Resurgence in Currency ETF Options Activity Follows Contagion Fears
Following fears of a contagion coming out of Greece and Spain, normally quiet currency ETFs attracted large option interest. The PowerShares DB US Dollar Index (UUP: Quote, Profile, Advanced Chart, News) recorded a call to put ratio of 198 to 1, signifying investors’ flight. One trader represented most of the volume, selling 20,500 calls with [...]
Shipping ETF Sails Toward an Economic Recovery
Often a leading indicator, shipping companies have outperformed the market in 2010, indicating that the economy is on a long road to recovery. Year-to-date, the Claymore/Delta Global Shipping ETF (SEA: Quote, Profile, Advanced Chart, News) has earned investors a hefty 14.8% return compared to 4.5% for the S&P 500. Demand for global shipping companies is [...]
Greece’s Debt Woes Elate Currency ETFs
Troubles in Greece have only incited the popularity of exchange-traded commodities in the wake of what could be the largest bankruptcy since the credit crunch began. Often suffering from limited liquidity, currency funds are now on the up and up. The CurrencyShares Euro Trust (FXE: Quote, Profile, Advanced Chart, News), which has an average volume [...]
US Gold Fund Bleeds Physical Holdings
Global fears of another deflationary wave stemming from Dubai and Greece debt issues have sent investors fleeing from gold ETFs. The most popular fund, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD: Quote, Profile, Advanced Chart, News), shed 13.72 tons in just one day of trading this week. The recent dip in gold prices from $1200 to $1120 per [...]
MSCI To Make Country Market Reclassifications within the Year
By June of 2009, a handful of countries could have a new MSCI market classification. MSCI Barra has begun discussions on the potential upgrade of South Korea and Israel. Polya Lesova of Market Watch writes that the two countries, currently listed as emerging markets, may be raised to developed market status. South Korea’s currency convertibility [...]
