ETF Database » RKH

HOLDRS Conversion Begins: Investor Action Required

Michael Johnston — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:00:28 +0000

Van Eck has begun the process of converting six HOLDRS products offered by Merrill Lynch into traditional ETFs that will be included under the Market Vectors lineup, offering investors an opportunity to exchange their receipts in HOLDRS trusts for shares in the new ETFs. The exchange requires affirmative action on the part of investors, meaning that advisors or individuals with positions in existing HOLDRS must take action in order to receive shares in the new ETFs. The exchange offer is expected to remain open until December 20. “We have structured the offers, in our view, to be investor friendly,” said Adam Phillips, Managing Director of ETFs at Van Eck Global. “Potential benefits of participation include the opportunity for uninterrupted exposure to target industries, a partially tax-advantaged exchange, and no costs associated with the offers.” Van Eck also noted that the new structure could allow investors to achieve more complete and [...]

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ETF Shakeup: HOLDRS Headed For Extinction, ELEMENTS To Follow?

Michael Johnston — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:00:52 +0000

The competitive landscape of the ETF industry has evolved rapidly over the last several years, with several new players–both big and small–making a push into the space. From financial giants such as RBS and Citi to relative unknowns such as Javelin and Precidian, the roster of active ETF issuers has grown to nearly four dozen. Now, mirroring a trend playing out in the lineup of exchange-traded products, it appears that some contraction is in order. Coming months could see a few ETP issuers wiped off the map, as a series of fund closures and mergers should reduce the number of companies that market exchange-traded products [see also ETF Update: Pipeline Continues To Fill]. HOLDRS Winding Down Earlier this month, Van Eck and Merrill Lynch announced a unique arrangement that would convert six of the most popular HOLDRS products into more traditional Market Vectors ETFs. While HOLRDS are often grouped under [...]

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Are Big Banks In Trouble? Three ETFs To Watch

Jared Cummans — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:00:29 +0000

The past few weeks have seen violent behavior in equity indexes as a slew of negative news and data led to some of the most volatile trading days since the 2008 crash. The problems largely began with the debt debate that took longer than expected, while the solution reached seemed to do little to convince investors of our stability as a nation. It also apparently did little for credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s, as the ratings agency issued the first ever downgrade of U.S. debts in the country’s 235 year history. The downgrade was obviously met with furious opposition, but S&P held strong and went on to downgrade outlooks on both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, prompting a major déjà vu experience for investors [see also Three Equity ETFs Crushed By Monday’s Massacre]. With incredible market swings, many analysts and investors are drawing comparisons between our current environment and [...]

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ETF Update: Pipeline Continues To Fill

Michael Johnston — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:00:13 +0000

The summer months generally bring a slowdown in trading activity on Wall Street, so it isn’t surprising that product development activity has seemingly slowed a bit in the ETF industry as of late. After dozens of new product launches in previous months, just ten new ETFs debuted in July according to the ETF Launch Center. And as we near the midway point in August, only four new ETFs have started trading this month: the India Consumer ETF (INCO), Emerging Markets High Beta Low Income ETF (HILO), SmallCap 600 Equal Weight ETF (EWSM), and MidCap 400 Equal Weight ETF (EWMD). But while the pace of new launches may have slowed, issuers have remained busy behind the scenes laying groundwork for new ETPs that could begin trading later in 2011 (of course, many proposed ETFs may never see the light of day). Among the ideas stuffed into a bursting pipeline over the [...]

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Van Eck, Merrill Partner: Conversion of HOLDRS Ahead?

Michael Johnston — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:00:51 +0000

Van Eck announced last week a partnership with Merrill Lynch that may ultimately lead to the conversion of several HOLDRS products to soon-to-be-launched Market Vectors ETFs. As part of the agreement, Van Eck will introduce six new ETFs that maintain the same tickers as the existing HOLDRS but that will be part of the Market Vectors family of ETFs. Van Eck said it expects the exchange to be launched in the third quarter of this year and consummated in the fourth quarter. The agreement would cover six existing HOLDRS, which would be converted to Van Eck ETFs that seek to replicate Market Vectors indices. The impacted products include: Ticker New Market Vectors ETF Underlying Index OIH Oil Services ETF Market Vectors US Listed Oil Services 25 Index SMH Semiconductor ETF Market Vectors US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index PPH Pharmaceutical ETF Market Vectors US Listed Pharmaceutical 25 Index BBH Biotech ETF [...]

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Thursday’s ETF Chart To Watch: Regional Bank HOLDRS (RKH)

Stoyan Bojinov — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:00:52 +0000

Equity markets were broadly higher on Wednesday as investors rejoiced over a robust China GDP report and stimulating words from Chairman Bernanke. “The possibility remains that the recent weakness may prove more persistent than expected and that deflationary risks might reemerge, implying additional policy support,” Bernanke told the House Financial Services Committee, in the first of two days of testimony about economy and monetary policy. Hints of a possible QE3 pushed stocks higher from the opening bell, although the rally did lose steam around lunch time. Gold was also in the green and the hot yellow metal rallied to new highs and futures prices hit $1,588 an ounce. Oil surged as well, hitting $99.21 a barrel mid-day, but consolidated lower towards $98 as trading hours on Wall Street were coming to a close. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is slated to report its latest earnings tomorrow morning, which makes the HOLDRS Regional [...]

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Friday’s ETF To Watch: Merrill Lynch Regional Bank HOLDR (RKH)

Eric Dutram — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:00:20 +0000

Although equity markets experienced a rough session in Thursday trading, 2011 has seen a pretty solid start for most sectors of the American economy. Over the past few weeks, financials have been among the biggest gainers thanks to moderating fears over the European debt crisis as well as a solid outlook from a variety of important bellwethers in the industry, a trend that has helped to keep spirits high for many who have invested in the beaten down sector. While the news has been good as of late, all that could change later today when crucial banking giant J.P. Morgan (JPM) gives its quarterly earnings report. The New York City-based financial behemoth is scheduled to post earnings of 99 cents per share before the bell today on revenues of $24.48 billion. However, there is a rather large range for analyst estimates ranging from a high of $1.09 a share to [...]

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Financial ETFs Soar On New Basel Rules

Eric Dutram — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:20:27 +0000

Now that the financial crisis appears to finally be subsiding, many regulators and economists have shifted their focus away from containment and towards prevention, seeking to ensure that a similar meltdown does not devastate markets again. Over the weekend, regulators finally hammered out a plan to force banks to limit risk and keep more adequate levels of reserves in case of a future crisis in what is popularly being referred to as the Basel III accord. The details of the plan call for minimum capital requirements to double from their current levels of 2% and the total equity ratio to surge from its current 4% to 7%. Firms will also be required to boost their tier one capital ratios up to 6% and will have to develop a 2.5% buffer to protect against future crises. Institutions unable to meet this requirement would be unable to pay dividends but not forced [...]

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Why The Reform Bill Boosted Financial ETFs

Eric Dutram — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:54:52 +0000

After the passage of a controversial health care bill earlier this year, many analysts wondered if the Obama administration lacked the political capital to push through comprehensive financial reform as the next big domestic issue. After various packages met stiff resistance on several occasions, Senators passed the financial regulation overhaul bill on Thursday in a 59-39 vote. The bill, which comes months after a similar measure was passed by the House, looks to make sweeping changing to the nation’s financial industry. Among the most extensive changes in the legislation is a council of systemic risk regulators that would set capital stands for big banks and monitor systemic risk. Additionally, many derivatives transactions made by big banks, hedge funds and other groups would be required to go through clearinghouses and put their contracts through exchanges or swap-execution facilities. These changes are expected to have far-reaching effects on the industry with some [...]

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Three Sector ETFs With Sky-High Betas

Eric Dutram — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:04:28 +0000

What seemed to be a stable market recovery has encountered some turbulence in recent weeks, as lingering uncertainty in the euro zone has rippled throughout the global economy. Recent market volatility–the iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) has posted a remarkable gain of 45.4% over the past month–has caused a variety of responses from investors. Some have sold off risky assets in favor of safe havens like gold and U.S. dollars, while others have slid down the risk profile to less volatile equities (see Three Low Beta ETF Options). And then there are the contrarians who subscribe to the old Buffett mantra of being “greedy when others are fearful.” Many investors who are buying when others are selling–hoping to scoop up bargains at an attractive entry point–have an appetite for risk, seeking out securities that will perform well if recent trends reverse. Below we profile three ETFs that [...]

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ETF Database » RKH

HOLDRS Conversion Begins: Investor Action Required

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ETF Shakeup: HOLDRS Headed For Extinction, ELEMENTS To Follow?

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Are Big Banks In Trouble? Three ETFs To Watch

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ETF Update: Pipeline Continues To Fill

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Van Eck, Merrill Partner: Conversion of HOLDRS Ahead?

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Thursday’s ETF Chart To Watch: Regional Bank HOLDRS (RKH)

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Friday’s ETF To Watch: Merrill Lynch Regional Bank HOLDR (RKH)

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Financial ETFs Soar On New Basel Rules

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Why The Reform Bill Boosted Financial ETFs

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Three Sector ETFs With Sky-High Betas

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