Although two different groups are proposing ways to use ETFs to help boost U.S. markets, a third concept blending the best of each may work.

With trillions of dollars in U.S. government funding already committed to combating the worst recession since World War II, regulators are increasingly enlisting private sector support.

Along those lines, lawmakers and Treasury officials are reportedly listening to—and in some cases soliciting—outside views from key leaders in the financial sector.

Asset managers focusing on exchange-traded funds are being included in this movement to broaden the scope of U.S. economic recovery plans. As detailed in an IndexUniverse.com analysis of key developments in the effort to thaw credit markets, large ETF sponsors as well as small-yet-influential players are involved.

(The full 21-page Special Report, three months in the making, can be viewed here.) 

Two ETF Plans Emerge

At the heart of the issue is resolving so-called "toxic" debt

Although two different groups are proposing ways to use ETFs to help boost U.S. markets, a third concept blending the best of each may work.

With trillions of dollars in U.S. government funding already committed to combating the worst recession since the Great Depression, regulators are increasingly enlisting private sector support.

Along those lines, lawmakers and Treasury officials are reportedly listening to—and in some cases soliciting—outside views from key leaders in the financial sector.

Asset managers focusing on exchange-traded funds are being included in this movement to broaden the scope of U.S. economic recovery plans. As detailed in an IndexUniverse.com analysis of key developments in the effort to thaw credit markets, large ETF sponsors as well as small-yet-influential players are involved.

(The full 21-page Special Report, three months in the making, can be viewed here.) 

Two ETF Plans Emerge

At the heart of the issue is resolving so-called "toxic" debt

Mark-to-Market: A Rule That Begs to Be Broken

by Louis Basenese, Advisory Panelist

Senior Analyst, The Oxford Club

Today a House Financial Services subcommittee will examine the hot-button accounting issue of mark-to-market, formally known as FASB 157.

The SEC’s already asserted its stubbornness. An anonymous source told Reuters this week, and I’m editorializing slightly, “There ain’t no way we’re suspending mark-to-market!”

But there are a lot of good reasons why they need to do exactly that. Unfortunately, the SEC doesn’t have a great history of proactive regulation. Here’s why we better hope our elected representatives see the situation differently.

Mark-to-Market - Increasing Transparency?

Proponents of mark-to-market contend, and rightfully so, that the rule increases transparency. It requires banks to “mark” or price assets based on the current market price. In other words, it forces banks to tell us what their assets would sell for in the current environment.

On paper, that’s a