ Announces 2009 New Listings Statistics
January 12, 2010--The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.
(Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced that The NASDAQ Stock Market(R) (NASDAQ)
captured a total of 131 new listings in 2009. Included were 33 initial
public offerings, more than any other U.S. exchange.
The new listings are comprised of the following categories:
4th Qtr 2009 2009 Total ------------ ---------- Total New Listings 64 131 NYSE Group Switches 10 24 Initial Public Offerings 18 33 Upgrades from Over-the-Counter 22 47 ETFs, Structured Products & Other Listings 14 27
NASDAQ OMX captured in 2009 $157 billion in global market capitalization from NYSE Group companies that switched to NASDAQ.
NASDAQ had 5 companies transfer from the New York Stock Exchange in the fourth quarter, the most switches ever in a single quarter. The transfers include global telecommunication company Vodafone Group (Nasdaq:VOD), which commands a global market capitalization of $120 billion, BMC Software (Nasdaq:BMC), a provider of technology solutions to large enterprises, integrated telecommunication provider Windstream (Nasdaq:WIN) and semiconductor pioneers Cypress Semiconductor (Nasdaq: CY) and Micron Technology (Nasdaq:MU). NASDAQ also welcomed 5 transfers from NYSE Amex during the fourth quarter including Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (Nasdaq:ROIC), a retail focused real estate investment trust, and Deerfield Capital (Nasdaq:DFR).
In the fourth quarter alone, NASDAQ captured a total of 64 new listings, highlighted by an emerging IPO market which brought 18 new companies to NASDAQ. The fourth quarter featured the two largest domestic IPOs of the year, of which both chose to list on NASDAQ. Verisk Analytics (Nasdaq:VRSK), a provider of risk assessment solutions, and global biotechnology company Talecris Biotherapeutics (Nasdaq:TLCR) raised $1.8 billion and $950 million, respectively. Other notable domestic IPOs included Education Management (Nasdaq:EDMC), AGA Medical Holdings (Nasdaq:AGAM), Ancestry.com (Nasdaq:ACOM), rue21 (Nasdaq:RUE), Fortinet (Nasdaq:FTNT) and Archipelago Learning (Nasdaq:ARCL).
NASDAQ welcomed seventeen companies from Greater China in the fourth quarter, bringing our total new listings from the region to 33 for 2009. NASDAQ currently lists 124 companies headquartered in Greater China, more than any other U.S. exchange. Fourth quarter Chinese listings were highlighted by the spin-off of China Real Estate Information Corp. (Nasdaq:CRIC) from E-House Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:EJ), along with the NYSE Amex transfers of Exceed Company Ltd. (Nasdaq:EDS), Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (Nasdaq:SVA) and Hong Kong Highpower Technology (Nasdaq:HPJ).
NASDAQ is also proud to announce the listing of nine new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) during the fourth quarter. The new products included seven Vanguard Bond Index ETFs (Nasdaq:VCIT), (Nasdaq:VGIT), (Nasdaq:VCLT), (Nasdaq:VGLT), (Nasdaq:VMBS), (Nasdaq:VCSH), (Nasdaq:VGSH) and the First Trust NASDAQ(R) Clean Edge(R) Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (Nasdaq:GRID) which is based on the NASDAQ(R) Clean Edge(R) Smart Grid Infrastructure Index(SM)(Nasdaq:QGRD).
To view all new NASDAQ listings in 2009, visit http://media.globenewswire.com/cache/6948/file/7725.pdf
Statistics are sourced from internal NASDAQ information. IPOs include offerings done on a "best efforts" basis and do not include real estate investment trusts and closed-end funds. For more information about these and other NASDAQ statistics, visit http://www.nasdaqomx.com/listingcenter/usmarket/.
Source: NASDAQ OMX
Minorities proposal sparks alarm in banks
January 12, 2010--When the Basel Committee on Banking Regulation brought out its plans to make the global financial system safer in December, many of the proposals were in line with what banks expected.
But a proposal to tighten the capital rules for subsidiaries that are partly owned by outside investors caused widespread alarm
The change would stop banks including the equity they hold in subsidiaries as minority owners in their core tier one capital ratio – which measures the cushion of capital banks must hold to offset the risks they take, measured by risk-weighted assets. Banks say the change could sharply reduce their capital at a time when they need to raise more to meet regulators’ demands and would make it unprofitable to expand overseas, particularly in emerging markets.
Source: FT.com
Banks braced for Basel battle
January 12, 2010--Banks are gearing up to fight a proposal by global regulators to sharply increase capital requirements for institutions that bring in outside investors to fund subsidiaries, saying it will cripple their ability to expand in emerging markets.
Bank executives fear the provision would create huge holes in the capital stocks of a wide range of UK, European and Japanese financial institutions, at a time when they are already under pressure to increase their regulatory capital.
Analysts described the proposal as one of the most “draconian” and “potentially devastating” parts of a package of measures put forward in December by the Basel committee, which sets global standards that are implemented by local regulators.
Source: FT.com
NASDAQ Announces End-Of-Month Open Short Interest Positions In NASDAQ Stocks As Of Settlement Date December 31, 2009
January 12, 2010--At the end of the settlement date of December 31, 2009, short interest in 2,423 NASDAQ Global Market(SM) securities totaled 6,197,177,687 shares compared with 6,257,533,001 shares in 2,422 Global Market issues reported for the prior settlement date of December 15, 2009. The end-of-December short interest represents 3.32 days average daily NASDAQ Global Market share volume for the reporting period, compared with 3.49 days for the prior reporting period.
Short interest in 465 securities on The NASDAQ Capital Market(SM) totaled 207,500,638 shares at the end of the settlement date of December 31, 2009 compared with 201,696,432 shares in 462 securities for the previous reporting period. This represents 1.54 days average daily volume, compared with the previous reporting period's figure of 2.18.
In summary, short interest in all 2,888 NASDAQ(R) securities totaled 6,404,678,325 shares at the December 31, 2009 settlement date, compared with 2,884 issues and 6,459,229,433 shares at the end of the previous reporting period. This is 3.20 days average daily volume, compared with an average of 3.42 days for the previous reporting period.
The open short interest positions reported for each NASDAQ security reflect the total number of shares sold short by all broker/dealers regardless of their exchange affiliations. A short sale is generally understood to mean the sale of a security that the seller does not own or any sale that is consummated by the delivery of a security borrowed by or for the account of the seller.
For more information on NASDAQ Short interest positions, including publication dates, visit http://quotes.nasdaq.com/asp/MasterDataEntry.asp?page=ShortInterest or http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/asp/short_interest.asp.
Source: NASDAQ OMX
DB Index Research -ETPs & ETFs - Market Review & 2010 Outlook
January 11, 2010--DB Index Research -- ETPs/ETFs 2009 Market Review and 2010 Outlook
Crossing the Trillion Dollar Mark
Highlights
With the arrival of the New Year we are very excited to be intiating
enhanced research in the Exchange-Traded Products (ETP) space. We now
have a new Strategist based in London and our team is dedicated to
developing an active dialogue with the market. In this first report,
we review the US and European ETP markets over the past year, we
highlight trends and express our views on what we consider to be
important in the space as well as make some observations about what we
believe will follow in the year ahead.
The year just passed marked a milestone for the two biggest global ETP markets: the US and European combined ETP assets crossed the trillion dollar mark at the end of 2009. With the recovery seen in equity markets in both regions and with 74% of ETPs housed in equity vehicles, it is no surprise that assets rose. What is much more important to recognize is that assets continued to rise well over (2009 ETP asset growth: 46.2%) and above that of equity market growth (MSCI World: 23.8%) indicating investors continuing to strongly embrace this market with $167.1 billion of net inflows.
Beyond the impressive asset growth, we have a number of key findings:
- Emergence of global ETP Providers which will be in a position to provide consistent service across a variety of asset classes globally.
- Strong tiering of both the US and European markets leading to a handful of providers controlling the majority of assets.
- With ETP asset profiles widening, a provider's ability to timely and efficiently create products will play the biggest role in being able to compete.
- We expect continued fusing of expertise across the financial services industry to create ETP products tracking more diverse benchmarks. With all major asset classes now covered by ETPs, we expect increased product creation in non equity and fixed income products.
- Equities and fixed income remain the dominant ETP asset class in terms of AUM in 2009, however, investors continue to show keen interest in commodities which will further elevate the third biggest asset class assets.
- We expect the ETP assets in the US and Europe to cross the $1.2 trillion mark in 2010 assuming flat markets, with a strong possibility of reaching $1.4 trillion if bullish equity markets continue.
- The growth rate of the European market will likely continue to outstrip that of the US market, though the US market will undoudebtly remain larger.
To request a copy of the report
Source: Source: Aram Flores and Shan Lan -DB Index Research
ETF Landscape: Industry Review - December 2009
January 11, 2010--The December 2009 edition of the monthly ETF Landscape Industry Review. This report is a review of the Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) industry through the end of November 2009.
At the end of November 2009 the global ETF industry hit an all time high of US$982.28 Bn with 1,907 ETFs and 3,678 listings from 103 providers on 39 exchanges around the world.
Source: Source: ETF Research and Implementation Strategy, Blackrock
Pensions funds consider shift back into property
January 11, 2010--European and North American pension funds are planning to increase investments in real estate over the coming year and the majority of schemes are reviewing external managers, an asset allocation survey has suggested.
Findings of a study conducted in December by Bfinance indicated there is still a trend among the 63 schemes surveyed to move towards riskier assets, and 27% of those questioned said they are planning to increase their target allocations to property over the next six months.
The recent turmoil in investment markets and subsequent underperformance means at least 62% of the respondents have also either put their managers on a watchlist or have already reviewed the firms employed to look after an average 21% of their assets under management.
Source: IP&E
NYSE Euronext Global Index Group Announces 2009 Performance of Indices
NYSE Euronext Global Index Group Announces 2009 Performance of Indices
January 11, 2010--NYSE Euronext’s (NYSE Euronext: NYX) Global Index Group today announced the 2009 performance of its benchmark indices.
This report is a part of a regular series by NYSE Euronext’s Global Index Group and utilizes the exchange’s recently integrated systems and new business development initiatives.
Accomplishments 2009
In 2009, the NYSE Euronext’s Global Index Group added 25 new indices. These new indices included the NYSE Euronext Iberian Index, which covers the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal ).
Several new indices were also introduced that support trading strategies around the main proprietary indices, CAC 40 and AEX. In the spring, the equal-weighted indices came to the market, while later in the year dividend point indices (DI) were launched for the CAC 40 and AEX. In December, a futures contract based on the CAC DI was introduced and an AEX DI version is expected soon.
In the U.S. , 5 new indices were either released or in last stages of development: four NYSE Current Treasury Indices and the Junior Gold BUGS Index is expected shortly.
Source: Eurex