KBW & SSGA Launch Three Innovative Financial Services Sector ETFs.NEW YORK -- Three new Exchange Traded Funds Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) Also known as ETF. A basket of stocks similar to an index mutual fund. However, there are a number of important differences between ETFs and mutual funds. based on Keefe, Bruyette & Woods' (KBW KBW Kommunistischer Bund Westdeutschlands (Communist Union of West Germany) KBW Keefe, Bruyette and Woods, Inc. (investment firm) KBW Knowledge-Based Warfare ) benchmark financial service-focused indices began trading today on the American Stock Exchange American Stock Exchange (AMEX) Stock exchange in the U.S. Originally known as “the Curb,” it began as an outdoor marketplace in New York City c. 1850. It moved indoors to its present location in the Wall Street area in 1921. . Today's launch is the first result of a previously announced partnership between KBW and State Street Global Advisors to launch an innovative suite of exchange traded funds that offer a more focused way to invest in the financial services sector. The KBW ETFs, part of State Street's streetTRACKS family of investment products, provide investors with the ability to buy precise slices of the financial services sector for the first time. Investors can use these innovative products to invest in the banking, capital markets and insurance sub-sectors of the financial services sector. As the leading full-service investment bank focusing exclusively on the financial services industry, KBW provides a unique perspective on this sector. "As a group, financial services is the single largest component of the U.S. market," noted Thomas Michaud, KBW Vice-Chairman and Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. . "But not all financial stocks behave alike. These new ETFs will empower market participants to more efficiently make and hedge investments directly in each of the primary sub-sectors of financial services." The streetTRACKS KBW Bank ETF ETF See Exchange Traded Fund. ETF See exchange-traded fund (ETF). (Symbol: KBE KBE (in Britain) Knight (Commander of the Order) of the British Empire ) is based upon the KBW Bank Index (BKX BKX Brookings, SD, USA - Brookings Municipal Airport (Airport Code) ). It is the only ETF focused purely on the nation's largest banking companies, capturing more than $1 trillion of the overall U.S. banking industry's total capitalization. The streetTRACKS KBW Capital Markets ETF (Symbol: KCE) is based on the KBW Capital Markets Index (KSX). It is the only ETF based upon the equities that constitute the U.S. capital markets. Dominant broker/dealers, trust banks, asset managers and exchanges are all represented. The streetTRACKS KBW Insurance ETF (Symbol: KIE) is based upon the KBW Insurance Index (KIX). The ETF is comprised of 24 leading insurance stocks, including property and casualty insurers, life insurers, mortgage insurers, title insurers, reinsurers, insurance brokers and financial guarantors. These ETFs are compliant under the Registered Investment Company Act (RIC) and can be owned by mutual funds, hedge funds, insurance companies and individual investors alike. The Keefe, Bruyette & Woods ETF's, like all ETF's, are not subject to any uptick limitations for short selling. About Keefe, Bruyette and Woods Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. is a stock broker and an investment bank that specialises in the financial sector. The company has seven offices in the United States and one office in London. Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc (KBW) is an institutionally oriented securities broker/dealer and full service investment bank that specializes in the North American and European financial services sectors. Founded in 1962 and 100% employee-owned, the firm is widely recognized as a leading authority in the banking, insurance, brokerage, asset management, mortgage banking and specialty finance sectors. Our firm has established industry-leading positions in the areas of research, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions as well as sales and trading for financial services companies. The Exchange Traded Fund Exchange Traded Fund Similar to an index mutual fund, these tracking stocks trade continuously. Two popular ETFs are the Standard and Poor's depositary receipt (SPDR) launched in 1993 and the NASDAQ-100 Index Tracking Stock (QQQ) which was launched in 1999. Pioneer SSgA, the investment management arm of State Street Corporation, is an innovator in the exchange traded funds (ETF) marketplace. In 1993, in partnership with the American Stock Exchange (AMEX AMEX See: American Stock Exchange ), SSgA launched the first, and now largest, ETF--the SDR See software defined radio. (AMEX:SPY).(1) The success of the SPDR SPDR The Standard and Poor's depositary receipt. This is a tracking stock which trades like an index mutual fund which follows the S&P 500. It trades continuously. SPDR See Standard amp; Poor's Depositary Receipt (SPDR). (R) has driven more than a decade of ETF asset growth and product development around the world. As one of the largest institutional asset managers in the world, with over $1.4 trillion in assets under management Assets Under Management (AUM) is a term used by financial services companies in the mutual fund and money management or investment management business to gauge how much money they are managing. (2), SSgA continues to lead the way in the development and management of revolutionary ETFs providing investors with liquid exposure to a wide breadth of markets, both large and small. SSgA's expansive ETF offering seeks to combine the experience and intellectual capital of SSgA with the resources and intelligence of the most respected companies. (1)Source: Citigroup Investment Research as of September 30, 2005. (2)Source: State Street Global Advisors as of September 30, 2005. Disclosure The shares ("Shares") of streetTRACKS KBW ETFs, a series of the streetTRACKS Series Trust are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods ("KBW"). KBW makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the Shares or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Shares particularly or the ability of the KBW Capital Markets, Bank and Insurance Index to track general stock market performance. KBW's only relationship to State Street Bank and Trust Company The State Street Bank and Trust Company is a bank. It was a subsidiary of the State Street Corporation, until it sold off the retail banking portion of this unit in 1999 to Citizens Financial Group (a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Scotland), of Providence, RI. is the licensing of certain trademarks and tradenames of KBW and the KBW capital markets, Bank and Insurance Index which is determined, composed and calculated by KBW without regard to State Street Bank and Trust, streetTRACKS or the Shares. KBW has no obligation to take the needs of State Street Bank and Trust Company or the owners of the shares into consideration in determining, composing, or calculating the KBW Capital Markets, Bank and Insurance Index. KBW is not responsible for and has not participated in any determination or calculation made with respect to issuance or redemption of the Shares. KBW has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Shares. Standard & Poor's(R), S&P(R), S&P 500(R), Standard & Poor's 500(R), Standard & Poor's Depository Receipts(R), SPDRs(R), Select Sector SPDR(R), Select Sector SPDRs(R) and Select Sector Standard & Poor's Depository Receipts(R) are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and have been licensed for use in connection with their listing and trading on the American Stock Exchange. The Products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's and Standard & Poor's makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Product. Funds investing in a single sector may be subject to more volatility than funds investing in a diverse group of sectors. An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other information, call 866.787.2257 or visit www.advisors.ssga.com/etf. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. streetTRACKS are distributed by State Street Global Markets, LLC, member NASD NASD See: National Association of Securities Dealers NASD See National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). , SIPC (Simply Interactive PC) An earlier umbrella term from Microsoft and Intel for a PC that works like a home appliance. For example, it has a sealed case, uses external connectors for expansion and boots in just a couple of seconds. . |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion