NASDAQ

The biggest losers among the record sell-off on May 6th weren’t individual stocks, but exchange-traded funds. As the markets tumbled, institutional volume in ETFs sent many funds to abnormal lows. Both the NYSE and NASDAQ exchanges released a list to the public of securities that saw cancelled trades. A total of 173 securities on the [...]

A recent study conducted by the options trading industry found that utilizing an options collar when making trades during the past 10 years well outperformed a buy and hold strategy. The options collar, which is very popular with exchange-traded fund traders, consists of buying a stock and buying a protective put, as well as selling [...]

NASDAQ OMX Group and HQ Bank have announced the creation of a new portfolio of ETFs comprised of international favorites. The goal is to promote exchange-traded fund investing in Sweden with the use of internationally respected ETFs. The exchange-traded funds will begin trading in Stockholm in October pending regulatory approval, according to a press release. [...]

Fidelity is known for its mutual funds, but the rumor mill still speculated that the company would be a probable bidder for iShares earlier this summer. To clarify its ETF stance, Fidelity has issued a statement indicating that it does not plan to grow its ETF business. Fidelity’s only ETF, the Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index [...]

Assisted by unprecedentedly low rates from the Federal Reserve, the S&P Homebuilders ETF received a large bullish trade from an options investor. The investor’s position calls for a near 30% rise in the exchange-traded fund by the end of the year. An unknown investor today purchased 10,000 December $20 strike options on the S&P Homebuilders [...]

Exchange-traded funds have been some of the most popularly traded securities used by investment firms engaging in flash trading, a process that may be soon banned by the SEC. However, a market-maker’s involvement in exchange-traded funds extends far beyond simple flash trading orders, as they are the vehicle that allows new ETFs to gain momentum [...]

The inflation-inspired trade, which has been persistent as ETF investors analyze the government’s growing influence in the credit markets, has sent ETF prices higher. Despite the increase in stock prices, investors are still concerned that commodities, particularly steel, may not rise until demand for the metal increases. Global steel production has softened from its 2008 [...]

Exchange-traded funds have experienced significant growth rivaled only by dotcom issues during the tech bubble years. The latest data suggests that ETFs are not simply a cursory trend, as more than one out of every five stocks trading each day is an exchange-traded fund. In year to year comparisons, ETF volume in May 2009 soared [...]

First Trust may be on the cusp of making 2009 ETF history. Its newest fund, which will track the NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index, is set to launch on July 1 and could be the best exchange-traded IPO of the year. Already, analysts are expecting the new fund to grow into one of the largest [...]

The Boston Options Exchange has eliminated fees for three popularly traded ETFs to bring more options investors to the exchange. The exchange hopes to encourage higher volume for ETF options, as well as smooth out spreads within its exchange. The three ETFs enjoying the fee waiver are SPDR Trust Series I (SPY: Quote, Profile, Advanced [...]