Latest news with #JEInsights
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Calamos Protected Bitcoin ETFs: The Edge You May Be Seeking
By JE Insights, Benzinga DETROIT, MICHIGAN - May 20, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - Bitcoin (CCC: BTC-USD) and the underlying blockchain technology represent a game-changing innovation in high finance. For the first time, the nexus of economic value has been decoupled from a centralized authority and has instead been distributed across a so-called trustless network. This powerful concept has empowered a radical paradigm shift in participatory economics. At the same time, no revolution materializes without growing pains. For Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency complex, that pain has been in the form of extreme, unrelenting volatility. Without a doubt, the magnitude of wildness in BTC and similar digital assets has been more than enough reason for traditional investors to be cautious. But to allay such fears, global asset manager Calamos Investments offers a novel solution: protected Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. Recently, actively managed ETF assets have reached $1 trillion, now comprising 10% of all ETF assets - doubling in just 18 months. The lesser-known trend is the increasing adoption of options-based ETFs by investors, which is projected to reach $650 billion by 2030. Calamos says it stands unique in offering the only solution for downside protection over a defined outcome period. Put another way, Calamos' Protected Bitcoin ETFs aim to deliver the best of both worlds: the advanced mitigatory strategies of sophisticated equities-based traders and the robust performance profile of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. With the launch of the April series, investors have the opportunity to explore a new mechanism of exposure to virtual currencies. A Response To The Tariff Tantrum And Inflation Over the trailing five years, Bitcoin has gained in the range of 1000%, demonstrating its explosive potential - at least when circumstances are favorable. But when the inevitable downcycle erupts? It's not uncommon for digital assets to incur worrying double-digit percentage losses within a matter of days. That's where the beauty of the Calamos Protected Bitcoin ETFs comes in. With these specialized products, investors can gain exposure to an alternative asset class unlike anything else in the market. At the same time, the financial services provider understands that investors are not monoliths. As such, the April series aims to deliver a range of risk-reward profiles to suit individual tastes and tolerances. To provide a mitigated approach to the exciting but wild crypto market, Calamos utilizes a financial transaction similar in structure to an options-based debit transaction called the bull call spread. Unlike a traditional bull spread, though, the underlying cash outlay to enter the long position is instead replaced by a combination of the bond-protected principal and the proceeds from the spread's short-leg transaction. With inflation and trade wars – among other major headwinds – disrupting risk appetite for most, downside-protected funds can potentially deliver much-needed peace of mind. They may also make crypto exposure feasible for market participants averse to extreme uncertainty. The products – listed under the Calamos Bitcoin Structured Alt Protection ETF label - launched on April 7 with the following upside cap rates and protection levels over one year. Fundamentally, the Calamos Protected Bitcoin ETFs attempt to draw a middle ground between the crypto ecosystem's explosive capital gains potential with the discipline found in traditional equity risk models. Delivering The Calamos Risk Management Advantage To be fair, investors can choose to directly purchase Bitcoin or other digital assets, sidestepping Calamos altogether. Nevertheless, many astute market participants avoid doing so due to the very real challenges associated with digital currencies. For one thing, the decentralized nature of the blockchain means that price discovery is occurring 24/7/365. Unlike the equities sector, exchange operators do not temporarily pull the plug to provide traders with a 'cooling off' period. Instead, the crypto market is constantly in flux. It's more than possible – sometimes likely – that drastic changes erupt while traders sleep. Riches can be made and lost in the blink of an eye – Calamos aims to smooth out these acute spikes in valuation velocities. Another element to consider is the largely unregulated nature of cryptocurrencies. In many cases, individuals are responsible for the safeguarding and protection of crypto access. Unfortunately, there have been too many stories of people forgetting their passwords or losing hardware, thus silently nuking millions – if not billions – of dollars. Finally, various political administrations may have radically differing views on digital assets. While the blockchain unlocks profound innovations, the technology also threatens established paradigms. Because of the contentious ground that Bitcoin often walks, an air of uncertainty follows the sector. Calamos helps relieve some of this tension while providing enough breadth for upside speculation. Redefining Access To The Blockchain Economy Calamos isn't offering a magic bullet – it's offering structured protection. For investors intrigued by Bitcoin's long-term potential but unwilling to stomach its short-term chaos, the April series may represent a feasible compromise. With multiple protection levels and corresponding cap ranges, these ETFs allow investors to approach crypto on their own terms. Rather than choosing between blind speculation or complete avoidance, market participants can now explore a middle path. For those seeking a measured, risk-aware entry into digital assets, the Calamos Protected Bitcoin ETFs may offer exactly that. Click here to learn more about a smarter way to invest in Bitcoin. Featured photo byArt RachenonUnsplash This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. This content was originallypublished on further disclosureshere. View the original release on
Associated Press
28-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
BNDS ETF Aims To Offer High Yield In Low-Rate Era
By JE Insights, Benzinga DETROIT, MICHIGAN - April 28, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - Throughout the post-pandemic recovery phase, worsening inflation represented one of the main impediments, thereby inspiring the Federal Reserve to implement a hawkish monetary policy. At the same time, an overly tight framework can lead to economic deceleration due to the increased cost of borrowing money. With the latest report on inflation showing a cooler-than-expected print, the Fed is now considering easing its monetary policy. Based on trading activity on Fed funds futures, the market expects at least three rate cuts this year. To be fair, such a dovish shift may require the economy to slow down before policymakers feel comfortable pulling the trigger. Notably, the current geopolitical environment - especially as it relates to trade wars - heightens the risk of a deceleration in growth. This circumstance then raises the question: where will investors find high yield without overreaching on risk? Boutique financial specialist Infrastructure Capital Advisors, LLC - commonly known as Infrastructure Capital - seeks to answer this inquiry with its product, Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF (ARCA: BNDS). An exchange-traded fund, BNDS presents a flexible, actively managed approach to income in this complex and evolving economic landscape. Unlike a typical bond fund, Infrastructure Capital Bond is designed to adapt across multiple credit cycles. At the same time, it aims to consistently deliver high yields through a mix of corporate bonds and options income strategies. Rising Above The Broken Math Of Traditional Bonds A sensible investment strategy could involve a diversified mix of capital gains potential and robust income-generating baselines. However, not all yield-focused investments are built equally, potentially allowing the outsized performance of the BNDS ETF to distinguish itself from the competition. In particular, benchmark yields like the 10-year Treasury may have risen sharply since 2022. Unfortunately, with inflation still elevated, the real return for bondholders remains modest. And while 10-year Treasuries yield around 4.25% and investment-grade corporates deliver around 5.4%, these rates are declining. Should rate cuts materialize, income investors could be under more pressure to find adequate rewards. The aforementioned dynamic is a byproduct of spread compression. Representing the difference in yield between a riskier bond and a safer bond (such as a Treasury), the spread narrows when interest rates drop across the board. Essentially, this dynamic means that high-risk debt securities don't typically offer much more yield than safer alternatives, creating an incentivization problem. After all, who would want to absorb high risk for low reward? Subsequently, spread compression pushes income investors into a corner. One approach is for market participants to heighten their risk exposure with junk bonds - also known as highly speculative or distressed debt. Another approach is to abandon income altogether and instead focus on wealth protection, explaining in part the meteoric rise of gold. What makes Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF stand out is that it offers a potentially happy middle ground. Armed with an active strategy, the BNDS fund's portfolio management team hunt for income in places where other funds can't or won't go. This attribute affords the ETF flexibility, facilitating adjustments to market conditions in real time. How The BNDS ETF Moves The Needle As reported by Statista, in 2023, investors had access to 10,319 ETFs. As of 2022, these funds globally managed assets up to over $11 trillion. To be quite blunt, the concept of an income-generating fund is hardly unique. So, why would investors consider the Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF? Primarily, BNDS ranks highly on relevance. As stated earlier, this ETF is actively managed, delivering important advantages over passive ETFs. Perhaps the most conspicuous element is the ability and flexibility to navigate dynamic market conditions. Indeed, the BNDS doesn't passively track an index or benchmark; instead, actual human beings adjust the portfolio based on economic trends, Fed policy changes and a host of other impact points. This distinguishing factor segues into another point: people, people, people. The BNDS ETF is spearheaded by Infrastructure Capital founder, CEO and lead portfolio manager Jay D. Hatfield. Leveraging a broad perspective on the U.S. financial markets, Hatfield commands extensive experience as an investment banker and research director. In concert with his team of experts, the BNDS fund aims to be geared for whatever the market throws at it: shifting credit cycles, energy booms and busts and monetary policy pivots. The Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF also enjoys credibility. One of Infrastructure Capital's most popular investment vehicles is Virtus InfraCap US Preferred Stock ETF (ARCA: PFFA). Another actively managed fund, PFFA buys U.S. preferred stocks that pay fixed dividends, aligning with the Infrastructure Capital philosophy of extracting income from uncommon places. Still, what arguably moves the needle for investors considering the BNDS ETF is its yield. At the moment, the fund's 30-day Sec Yield clocks in at 7.12%. Combined with a management fee and gross expense ratio of 0.80% and 0.81%, respectively, the BNDS aims to deliver a robust income at a sensible cost. Finally, the meat and potatoes of this income fund centers on long-duration, higher-yield corporate issuers, such as Plains All American Pipeline LP and Lincoln National Corp. These companies tend to represent stable businesses with tangible cash flows - aligning with Infrastructure Capital's broad strategic view of targeting assets with intrinsic value and free cash flow potential. Rethinking The Income Game In a world where the traditional playbook no longer cuts it, income investors may want to consider going beyond surface-level yields and embrace adaptability. The days of relying on static bond strategies are fading fast, replaced by a need for dynamic approaches that can respond to evolving risks - and just as importantly, uncover overlooked rewards. By marrying real-time flexibility with a disciplined focus, Infrastructure Capital's strategy represents something more than just another bond fund: it's a deliberate response to the challenges of this new rate environment. To learn more about this approach and what it could mean for your portfolio, visit click here. Featured image byNattanan KanchanapratfromPixabay. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. This content was originallypublished on further disclosureshere.
Associated Press
23-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
The New Industrial Frontier: On-Orbit Manufacturing And One Company's Role In Making It A Reality
By JE Insights, Benzinga DETROIT, MICHIGAN - April 23, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - No matter the origin of operations, the theoretical capacity of manufacturing endeavors will always be limited by on-ground considerations, such as labor availability, skill gaps, supply chain disruptions and regulatory frameworks. However, the terrestrial nature of this paradigm has never been under question - that is, until recently. With advancing technologies opening new frontiers, particularly in the realm of orbital manufacturing, Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTI) could be poised to deliver a radical new solution. Enter the world of on-orbit manufacturing. In prior ages of innovation and industrialization, the recurring motif has always been the earth, the literal ground zero. As such, manufacturing would invariably be confined to - and limited by - the rules of the ecosystem, from ambient temperatures to the rate at which objects fall. But by changing not just the protocol of manufacturing, but the entire canvas, suddenly, new possibilities emerge. Even better, in the case of Ascent Solar, the company doesn't just offer speculative moonshots designed to excite the exclusive domain of the theoretical – it says it has already laid the groundwork for solar production in orbit. The Innovation And Advantage Of Orbital Manufacturing Contrary to the complex lexicon utilized by other industries, the term orbital manufacturing is thankfully intuitive: it describes the process of producing goods in space rather than on earth. At first blush, the concept sounds unnecessarily complex and therefore expensive - until one realizes that space manufacturing can leverage unique conditions like microgravity, near-perfect vacuums and extreme temperatures. From a fundamental perspective, advocates of orbital manufacturing assert that certain conditions in space facilitate the development of products that offer superior quality than those of terrestrial origin. 'Space is a much better place to do almost any industrial process,' said Space Forge CEO Joshua Western in an interview with The Guardian. 'We live on a planet where we're weighed down by gravity. We made ovens, refrigerators and the vacuum pump to help manufacture products on earth, but if you go to space, you get those benefits for free.' Another pivotal edge of orbital manufacturing is production hampered by fewer defects, particularly for complex processes such as semiconductors. To be fair, McKinsey & Company notes that such defects are relatively rare in the chipmaking space. However, an important attribute is the natural vacuum of the final frontier, which could help facilitate thin-layering techniques. These unique protocols help reduce or eliminate gases during production, potentially leading to the development of smaller semiconductor structures. McKinsey acknowledges that if space-based research and development could develop such advanced semiconductors, the benefits could be massive. As circumstances stand now, the industry represents one of the largest on the planet, with total sales projected to hit $725 billion by this year. Moreover, research in the arena will clock in at about $90 billion. Since tech giants compete heavily for the most incremental of advantages, an overhaul in terms of the underlying structure of semiconductors could change the game entirely. In particular, one key subsegment of the semiconductor industry – solar photovoltaics (PV) - could see tremendous advances, which is where Ascent Solar Technologies comes in. The Case For Solar PV In Orbit At its core, solar PV represents a family of devices that convert sunlight into electricity using semiconductors – a process known as the photovoltaic effect. Through this process, solar panels are able to power everything in space from satellites to space stations. Obviously, to develop these panels, engineers construct them terrestrially. By logical reasoning, these complex PV systems must survive violent launches to reach orbit, adding to the total mass involved, along with increased costs and challenges. A key advantage, then, of on-orbit manufacturing is convenience. Should solar cells and panels be constructed in space, the process eliminates the logistical burden of surviving launches. From a financial and business planning perspective, orbital manufacturing may yield greater predictability, keeping the accounting department happy. From an engineering standpoint, this new approach permits the production of lighter, higher-efficiency panels with custom geometries. In other words, specialized panels no longer need to be 'folded' to accommodate orbital deployment. Instead, these products can be built to spec, in space. Of course, money always talks - and the conversation is only getting louder. According to Ascent's research, market demand for on-orbit power could reach 1.8 megawatts per year by 2030 - and that's not including large-scale projects like Starlink. Even more compelling, the U.S. Department of Defense requires more advanced solutions, particularly drones, satellites and forward bases that are undergirded by superior power-to-mass ratios. Ascent may be uniquely positioned to help advance the next step in the broader space economy, drawing intrigue toward its capabilities and acumen. Ascending Above The Competition Based in Thornton, Colorado, Ascent is one of the leading providers of innovative, high-performance, flexible thin-film solar panels. These specially designed systems were manufactured for scenarios where traditional rigid solar panels don't work. Commanding a rich portfolio of patents, Ascent has quickly risen to its place in the industry thanks to its lab-to-fab experiences, particularly in the realm of lightweight panels. Specifically, the company participated directly in a U.S. Air Force-backed feasibility study, contributing critical technical guidance for a conceptual thin-film PV manufacturing system designed to operate in orbit. Working alongside Above: Orbital Inc., Ascent helped map out a compact system architecture capable of producing up to 500 kilowatts per year - all within the internal dimensions of a single space station module. At the heart of the process is Ascent's proprietary vacuum-deposition technique, a method already optimized for space conditions. Rather than force components to survive the stresses of launch, Ascent's system processes raw materials in orbit, unlocking higher-efficiency output with fewer structural trade-offs. Projected power-to-mass ratios approach 830 watts per kilogram in space, a substantial improvement over legacy systems. Ascent reports that the form factor flexibility of its design also eliminates the need for folding mechanisms or reinforced frames, enabling custom geometries tailored to mission-specific requirements. Backed by a robust patent portfolio – including coverage of sequential deposition techniques, multilayer back contact systems and integrated thermal management – Ascent holds key intellectual property directly aligned with orbital production. Leveraging engineering extending far beyond the conceptual phase and into the tangible domain, the underlying innovations offer significant relevancies for both governmental and commercial endeavors. A New Industrial Frontier Ascent is helping shape a new manufacturing paradigm – one that trades the constraints of gravity and launch logistics for flexibility, efficiency and scale. It says its core technology aligns directly with the demands of space-based infrastructure, offering a streamlined path from concept to deployment. With government-backed validation, a growing patent portfolio and clear relevance to both defense and commercial markets, Ascent isn't waiting for the future to arrive - it's helping to forge it. For more information about Ascent Solar Technologies and its role in orbital manufacturing, click here. Featured imagebyBrunoonPixabay. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. This content was originally published on Benzinga. Read further disclosures here. View the original release on
