Japan

Currency ETFs have yet to grow popular with mainstream investors, but they’re finding a niche with investors who demand the ability to easily buy and sell both currency pairs and stocks within one trading account. The CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (FXY: Quote, Profile, Advanced Chart, News) received six times more put volume on Friday than [...]

As ProShares extends its double and triple leveraged funds around the world, it is seeking the help of JP Morgan Worldwide Securities Services, which already manages 64 different ProShares funds with more than $25 billion in assets. The agreement between the two firms will add another eight funds to the list of those managed by [...]

The global recession has been hardest felt in Asian nations, where exports to developed nations are the foothold of the local economies. As the trade numbers continue to decline, it appears that the financial meltdown may leave a few scars in global trade and related ETFs. The Street reports that Japanese exports to the United [...]

ProShares, the leader in double leveraged exchange-traded funds, continues to build its prevalence with its launch of four new leveraged emerging-market ETFs. ProShares currently has six emerging-market funds, but will aim to broaden its selection as investors continue to drive record inflows into the emerging markets. All of the new funds will be double leveraged, [...]

Exchange-traded commodities could soon find their way to the second largest stock exchange in Japan, the Osaka bourse. Though the bourse accepts exchange-traded funds, it has yet to approve of exchange-traded commodities, but plans to expand into the derivative funds. The newly listed funds would include investments such as crude oil and futures contracts on [...]

The very first options on actively-managed ETFs were released today, as WisdomTree and the NASDAQ OMX Group have reached an agreement to allow WisdomTree’s actively managed currency funds to start listing options on the exchange. WisdomTree’s funds will be the first actively managed funds to give investors access to options, opening the door for option [...]

The US dollar continued its run against the Yen after the Japanese government reported that it would buy stocks and ETFs in the open market. With this announcement, currency traders are expecting greater Japanese inflation, which bodes well for the US dollar. Thus far in the year, the leading Nikkei index for Japanese stocks is [...]

The US dollar enjoyed an unexpected boost from President Obama’s proposed $75 billion plan to solve the country’s foreclosure issues, making waves in the currency markets on Wednesday.  Currency traders expect new confidence in the rebound of the US dollar, which has touched multi-year lows against the Japanese yen. The US dollar has remained weak [...]

Could the world’s most prominent proponent of the “free market” embrace widespread nationalization?  The American government may soon hold the reigns over the country’s largest banks.  Banks that fail the Treasury “stress test” could be entered into a forced nationalization, with the American taxpayer footing the bill and receiving full interest in the bank’s profits. [...]

Money is flowing into gold-backed securities at a record pace, and the precious metal’s main ETF has become tremendously popular for its safe haven reputation. Investors are flooding into SPDR Gold Trust (GLD: Quote, Profile, Advanced Chart, News) at such a rate that the ETF has impressively become the second largest ETF in the U.S., [...]