The volatility market of 2026 is a far cry from the calm, suppressed environment of the late 2010s. We have entered what analysts call a high-floor era. That’s where the CBOE Volatility Index ($VIX) rarely dips below 15 and frequently spikes toward 30. While many DIY investors reflexively reach for short-term VIX products like VXX (VXX) or VIXY (VIXY) during a market dip, these funds are notorious for their rapid value erosion. To address this, the ProShares VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF (VIXM) offers a more ...

Core Viewpoint - The ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO) offers an attractive dividend yield of 78% (TTM), distinguishing itself from typical income funds like those from YieldMax and GraniteShares [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - The investment approach is long-term, focusing on macro ideas through low-risk ETFs and CEFs [1] - The individual has nearly ten years of experience trading stocks and currencies and currently manages a family fund [1] Group 2: Additional Activities - The individual also invests in real estate and contributes as a freelance writer [1]

Core Viewpoint - The discussion centers on whether crypto ETFs represent a sustainable investment trend or merely a passing fad, with arguments presented from both bullish and bearish perspectives [1][2]. Group 1: Market Performance and Trends - The first U.S. cryptocurrency ETF, ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO), debuted over four years ago, with Bitcoin reaching a peak of approximately $68,000 in 2021 and $126,000 in 2025, indicating significant price volatility and institutional interest [1]. - In 2025, crypto ETPs attracted $34.1 billion in investments, showcasing a growing institutional demand for crypto exposure through regulated vehicles [1][2]. - Despite a 30% price drop in Bitcoin following its peak, the overall inflows into crypto ETFs remained strong, with nearly $48 billion in the first eleven months of the year, indicating resilience in the market [2][3]. Group 2: Regulatory Environment - The regulatory landscape for crypto ETFs has improved, with acts like the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act providing a more structured environment for investment, which is seen as a positive development for the ETF market [1]. - The SEC's oversight of crypto ETFs contrasts with the original decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies, raising questions about the implications for the future of digital assets [1]. Group 3: Institutional Adoption - A significant increase in the number of U.S. advisory firms allocating to crypto ETFs has been noted, rising from fewer than 200 before 2024 to over 2,000, reflecting a shift in institutional acceptance [1]. - Institutional investors are now holding crypto ETFs, which contrasts with previous cycles where retail investors would panic sell during downturns, suggesting a more stable investment base [2][3]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The potential for consolidation in the crypto ETF market is highlighted, with larger providers like BlackRock dominating inflows, which could lead to smaller players exiting the market [3]. - The emergence of diversified crypto ETFs, such as the CoinShares Altcoins ETF (DIME), is seen as a promising development, allowing investors to gain exposure to a range of cryptocurrencies rather than betting on individual assets [3].

芝加哥商品交易所（CME）当地时间27日发布通知，对部分白银、铂金和钯金期货合约的保证金 （Outright Rates）参数进行调整。 文件显示，部分白银合约的新保证金比例高于此前水平，约为名义价值的11%。新标准将于当地时间1 月28日收盘后生效。本次通知未涉及黄金相关合约。 提高保证金意味着那些想要交易白银、铂金和钯金期货的人将需要提供更多抵押品，以确保他们能够履 行其义务。虽然当合约飙升或极度波动时，交易所通常会提高保证金，但周二的举动可能会排挤那些没 有足够现金进行必要存款的小型参与者。 散户狂潮席卷白银市场 根据Vanda的数据，包括英伟达、特斯拉和Palantir在内的知名科技股，曾是2025年散户投资 者买入最多的个股。但如今，白银的交易热度甚至超过了自2022年底以来便令华尔街着迷的 人工智能宠儿——英伟达。衡量交易加速的白银换手动量已跃升至正常水平的11.55倍，高 于英伟达的7.54倍。 因此，"相对而言，散户对白银的追逐现在比经典的AI交易更为激烈，"巴雷克说。 巴雷克指出，对一度被称为"穷人的黄金"的白银兴趣高涨，对矿业股产生了"光环效应"。 Vanda数据显示，Hecla Mini ...

Core Insights - The silver market is experiencing a historic surge, characterized by extreme price volatility and high retail investor participation, resembling the traits of Meme stocks [1][4] - Silver futures prices saw their largest single-day increase in nearly 40 years, leading to a significant influx of investors into related ETFs, surpassing trading volumes of all individual stocks in the U.S. market [1][5] - Since January 1, 2025, silver futures have risen by 230%, outpacing gold, platinum, and palladium, and driving ETF and options trading volumes to record highs [1][5] ETF Trading Volume - The trading volume of silver-related ETFs exploded on Monday, with major funds like iShares Silver Trust and ProShares UltraShort Silver seeing combined turnover exceeding 1.2 billion shares [5] - ProShares UltraShort Silver ETF topped the list of most actively traded securities in the U.S. with nearly 800 million shares traded, indicating significant short-selling activity [8] - The iShares Silver Trust followed with over 377 million shares traded, while options trading linked to it also reached historic levels, with over 3.6 million call options exchanged [8] Market Dynamics - Market strategists note that despite silver's industrial applications, the recent price volatility is driven more by momentum and public sentiment rather than fundamentals, likening it to the behavior seen in Meme stocks like GameStop [4][9] - Analysts emphasize that the current investment environment encourages rapid trend-following behavior, with little regard for underlying fundamentals [4][9] Retail Investor Interest - Retail investor interest in silver has surged, with social media activity related to silver reaching levels not seen since 2011, indicating a significant resurgence in public engagement [10][11] - The weekly page views for silver on the investment-focused social media platform Stocktwits have skyrocketed to 30 to 40 times the levels seen last summer, reflecting a renewed enthusiasm among retail investors [11]

ARK Invest, the asset management firm led by Cathie Wood, has filed with U.S. regulators to launch two new cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that would track the CoinDesk 20 — a benchmark of the most liquid digital assets, including bitcoin, ether, solana, XRP and cardano. Rather than holding crypto directly, the proposed ETFs would rely on cash-settled, regulated futures contracts to mimic the index's daily performance. While one fund will track the CoinDesk 20, the other will track that inde ...

Sometimes, you just have to let it go. Leveraged exchange-traded products have been all the rage in recent months, with almost 60 new filings for funds that track companies like Google, Robinhood and Uber coming online in October alone. Total assets in leveraged US equity ETFs hit $125B as of Dec. 25, up from $106B at the end of 2024, according to Morningstar Direct. Across the pond, three of the top 10 most traded ETPs on the London Stock Exchange featured 3X leverage strategies, including the top traded ...

Core Insights - The ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) focuses on companies that have increased dividends for 25 or more consecutive years, indicating strong financial discipline and commitment to shareholders [1] Company Overview - NOBL generates income by investing in companies with a proven track record of consistent dividend increases, which reflects their stability and reliability in financial performance [1]

Core Insights - The ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dorsey Wright Momentum ETF (QQQA) focuses on large-cap, non-financial Nasdaq-listed equities with strong price momentum [1] - The underlying index selects the top 21 stocks based on a relative-strength matrix and point-and-figure trend signals, with quarterly rebalancing [1] - Constituents are equal-weighted to ensure no single stock exceeds approximately 5% of the portfolio, reflecting momentum rather than the parent index weights [1] Index Methodology - The Nasdaq-100 Dorsey Wright Momentum Index uses a comprehensive screening process for free-float and liquidity [1] - Stocks are retained if they remain within a defined top-tier band to limit turnover during quarterly reviews [1] - Additions to the index are based on sustained relative outperformance, while deletions occur when momentum deteriorates or a company exits the Nasdaq-100 [1]

Core Insights - The ProShares DJ Brookfield Global Infrastructure ETF (TOLZ US) is designed to provide exposure to global developed-market infrastructure assets, focusing on companies that derive at least 70% of their cash flows from eligible infrastructure lines [1] Group 1: Portfolio Construction Methodology - The underlying index includes owners/operators of pure-play infrastructure assets such as airports, toll roads, ports, communications, electricity transmission and distribution, oil and gas storage/transport, and water [1] - Companies must meet investability and liquidity standards on developed-market exchanges, with ongoing inclusion subject to customary buffer tests [1] - Constituents are weighted based on float-adjusted market capitalization, with explicit concentration controls: no single stock can exceed 10%, any one country is capped at 50%, and any infrastructure sector is also limited to 50% [1] - The design allows for partnerships and Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) while applying the same capping and liquidity discipline [1] - The index undergoes quarterly reconstitution and rebalancing, effective after the third Friday of March, June, September, and December, where cash-flow purity screens, investability filters, and caps are reapplied [1]