Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) revolutionized asset markets by using an innovative structure to make investing in a wide variety of asset classes simpler and cheaper. With their growing importance has come increasing concern that these products pose new risks to market stability and performance. This paper examines whether ETFs affect systemic risks in financial markets and, if they do, what the mechanism is by which this impact occurs and what can be done to keep the risks under control. We review current research and empirical evidence on these issues and discuss some emerging risks in ETFs. We ask whether we have the right “rules of the road” to deal with the new drivers of market behavior.

'A Practical Guide to ETF Trading Systems' is about simple, rule-based trading systems of a trend following nature. This book reflects the author's belief that successful investing is not complex, that market timing works and that investors should spurn traditional actively-managed products in favour of managing their own investments using index-tracking funds. Providing a comprehensive introduction to rule-based trading, this book sets out in detail two specific systems which may be applied to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded commodities (ETCs). Sceptics will maintain that mechanical systems do not work and that you cannot ignore the fundamentals. They are wrong. Sophisticated investors have profited handsomely over the years by following price trends on a purely mechanical basis and they will continue to do so. This guide will show you that systematic trading is likely to provide far better risk-adjusted returns than any conventional approach currently on offer from professional fund managers. There has never been a better time to benefit from the advantages of systematic investing. At a time when long-only traditionalists are fully invested in stocks and nursing huge losses, the systematic investor has exited the markets entirely and waits patiently for a signal to re-enter.

In Exchange-Traded Funds and the New Dynamics of Investing, Ananth Madhavan examines the quiet transformation of asset management through the rise of passive or index investing. A closely-related phenomenon is the rise of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). An ETF is an investment vehicle that trades intraday and seeks to replicate the performance of a specific index. ETFs have grown substantially in size, diversity, and market significance in recent years. These trends have generated considerable interest, especially from retail and institutional investors and increasingly from academics, regulators and the press. ETFs have the power to be a disruptive innovation to today's asset management industry because many traditional active managers and hedge funds deliver a significant fraction of their active returns via static exposures to factors like value. Indeed, for the first time ever, assets in global ETFs exceeded $3 trillion in 2015, passing the amount in hedge funds.

Buy-and-hold investors hope for the best over the long-term, but unfortunately, every three to four years, like clockwork, bear markets decimate their portfolios. In the last decade, there were two devastating bear markets that wiped out 50% of investor portfolio values, not once but twice. These huge losses resulted in millions of investors having to delay their retirement plans, postpone funding of college education for children and grandchildren, and delay life’s many joys. You simply can't afford to be invested during these inevitable, large-scale declines. Now, you can use an easy-to-use investing strategy that delivers better returns with far less risk than "buy and hold." Leslie N. Masonson, stock market investor, researcher and author, helps you regain control over your portfolio using low-cost, low-risk, ETFs selected with his unique “Stock Market Dashboard" that reliably signals market bottoms and tops - and can tell you exactly when to get in and out. When it is time to invest, Masonson shows how to use Relative Strength Analysis to purchase the strongest ETF market segments with the best growth potential. He provides a specific investing approach and strategy for individuals with three different levels of risk tolerance: conservative, moderate and aggressive. Replete with examples, Buy-Don't Hold contains all the easy-to-use information you need to craft an investing strategy that meets your needs, lets you sleep at night, and reaps rewards in bull and bear markets alike. Stock Trader’s Almanac 2011 Top Investment Book

Proven ways to increase profits while reducing risk in one of today’s fastest growing markets Finding a safe investment in today’s markets makes looking for that needle in a haystack seem easy. With a single whale able to move a market, herds of elephants ready to stampede after it, and a global computer network executing high-frequency trades in milliseconds, an investor might think stuffing cash under a mattress is safe financial planning. But those dollars have lost about 40 percent of their buying power in the last 20 years. Understanding ETF Options is the best way to protect and grow your assets in the financial climate ahead. This hands-on guidebook gives you a unique audience with options expert Kenneth Trester, who has traded on the exchanges since their inception in 1973. This book culls his experience in systems analysis, operations research, and investment management to help you diversify risk while profiting on market volatility. Through conversational explanations and real-world examples, it lays out how ETFs offer retail investors easy access to diversified financial value and demonstrates effective techniques to acquire, safeguard, and accrue wealth by trading options on these unique securities. Whether you are an experienced investor or have never executed a trade, Understanding ETF Options can get you up and running on the exchanges with confidence and control. It comes with such essential tools as the Fair Value Option tables and covers everything you need to know to trade ETF options successfully, including: An insider’s explanation of ETFs How to identify valuable ETFs How to avoid rogue waves Strategies for achieving your goals among the elephants, whales, and computers Professional traders’ secrets for option buying and writing As far as options are concerned, everything comes down to time and movement. Now is your time to make a move and put your future wealth into your own hands with Understanding ETF Options.

Praise for ETFs For The Long Run "As the title of the book suggests, ETFs are going to be an increasingly important reality for a broad class of investors in coming years. This book offers the reader real understanding of this growing force in our economic lives." —Robert J. Shiller, Arthur M. Okun Professor of Economics at Yale University, Co-founder and Chief Economist at MacroMarkets LLC "ETFs for the Long Run is a fascinating read. A seasoned financial industry journalist, Lawrence Carrel does an excellent job of highlighting exchange traded funds' meteoric rise in popularity over the last few years. A terrific book for anyone looking to grasp the ABCs of ETF investing." —Jerry Moskowitz, President, FTSE Americas Inc. "ETFs for the Long Run provides a unique combination of a detailed history of the development of ETFs, a clear explanation of the sophisticated mechanics of ETFs, an assessment of investors' choices amongst this dynamic product area, and unbiased recommendations for appropriate portfolio allocation to these efficient investment tools. Lawrence Carrel has done investors and the industry a great service in pulling these four elements together in a highly readable and often entertaining book. —Steven Schoenfeld, Chief Investment Officer, Global Quantitative Management, Northern Trust, and Editor, Active Index Investing Despite the incredible growth of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and the fact they've been on the market for fifteen years, some investors are still either unaware of the effectiveness of ETFs or unsure of how to use them in their investment endeavors. That's why respected ETF expert and journalist Lawrence Carrel has written ETFs for the Long Run. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, this reliable resource puts ETFs in perspective and reveals how they can help you profit in both up and down markets. Page by page, Carrel takes you through the ins and outs of ETFs, including their history, the tax benefits and minimal charges associated with them, and the fundamental differences between ETFs and other types of investments. He also provides you with the resources and tools needed to trade ETFs and build your own ETF portfolio. You may have heard about ETFs while researching other investments or speaking with an investment advisor. If you want to learn more about them, this book will provide you with a clear understanding of what ETFs are, how they work, and how they can be used to create a low-cost, liquid, and diversified portfolio.

Get up to speed on the booming innovation surrounding institutional ETF usage. The Institutional ETF Toolbox is the institutional investor's guide to utilizing exchange-traded funds and taking full advantage of the innovative new products in their expanding repertoire. The ETF toolbox is expanding rapidly with nearly one new ETF launching every day this decade so far. As with any financial innovation, this phenomenon brings both opportunity and concerns, as well as a dire need for clarity and strong due diligence skills. This book is both reference and resource, providing data-driven explanations backed by real-world market examples—alongside valuable insight from leading practitioners. Coverage includes an examination of the advantages and growth of ETFs as well as current and future uses of ETFs, emerging markets, and the strategic and tactical perspectives you need to effectively use ETFs to optimal effect. The major concerns surrounding ETFs are addressed in full to give you the background you need to formulate a better ETF strategy. ETF allocations are expected to keep growing rapidly across all institutional types, and new and emerging products are becoming more and more liquid allowing easier expression of investment opinion. This book shows you how any investors can utilize these tools to strengthen your portfolio and safely expand into particularly appealing areas. Understand how the ETF ticks and the how to take advantage of all the myriad of advantages Learn how to perform effective due diligence using exposure, cost, liquidity, risk and structure Utilize ETFs for cash equitization, portfolio rebalancing, liquidity management, and more Learn how ETFs are expanding into equities, fixed income, emerging markets, and alternatives Learn how to avoid unwanted costs, liquidity issues and hidden complexities ETF usage is climbing with assets growing by about 25 percent per year, and those who use them expect to expand their usage quickly. The Institutional ETF Toolbox provides the actionable information institutions need to identify and adopt the most suitable approach.