Post-trade controls, monitoring, and data collection are essential to mitigate the risk involved in the automation of exchange-traded futures, options, and centrally cleared derivatives. With the help of updated best practices, these controls can work well in conjunction with pre-trade controls to prevent credit events or unintended transactions. So says the Futures Industry Association (FIA)… Read More >>
U.S. Institutional Investors Still Love ETFs
The love affair between U.S. institutional investors and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is showing no signs of slowing down. A new report “ETFs: U.S. Institutions’ New Tool of Choice for Portfolio Construction,” from market research firm Greenwich Associates finds that “institutional investments in ETFs increased significantly in the United States in 2018. Average allocations by institutions… Read More >>
GTS Wants to Democratize Market Access via Acquisition
High-frequency trading (HFT) firm GTS is acquiring for an undisclosed sum the exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and wholesale market-making businesses of Cantor Fitzgerald, a move that will bring institutional and retail clients the same access to the benefits of machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI) and execution technology, GTS officials say. GTS describes itself as “a quantitative… Read More >>
PIMCO and SEC Agree to Settle ETF Investigation
Investment management giant PIMCO is agreeing to a nearly $20 million settlement with the SEC in order to end an investigation into charges that its investors were given misleading information about the performance of actively managed, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and were not given the correct value of key fund securities. SEC officials also announced late… Read More >>
State Street, Bloomberg Join Forces for Fixed Income ETFs
Custodian and asset manager State Street Corp. and market data and news provider Bloomberg have joined forces for a Bloomberg terminal enhancement that improves workflow and settlement for fixed income exchange traded funds (ETFs). The combined effort has led to an integration between Bloomberg’s Fixed Income ETF Basket service (BSKT<GO>) and State Street’s TotalETF automated… Read More >>
European Firms Dump Derivatives for Easier ETFs
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are gathering momentum among European institutional investors due to lower fees, ease of use and operational simplicity compared to derivatives. In fact, firms are increasingly using ETFs instead of derivatives and as a tool for diversification and rebalancing portfolios, according to a new report ETFs in the European Institutional Channel, from… Read More >>
SEC Targets Mutual Funds, ETFs via Curbs on Derivatives
As expected, the SEC has voted to propose new derivatives rules that would limit leverage and other risks for mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other registered investment companies in the derivatives markets. After a 90-day comment period, the commission is likely to move forward on the new rules. New rules are needed, the commission… Read More >>
LPL Financial to Pay $3.4M to Settle REITS, ETF Probes
Broker-dealer LPL Financial will be paying $3.4 million in settlements and penalties after allegations that the firm failed to properly handle the sales and oversight of complex, leveraged exchange traded funds (ETFs) and non-traded, real estate investment Trusts (REITs). In a settlement with Massachusetts and Delaware, the firm will be paying approximately $2 million to… Read More >>
Fears Over Liquidity Risk Spur SEC, FINRA Into Action
Better liquidity risk management amid volatile markets has become the new byword for regulators. The SEC is trying to rein in liquidity issues for mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) while independent regulator the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is targeting liquidity problems for broker-dealers, even citing the liquidity risks that “played a large role… Read More >>
