The rapid rise of the ETF industry has caused the expanded the investment arsenal of millions significantly, bringing asset classes previously reserved for only the largest and most sophisticated investors within reach. This development is perhaps best demonstrated by the surge in popularity of exchange-traded commodity products. According to data from the National Stock Exchange, commodity ETFs took in more than $30 billion in 2009, an amount that is even more remarkable considering that domestic equity funds saw outflows of over $8 billion. [click to continue…]
It’s been an interesting week in the world of ETFs: major indexes trended higher despite an increase in the trade deficit and a lower number for the Consumer Sentiment Index. Here are the ETF Database staff picks of the week’s most important and interesting stories from around the Web: [click to continue…]
When most ETF investors think of natural gas, they invariably think of the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG), perhaps the exchange-traded product subject to the most regulatory scrutiny over the last two years. But while UNG is the $4 billion elephant in the room, it isn’t the only option for investors looking to gain [...]
With each monthly asset flow report, it becomes more apparent that the rise of the ETF industry has transformed the investing landscape in more ways than one. The exchange-traded structure is widely praised for providing an efficient mechanism for investors looking to shed the high costs of active management to embrace tactical asset allocation and [...]
The United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) has been one of the most closely-monitored ETFs in recent months, as investors have followed the regulatory battle unfolding over commodity funds. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is widely expected to establish positions limits later this year, potentially limiting the size of existing funds and perhaps forcing [...]
Barclays Global Investors announced yesterday that it has temporarily suspended the creation of new shares of the iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG). “We’ve taken this temporary step to protect existing investors from being adversely affected by market reaction to proposed new regulations of commodity futures that have created uncertainty,” said Michael Latham, co-CEO of [...]
The excitement has continued to increase in the world of ETFs this week. Here are the ETF Database staff picks of the week’s most important and interesting stories from around the Web:
The National Stock Exchange has released its monthly statistical bulletin for June, and the ETF industry certainly seems to have avoided any sort of “June swoon.” Although the trends for the industry as a whole are overwhelmingly positive, a trio of fund sponsors enjoyed particularly successful months. A few of the highlights from the report:
