Innovation has been on display in the ETF industry in recent years, as various issuers have been active on the product development front in their efforts to bring new and exciting products to market. One area that has seen tremendous growth is the leveraged ETF space; investors have embraced the exchange-traded structure as an efficient means of amplifying exposure to everything from Chinese stocks (YINN, YANG) to gold (UGL, GLL) to long-term Treasuries (TBT, UBT).
In total, there are nearly 200 leveraged ETPs, covering dozen of different asset classes. But not all leveraged exchange-traded products utilize the same structure; there are some nuances across the roster of these funds that can have a significant impact on the risk/return profile offered. Most investors are aware of the differences between ETFs and ETNs, including distinctions in credit risk, tracking error, and sometimes tax ramifications as well. But some don’t realize that the reset frequency can also vary from product to product, and that the timing of such resets can have a major impact on the volatility and potential returns of a product. [click to continue…]
In 2010 the ETF industry stumbled coming out of the gate, as more than $17 billion flowed out of exchange-traded products in the first month of the year. This year’s January figures showed an opposite result, as the latest data released by the National Stock Exchange shows that U.S.-listed ETPs took in more than $10 [...]
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange will soon stop listing futures contracts on ETFs according to the Wall Street Journal, pulling the plug after the products failed to generate much interest among investors. The CME has listed futures on the NASDAQ 100 QQQ (QQQQ), S&P 500 SPDR (SPY), and Russell 2000 Index Fund (IWM) since 2005, but [...]
Although U.S. equity markets surged to start the day, they faltered in the final hour of trading to finish the day flat despite solid political developments out of Washington. The Dow and the S&P 500 both finished more or less unchanged while the Nasdaq continued its short-term outperformance gaining 0.1% on the day. A similar [...]
by Eric Dutram on October 22, 2010 | Updated April 20, 2011
As the ETF world continues to grow, the competitive landscape continues to evolve. In recent years, a growing number of firms have attempted to differentiate themselves by offering unique exposure to asset classes and strategies not previously available–such as funds tracking the Philippine stock market or ETNs linked to the price of industrial metals such [...]
After recently rolling out a suite of ETFs linked to popular S&P indexes, Vanguard continued its push to grab a larger share of the ETF market on Wednesday by introducing seven new products linked to Russell benchmarks. The new Vanguard ETFs include:
U.S. equity markets continued their September surge in Monday trading, as all of the major indexes climbed higher throughout the day. The tech-heavy Nasdaq was the biggest winner, gaining 1.7% on the day, and was followed closely by the broad S&P 500, which surged by 1.5%. The Dow which jumped higher by 1.4%. This boost [...]
Paul Weisbruch is the VP of ETF/Options Sales and Trading at Street One Financial, a firm that specializes in educating, evaluating, and trading ETFs, equities, and options. He recently took time out of his busy schedule to share his thoughts on the liquidity of ETFs, fallout from the “Flash Crash,” and more. ETF Database: There [...]
It is no secret that the ETF industry has been wildly successful in recent years, taking in hundreds of billions of dollars and being embraced by both cost-conscious buy-and-holders and more active investors. This rise in popularity has made ETF issuers attractive assets to some investors; acquisitions of iShares, Claymore, and Rydex over the last [...]
Although most U.S. investors build their portfolios around a core of large cap domestic equities, small-cap firms, which generally have a market capitalization’s under $2 billion, are a vital component as well. Because small cap stocks tend to have smaller customer bases, shorter operating histories, and less cash on hand, they are often more volatile [...]
With IRA contribution deadlines right around the corner, many investors are scrambling to decide how best to allocate their money. ETFs are a relatively new vehicle for many investors, but they are becoming increasingly common choices for IRA accounts. Admittedly, some of the benefits traditionally associated with ETFs don’t translate completely to an IRA. Tax-efficient [...]
