In a "if you can't beat 'em, poach 'em" moment, mutual fund monster Fidelity Investments has apparently thrown in the towel and will finally focus on running their own actively-managed sector-specific ETFs. At least that's the obvious conclusion being drawn by industry watchers after news of Fidelity, which still only…Read More

It's a big bowl of alphabet soup when it comes to quenching your appetite for fixed income ETFs. On today's menu you'll find that a small smorgasborg of just these alone will get you through the first of several courses: EUO, UUP, ELD, XLU, IDU. [caption id="attachment_464" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Ron…Read More

For those following flows, and in particular, fans of financials, a stand-out seems to be iShares' U.S. Preferred Stock Index fund (NYSE ARCA:PFF), which is currently trading to yield 7%. Preferred stocks, which are historically considered to be second-class citizens by those seeking "oomph" and predominantly issued by financial firms…Read More

Market wisdom:markets go up and prices go down. When it comes to selecting an ETF or ETN that might make you a sage when managing money for risk-sensitive,sophisticated investors, UBS ETRACS launched a twin-set product back in the dull days of December, one of which might whet your hedge-fund like…Read More

As US equity indexes search for a trading session bottom from which to bounce today, traders are slamming their phones in frustration when discovering the screen markets are as clear as a very cloudy day. Nothing new on that front..as ETF market experts will repeatedly repeat "don't expect to find…Read More

This morning's precipitous decline in major equity indexes comes as no surprise to anyone, even if its the first Triple-Digit Decline in the Dow in 3 months. Synonymous with big market moves, we think about what hedge funds are doing right now, and whether or not they're exploiting ETFs as…Read More

However much the use of ETF and ETP products in Euro-Land continues to grow,  Global ETF Issuer iShares knows that it can grow faster and bigger. Consistent with parent company BlackRock Inc.'s focus on staying in front of the pack, and as reported by IndexUniverseEU staff, iShares has recently introduced…Read More

Expect more than lots of brotherly love networking at the Philadelphia Ritz-Carlton March 19-20, when ETF market mavens gather  to attend the InsideIndexing forum "Risk, Return & Indexing Strategies." An early look at the menu indicates a few tasty treats will be served up by a formidable group of moderators…Read More

[caption id="attachment_372" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Bloomberg LP's Catherine Cowdery Feb 29 Interview w WallachBeth Capital's Andy McOrmond"][/caption] For those gray-bearded former floor brokers who would gallop into an exchange specialist's trading pit and shout, "I'll buy what's offered on the screen!",  and were often dismayed when the specialist yelled back,  "Go…Read More

In a Nov 15 story from CNN: the prospects for social media ETF “SOCL” were pretty much slammed. “NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — A social media exchange-traded fund has made its debut, but experts say to hold off before you “like” and “+1″ it to share it with all of your…Read More

Unbeknownst to too many who traffic in ETFs, the phrases "thinly-traded" and "illiquid" are far from synonymous. Yes, of the now 1300+ exchange-traded funds, 2/3 of the total ETF trading volume is attributed to the top 25 "go-go names." But, whether you're an RIA, a corporate treasurer, a hedge fund…Read More

ETF Securities (ETFS) has expanded its Brent Crude exchange traded products offering against a background of rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The issuer unveiled four ETPs on the London Stock Exchange, as Brent Crude’s importance as the new global benchmark for oil rises. West Texas Intermediate has been beset with local…Read More

Everything went higher today (despite the data during the last minutes into the close); stocks, bonds and fear; a somewhat unique combination of ups. When noticing today's relatively rare direct correlation between equity market volatility (aka VIX), equity indices and "safe haven" US government bonds, option market veteran David Robbins…Read More

We all know that equity markets have been climbing the wall of worry for the past number of months. With both the Dow and S&P recovering to the sanguine levels not seen since the spring of 2008, covered call (buy-write) strategies within the mutual fund complex has until recently remained …Read More

Other than the ETF market "go-go names", one of the more commonly-voiced, and according to many, often-misguided observations regarding most ETFs is  "won't trade it, there's no liquidity in that name,"  or "the screens are only showing 1000 shares offered and I have to pay up 50 cents to buy…Read More

Whether you're sitting inside a buy-side or a sell-side firm,  someone in your shop is talking about using social media. But, you're compliance officer is saying  "Let's let another shop experiment..we don't need to be the SEC test case." Well, Wedbush Securities isn't standing on ceremony. Just a few years…Read More

Debbie Fuhr, the undisputed "Dame" of the exchange-traded-funds industry, and most recently BlackRock's Managing Director and global head of ETF research and implementation will open the doors of a new independent research firm, "ETF Global Insight" next Monday. Prior to Debbie's 3-year stint at BlackRock/BGI, she was billeted for 11…Read More

Where's a better place than Amsterdam for an International ETF conference in the month of May? Our global concierge says,  "No place compares to Amsterdam, for a variety of reasons!" Which is exactly why IndexUniverse, the largest ETF conference producer, is once again hosting its "Annual InsideETFsEurope" for the third…Read More