FEP

First Trust Europe AlphaDEX ETF (FEP) declares $0.1291/share quarterly dividend, -73% decrease from prior dividend of $0.4782.Forward yield 1.28%Payable March 31; for shareholders of record March 26; ex-div March 25.See

It’s reality-check time for ESG funds.

In financial markets filled to the brim with froth, one of the more speculative corners is showing signs of bubbling yet again.

Across Wall Street, signs of speculative excess are everywhere. Penny stocks surging. Cash pouring into trendy thematic bets. Risky debt paying less than ever. With unchecked animal spirits and historic valuations, what’s an investor to do?

First Trust Europe AlphaDEX ETF (FEP) declares $0.4782/share quarterly dividend, 241.3% increase from prior dividend of $0.1401.Forward yield 4.95%Payable Dec. 31; for shareholders of record Dec. 28; ex-div Dec. 24.See

The dollar is consolidating yesterday's losses.Equities are lower, and benchmark yields are little changed.The S&P 500 is trading a little lower following yesterday's 0.2% decline.Gold rose almost 1% yesterday, the most in a couple of weeks, on the back of the weaker dollar.WTI for December delivery slumped 4% yesterday and slipped below the $40-mark and straddled today.

The dollar is falling against most of the world's currencies today.Sterling and the Norwegian krone are leading the majors higher.The Chinese yuan extended its gains and is now at the best level since July 2018.In Asia, most of the large markets gained, but China, India, and a handful of smaller bourses were sold.Europe's Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is off for the third day and the sixth session in the past seven.

China's economy expanded by 2.7% in Q3, a little below the Bloomberg survey median forecast of 3.3%, and Q2 growth was revised to 11.7% from 11.5%.The UK has been struck by a resurging virus, the lack of progress with EU trade talks, and the pre-weekend downgrade by Moody's.In an otherwise light calendar today, six Fed officials speak. These include Chair Powell at an IMF-sponsored discussion of cross-border payments and Vice-Chair Clarida on the economic outlook.Oil prices have recovered from their April lows but have been moving broadly sideways for three-four months.