Trade Commodities With ETNs
October 31, 2007 – Commodities-focused exchange traded notes (ETNs), not the exchange traded funds (ETFs), do not own the underlying commodities. These are structured like debt instruments set to mature and are created to have price movements that correspond... Continue Reading »

The Fed Rate Cut Gives Good News and Bad
October 31, 2007 – When it comes to investing and exchange traded funds (ETFs), is the glass half empty or half full? The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter point, to 4.5%, and Wall Street sure... Continue Reading »

October ETF Performance
October 31, 2007 – Ghouls didn’t spook exchange traded fund (ETF) investors this Halloween as new highs were reached globally this month.  With today’s rate cut by the Federal Reserve, many ETFs hit new highs. Domestically, the Nasdaq was... Continue Reading »

Shorting International Markets With ETFs
October 31, 2007 – Last week ProShares launched the first two of six proposed exchange traded funds (ETFs) that are of the short international exposure. ProShares Short MSCI EAFE (EFZ) tracks the inverse of the daily moves of... Continue Reading »

Where Is Google In the Internet ETFs?
October 31, 2007 – Where do you think Google (GOOG) is in the related exchange traded funds (ETFs)? As Google’s stock price went above $700 for the first time today, some of you may wonder.  Well, Scott Rothbort... Continue Reading »

Gold (GLD) ETF Is More Popular Than Its Peers
October 31, 2007 – Gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) have seen a dramatic interest in them as the dollar has sunk to record lows. These ETFs have also been popular among investors because they are viewed as a... Continue Reading »

Singapore’s ETF, the Next Frontier
October 31, 2007 – Foreign stock markets have experienced lavish returns and with the sinking U.S. dollar, global exchange traded funds (ETFs) are gaining American investment capital. Performance is what investors want, and global ETFs show an impressive... Continue Reading »

ETF Trick-or-Treat?
October 31, 2007 – What does Halloween have to do with exchange traded funds (ETFs)? Traditionally a Gaelic festival known as Samhain, the festival is a celebration of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. The ancient Gaels believed... Continue Reading »

Brazil’s ETF Is Still on Fire
October 30, 2007 – The iShares MSCI Brazil Index (EWZ) has been one of the top performing exchange traded funds (ETFs) so far this year. Currently, it’s up 80.2% year-to-date. The exchange’s share price on Monday represented almost... Continue Reading »

Ideas for a Lazy ETF Portfolio
October 30, 2007 – Does an exchange traded fund (ETF) portfolio that holds Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-U.S. ETF (VEU) and iShares Russell 3000 Index (IWV) provide a complete and balanced financial diet? It’s highly unlikely an investor can cover... Continue Reading »

Tracking ETF Tracking Errors
October 30, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are designed to follow indexes, but they can’t always do it precisely. When they deviate, it’s called a tracking error. This is the difference in performance between the index and... Continue Reading »

Two Telecommunication ETFs That Are So Similar but So Different
October 30, 2007 – It’s interesting to see how different two exchange traded funds (ETFs) that cover the same sector, one domestically and one internationally, can perform. A strong example of this is shown in the telecommunications arena.... Continue Reading »

Commodities ETFs and Markets Lower as Everyone Awaits Fed’s Decision
October 30, 2007 – Commodities-related exchange traded funds (ETFs) and the markets in general are lower so far today as both gold and crude-oil futures consolidated after their recent strong gains. Crude oil for December delivery traded down,... Continue Reading »

High Oil Prices Help Oil Services and Equipment ETFs
October 30, 2007 – As oil prices hit new highs, oil-related exchange traded funds (ETFs) benefit. Besides the  obvious futures-based oil ETFs United States Oil (USO) and iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (OIL) another... Continue Reading »

A Dividend ETF Match
October 30, 2007 – The Claymore/Zacks Dividend Rotation (IRO) exchange traded fund (ETF) began trading this week, and it brings a new level of complexity to dividend ETFs. IRO tracks the Zacks Dividend Rotation Index, which is a... Continue Reading »

Tax Bills? ETFs Can Help
October 30, 2007 – New research is displaying how index fund and exchange traded fund (ETF) investors can maximize their after-tax returns. Some tax experts believe that mutual funds shareholders’ tax bills will be the highest ever since... Continue Reading »

ETFs Keep Growing and Growing
October 29, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have become quite the popular investment vehicle these days. ETFs currently hold more than $500 billion in assets. According to Morgan Stanley, this number is expected to quadruple in five... Continue Reading »

WisdomTree to Launch Emerging-market Small-cap ETF
October 29, 2007 – WisdomTree announced today that it will launch a new small-cap dividend-weighted exchange traded fund (ETF) tomorrow under the ticker symbol (DGS). DGS will trade on the NYSE Arca and will have an expense ratio... Continue Reading »

Online ETF Rating Services Advance
October 29, 2007 – As the exchange traded fund (ETF) market and mutual fund industry grow, investment strategies are multiplying too. To help investors determine the stars from the duds, there is a new set of online tools... Continue Reading »

PHW ETF Benefits from Technology’s Boom
October 29, 2007 – The PowerShares Dynamic Hardware and Consumer Electronics (PHW) exchange traded fund (ETF) follows the Hardware & Consumer Electronics Intellidex Index. The index evaluates companies based on a variety of criteria, such as fundamental growth,... Continue Reading »

Gold Miners ETF Rises to New High
October 29, 2007 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) Market Vectors Gold Miners (GDX) jumped to an all-time high today as gold approached the key $800-an-ounce level on broad dollar weakness. The ETF hit a record high of... Continue Reading »

Currency ETFs Follow the Growth
October 29, 2007 – An old saying goes that when the U.S. sneezes, economies around the world and their exchange traded funds (ETFs) catch a cold. Yet this trend seems to be changing for two reasons, according to... Continue Reading »

Dividend ETFs Are The Flavor of the Month
October 29, 2007 – In September it was municipal-bond exchange traded funds. This month it’s dividend-based ETFs. There’s a ton of them and some could be destined for an untimely demise, says Gary Gordon for ETF Expert. For example,... Continue Reading »

Three ETF Trading Tips
October 29, 2007 – When you invest in an exchange traded fund (ETF), you want to pay attention to the "bid-ask" spreads. These are the premiums that you pay every time you buy or sell. With time and... Continue Reading »

New ETF Assets Continue to Bail out Fund Industry
October 28, 2007 – If it weren’t for money flowing into exchange traded funds (ETFs), the mutual fund industry would continue to loose assets. ETF providers Barclays Global Investors and State Street Global Advisors pulled in the most... Continue Reading »

Gold and Oil ETFs Hit Record Highs
October 28, 2007 – Gold futures exchange traded funds (ETFs) closed at their highest level in nearly 28 years on Friday, as gains in the metal were fueled by record-high crude prices as well as the tumbling of... Continue Reading »

Exchange/Broker/Manager ETF Has Staying Power
October 28, 2007 – Can a new, narrowly-based exchange traded fund (ETF) give investors something new within its sector? The Claymore/Clear Global, Exchanges, Brokers and Asset Managers Index ETF (EXB) was released in July and since its launch,... Continue Reading »

Property Values Could Pull Down REIT ETFs
October 27, 2007 – U.S. real estate investment trusts (REITs) could be experiencing their biggest decline in almost a decade, which could be affecting REIT-related exchange traded funds (ETFs). One of the main culprits behind the potential drop... Continue Reading »

Why the Spikes in ETF Trading Volumes?
October 27, 2007 – We received a question the other day from an exchange traded fund (ETF) investor who asked: "I am curious if you know what causes the spikes in volume in relatively low-volume ETFs. For example,... Continue Reading »

Energy ETFs Turn up the Heat on Performance
October 27, 2007 – Recent government data showed a large drop in crude inventories, which created a spike in crude futures and boosted the exchange traded fund (ETF) Energy Select SPDR ETF (XLE) earlier this week. XLE reached... Continue Reading »

New S&P Select Frontier Index Could Pave the Way for More ETFs
October 26, 2007 – More exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be on the way now that the S&P has launched its new Select Frontier Index. The new index includes 30 of the largest and most liquid components from... Continue Reading »

5 ETFs with Winning Streaks
October 26, 2007 – Now that the five-year bull market is showing signs of distress, investors might be curious about some exchange traded funds (ETFs) that are on a winning streak. Richard Widows for TheStreet.com reports that none... Continue Reading »

Merrill Lynch Pulls Down Broker-Dealer ETF
October 26, 2007 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) iShares Dow Jones U.S. Broker-Dealers Index (IAI) fell sharply on heavy volume Wednesday following a sell-off in shares of Merrill Lynch (MER), which accounts for about 8% of the... Continue Reading »

Networking ETF (IGN) Withstands Earnings Report Hit
October 26, 2007 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) iShares S&P GSTI Networking Index (IGN) fell sharply earlier this week when shares of one of its top holdings Juniper Networks (JNPR) tumbled following its quarterly earnings results. Juniper... Continue Reading »

ProShares Has Leveraged Commodity and Currency ETFs in the Works
October 26, 2007 – ProShares has recently filed papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch 48 new exchange traded funds (ETFs) tied to commodities and currencies. The commodity funds will track the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index and related... Continue Reading »

Financial Related ETFs Hope For Rate Cut
October 26, 2007 – Many financial sector exchange traded funds (ETFs) and Wall Street want the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates again. Learning Merrill Lynch (MER) had to write off $7.9 billion in losses tied to mortgage-related... Continue Reading »

Active ETFs - Who Will Be the First?
October 26, 2007 – The elusive goal of bringing an actively-managed exchange traded fund (ETF) to market is still a futuristic ideal, but six managers believe they have the formula. Raquel Pichardo for Investment News says that Vanguard,... Continue Reading »

Fire Claims in California Affect Insurance ETFs
October 26, 2007 – Insurance related exchange traded funds (ETFs) could see increased activity as California’s major insurers face significant claims in the weeks and months ahead. Raging wildfires engulfed at least 1,500 homes and caused economic losses... Continue Reading »

Do Mutual Funds Have Skeletons in the Closet? Try ETFs Instead
October 26, 2007 – One of America’s biggest financial advisers Ric Edelman wants investors to sell their mutual funds and invest in exchange traded funds (ETFs) instead. On the surface, it’s easy to see why: ETFs are transparent,... Continue Reading »

Oil Closes at New High Above $90; Oil ETFs Jump Up
October 25, 2007 – Oil exchange traded funds (ETFs) are up as oil futures settled at a new record of $90.46 a barrel on news that OPEC production increases aren’t coming as fast as expected. Also pushing up... Continue Reading »

ETFs Set Sail - Should You Follow?
October 25, 2007 – Indexes that international, country-specific exchange traded funds (ETFs) follow select their contents based on liquidity, the stocks’ performance and expenses. The question is which is a better investment: an actively-managed mutual fund or an... Continue Reading »

ProShares Releases New Leveraged ETFs
October 25, 2007 – ProShares announced today the launch of the first short international exchange traded funds (ETFs) designed to go up when a foreign market goes down. The six new ProShares ETFs to be listed on the... Continue Reading »

Firms Provide ETF Education Programs
October 25, 2007 – We all know that exchange traded funds (ETFs) have become extremely popular over the past few years, yet a recent survey of 500 mutual fund investors conducted by Rydex Investments showed that many know... Continue Reading »

Are Financial ETFs Diamonds or Duds?
October 25, 2007 – It seems everyone has an opinion on financial exchange traded funds (ETFs). Some say financial ETFs are likely to thrive from the rate cut, so now when they are cheap, it’s the perfect time... Continue Reading »

Claymore Launches New Dividend Rotation ETF
October 25, 2007 – On Wednesday, Claymore launched the first dividend rotation exchange traded fund (ETF). The Claymore/Zacks Dividend Rotation ETF (IRO) launched on the American Stock Exchange. This brings the company’s total to 34 ETFs since the... Continue Reading »

Of Cargo Ships and ETFs
October 25, 2007 – Some exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be affected as the world’s fleet of cargo ships grow old. That’s because as the world’s fleet of cargo ships age, they can’t carry the surging demand for... Continue Reading »

Mutual Fund Poised for Big Year-end Distributions: Another Reason to Consider ETFs
October 24, 2007 – If you needed another reason to invest in exchange traded funds (ETFs), here’s one: Many mutual funds are finding they’ll be paying out big taxable distributions this year, and some industry experts are predicting... Continue Reading »

Green, Clean ETFs to the Rescue
October 24, 2007 – As consumers worldwide become more environmentally aware and purchase more environmentally-friendly products, "green" exchange traded funds (ETFs) benefit. In fact, global venture capital invested in the clean technology industry has grown 35% since 2006... Continue Reading »

Consider Global REIT ETFs for More Diversification
October 24, 2007 – With the U.S. real estate market in sad shape these days, investors might want to consider the appeals of global REIT (real estate investment trusts) exchange traded funds (ETFs). Global REIT ETFs offer more... Continue Reading »

Barclays Launches New Commodities ETNs
October 24, 2007 – Barclays recently released eight new iPath exchange-traded notes (ETNs) on the NYSE Arca exchange. The new ETNs are linked to eight subindexes of the Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index, covering the agriculture, copper, grains, energy,... Continue Reading »

Sector ETFs Still Popular
October 24, 2007 – It has been suggested that sector-based exchange traded funds (ETFs) are losing popularity among investors as a result of the uncertain market. However, data shows that the flows into sector ETFs totaled $11 billion... Continue Reading »

Is It Time to Start Bottom Fishing the Homebuilders ETF?
October 24, 2007 – The homebuilders sector and its corresponding exchange traded fund (ETF) SPDR S&P Homebuilders (XHB) have been the worst performers so far this year, and it hasn’t even been close. Still, many speculators are sticking... Continue Reading »

Amazon Earnings Lift Internet ETF
October 24, 2007 – A singular exchange traded fund (ETF) Internet HOLDRs (HHH) was more affected than most as Amazon (AMZN) reported better than expected third-quarter results. Net income more than quadrupled to $80 million, or 19 cents... Continue Reading »

Lifecycle or Target-date ETFs Could Be the Next Big Thing
October 24, 2007 – The new lifecycle exchange traded funds (ETFs), also known as target-date ETFs, recently received some good news. In the next five years, target-date and target-risk funds are predicted to pull in $920 billion in... Continue Reading »

Oil ETFs Start to Trickle Down
October 23, 2007 – Oil-related exchange traded funds have been down recently as the price of oil fell more than $1 today. It retreated further from record highs set last week in response to concerns about the health... Continue Reading »

Global IPOs Enhance BRIC ETFs Offerings
October 23, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track the markets of Brazil, Russia India and China  (known as the "BRIC" block) and other emerging-market countries received some good news recently.  For one, seven out of the... Continue Reading »

Apple Boosts Technology ETFs
October 23, 2007 – Apple (AAPL) surpassed analysts’ estimates with a 67% rise in profit on Monday, boosting shares up 7% and adding an increase to some exchange traded funds (ETFs). The popularity of its iPhone and iPod... Continue Reading »

Transportation ETF Moves Up Slowly but Surely
October 23, 2007 – The iShares Dow Jones Transportation Index (IYT) exchange traded fund (ETF) has been hit-or-miss recently as rising energy prices take their toll. IYT jumped today, after Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., a railway operating... Continue Reading »

Italy’s ETF; an ETF Tony Soprano Could Love
October 23, 2007 – Could companies within the Italian exchange traded fund (ETF) iShares MSCI Italy Index (EWI) have ties to the mafia? Organized crime represents the biggest segment of the Italian economy, accounting for more than $127... Continue Reading »

All Is Sunny for Spain’s ETF…for Now
October 23, 2007 – When the markets were down last week, Spain’s exchange traded fund (ETF) iShares MSCI Spain Index (EWP) was the only country specific ETF with positive returns. Currently, EWP is up 19.4% year-to-date. According to Prime... Continue Reading »

A Few Concerns with Muni-bond ETFs
October 23, 2007 – We’ve written a lot about municipal-bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) as more keep coming. We’re excited because their introduction into the market expands ETF offerings. However, Shefali Anand for The Wall Street Journal has... Continue Reading »

Latin American ETFs Have New Competition
October 23, 2007 – Two new leveraged mutual funds from ProFunds could gobble assets away from other Latin American exchange traded funds (ETFs). The ProFunds UltraShort Latin America ProFund (UFPIX) is designed to reflect twice the downside movement... Continue Reading »

XShares Looks for SEC Approval on Actively Managed ETF
October 22, 2007 – Xshares has filed with the SEC for exemptive relief to launch actively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs), reports Erin Kello for The Mutual Fund Wire. However, building an actively managed ETF isn’t the hard... Continue Reading »

More on the Emerging-Market Bond ETF (PCY)
October 22, 2007 – On Oct. 11, the PowerShares Emerging Market Sovereign Debt Portfolio (PCY) launched, giving us another way to invest in emerging markets exchange traded funds (ETFs). Roger Nusbaum for TheStreet.com reports that it is another... Continue Reading »

Hedging with ETFs in a Declining Market
October 22, 2007 – Anytime there’s a hiccup in the market, ETF investors look for ways to protect themselves on the downside. Last week, the market volatility index (VIX) closed at 22.96, its highest level since Sept. 17.... Continue Reading »

Economic News Continues to Improve for Taiwan and Its ETF
October 22, 2007 – Taiwan’s exchange traded fund (ETF) iShares MSCI Taiwan Index (EWT) received some news that could give it a bump up. Recent statistics show that Taiwan’s overall growth rate this year will be higher than... Continue Reading »

Luxury ETF Could Benefit from More Millionaires in the World
October 22, 2007 – While the average exchange traded fund (ETF) investor might have cut down on his or her consumer spending, the same can’t be said for the ultra rich. Household wealth is hitting record heights, and... Continue Reading »

Financial ETFs for Contrarians
October 22, 2007 – If you are enticed by the financial services sector, yet you aren’t sure which bank to invest in, exchange traded funds (ETFs) are here to serve you. Selena Maranjian for The Motley Fool reports... Continue Reading »

Asian ETFs Have Some Surprises
October 22, 2007 – During the past few years, Asian markets made landmark moves and the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track them performed beautifully. The Asia ex-Japan stock category rose 60% year-to-date, 43.5% in the past three... Continue Reading »

Agriculture ETFs Continue to Grow
October 22, 2007 – It’s been a good week for agriculture exchange traded funds (ETFs). After meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) late this week, the World Bank recently decided the best path for development is through... Continue Reading »

As Oil Prices Climb, Will ETF Investors Migrate to Clean Energy ETFs?
October 21, 2007 – As oil prices and oil-related exchange traded funds (ETFs) have been hitting new highs, more people are using it as proof that alternative energy sources are needed. This causes investors to feel the monetary... Continue Reading »

How the Federal Reserve Makes Decisions that Affect ETFs
October 21, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be influenced by the Federal Chairman Ben Bernanke’s decisions. For example, when the Fed cut interest rates in September, many ETFs increased.  That’s one reason why investors and analysts... Continue Reading »

How Can You Find What’s Inside an ETF?
October 21, 2007 – An exchange traded fund (ETF) is a basket of stocks that track an underlying index. Sometimes it can be difficult to judge what stocks are actually held in the ETF by the title of the... Continue Reading »

ETFs and the Pros and Cons to a Weak Dollar
October 20, 2007 – Foreign currency exchange traded funds (ETFs) continue to benefit from the weak U.S. dollar. The dollar hit a new low against the euro in Friday trading. In the end, the dollar was higher against... Continue Reading »

India Funds Drop as the Country Tightens Exposure to Foreign Investors
October 20, 2007 – India’s exchange traded note (ETN) and closed-end fund (CEF) have been down recently as India has been making moves to limit overseas money into its stock market. As more money from abroad flows into... Continue Reading »

4 Steps to a Solid ETF Portfolio
October 20, 2007 – Performance chasing with exchange traded funds (ETFs) and your investments is not a good idea for the overall well-being of your portfolio. Lately, the best-performing ETFs have been in the developing markets and natural... Continue Reading »

A Falling Dollar Can Benefit Some ETFs, but Hurt the Economy
October 19, 2007 – A weak U.S. dollar can be good for many exchange traded funds (ETFs). For example, a low dollar benefits foreign currency ETFs that go up as we go down. Precious metals, such as gold... Continue Reading »

Economic Worries Could Wear on Russia’s ETF
October 19, 2007 – Although Russia’s exchange traded fund (ETF) has been climbing upward for the last couple of months, political and economic jitters could be the influence behind it’s recent drop. Currently, the Market Vectors Russia ETF... Continue Reading »

Planning for the Future with ETFs
October 19, 2007 – For those of you in your twenties blessed with the notion to think about your retirement, exchange traded funds (ETFs) can help. Whether you are a college student or have recently entered the career... Continue Reading »

ETF Flows
October 19, 2007 – It appears investors are still adding to their stock funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs), although they’re doing so at a slower pace. Equity funds pulled in $1.6 billion in net new money for the... Continue Reading »

Singapore ETF Gives Back Strong Returns
October 19, 2007 – Singapore’s exchange traded fund (ETF) has been one of the top performers so far this year. iShares Singapore Index Fund (EWS) is currently up 37.6% year-to-date and has returned an average of 31% per... Continue Reading »

Watch the SPDRs ETFs Grow
October 19, 2007 – The Select Sector SPDRs exchange traded funds (ETFs) cover broad, general sectors of the market. Billions of dollars move into and out of those funds each week. A total of nearly $21.8 billion was... Continue Reading »

ETF Investing Suggestions in 4-Word Phrases
October 19, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have made investing much easier because they invest in a basket of stocks instead of individual ones. Yet Bill Barker for The Motley Fool aims to make investing even easier... Continue Reading »

ETFs Can Buffer a Temperamental Market
October 19, 2007 – Let’s face it: The market is temperamental, but exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be at your rescue. Since the Federal Reserve slashed short-term interest rates in an attempt to rescue the economy, the market... Continue Reading »

New Buffett-like ETN Launched
October 18, 2007 – Morningstar (MORN), a provider of independent investment research, announced today that the ELEMENTS platform will launch exchange traded notes (ETNs) based on Morningstar’s proprietary Wide Moat Focus Total Return Index. The first Wide Moat... Continue Reading »

ETF Investors Likely to Be Strapped for Cash
October 18, 2007 – As houses are going down in value and unemployment is rising, exchange traded fund (ETF) investors have less money to spend in other areas. In fact, unemployment stats show it has risen from 4.5%... Continue Reading »

Get to the ETF Party
October 18, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are baskets of stocks that trade on an exchange like a single stock, but are modeled after index mutual funds. ETFs give investors tax efficiency and are not actively managed,... Continue Reading »

ETN Tax Benefits Could be Revoked
October 18, 2007 – One way exchange traded notes (ETNs) differ from exchange traded funds (ETFs) is that they convey no ownership or assets, just a promise from the issuer that a certain amount will be paid upon... Continue Reading »

Will Transportation ETF Continue to Chug Upward Despite High Oil Prices?
October 18, 2007 – The transportation-based exchange traded fund (ETF) iShares Dow Jones Transportation Index (IYT) recently received news of strong earnings reports on top holdings. Currently, IYT is up 7.8% year-to-date. Union Pacific Corp. (UNP), IYT’s largest holding... Continue Reading »

Third-quarter Earnings Reports Put Technology ETFs in the Spotlight
October 18, 2007 – Many technology exchange traded fund (ETFs) were up yesterday after several companies released stronger-than-expected earnings reports. Intel’s (INTC) third-quarter profit rose 43% on demand for personal computers in Europe and Asia and forecast sales... Continue Reading »

Even ETFs Experience Breakups
October 18, 2007 – MacroShares announced a 3-for-1 share split for two exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track the price of crude oil. The split should make the ETFs more accessible to investors as well as boost liquidity.... Continue Reading »

Commodities ETFs & ETNs
October 18, 2007 – Commodities and the exchange traded funds (ETF) that hold them are in a good position right now. The recent "boom" in commodities has been triggered by the growing economies of China, India and Brazil... Continue Reading »

Land Down Under Is Up with ETFs
October 17, 2007 – The Australian stock market is rising, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track the country’s resources are increasing too. Global mining firms are all about the land down under, as its natural resources are... Continue Reading »

British ETF Invasion
October 17, 2007 – London-based exchange traded fund (ETF) provider SPA ETF launched six new ETFs on the American Stock Exchange (Amex) today. The SPA ETFs use quantitative, fundamentals-based analysis to identify stocks it thinks will outperform the... Continue Reading »

Chinese Stocks and ETFs Hit New Highs
October 17, 2007 – Chinese stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are hitting record highs today, led by gains in banks with strong earnings forecasts. The benchmarks Shanghai Composite Index and the Shenzhen Composite Index both rose 1%,... Continue Reading »

Oil ETFs Overflow with Joy as Oil Prices Approach $90 a Barrel
October 17, 2007 – Oil exchange traded funds (ETFs) rose as oil prices soared to a new record of $89 a barrel today after Turkey’s parliament authorized an incursion into northern Iraq in search of Kurdish rebels. Traders... Continue Reading »

Sweden’s ETF Reminds Investors to Know What’s in Their ETFs
October 17, 2007 – Before investing in a country-specific exchange-traded fund (ETF), look inside it and see what companies are in it and especially how much they are weighted. The top company might account for more than you... Continue Reading »

Happy Birthday Claymore ETFs: Where Are They Now?
October 17, 2007 – Yesterday, Claymore announced one-year performance information for its first five exchange traded funds (ETFs) that launched on the American Stock Exchange on Sept. 21, 2006. In the year since the introduction of its first... Continue Reading »

As Seed Money Dries Up, New ETFs Might Wither
October 17, 2007 – Hundreds of exchange traded funds (ETFs) might not get a chance to sprout because seed capital for these investments is scarce. Unlike traditional stocks that raise money through initial public offerings (IPOs), ETFs have... Continue Reading »

How to Shop for Closed-end Funds (CEFs)
October 17, 2007 – Closed-end funds (CEFs), which are relatives of exchange traded funds (ETFs), have been gaining in popularity lately. That’s because their discounts have widened this year. Around 650 closed-end funds exist today with a market... Continue Reading »

A Closer Inspection of the New Emerging Markets Debt ETF (PCY)
October 16, 2007 – The new exchange traded fund (ETF) PowerShares Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (PCY) that launched last week marks the first time that emerging markets’ debt has been indexed for U.S. investors. PCY tracks the Deutsche... Continue Reading »

State Street Launches More Municipal-bond ETFs
October 16, 2007 – State Street Global Advisors is spinning out three new SPDR fixed-income exchange traded funds (ETFs) that launched yesterday. These ETFs’ launch makes State Street the third provider to offer state-specific municipal bond ETFs, which... Continue Reading »

ETFs and the Market Dip on Bernanke’s Gloomy Economy Forecast
October 16, 2007 – The markets, and many exchange traded funds (ETFs), were down today on news from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that the housing market continues to dampen the economy. In a speech Monday night, Bernanke... Continue Reading »

Possible Hollywood Writers’ Strike Not a Star for Media ETFs
October 16, 2007 – Entertainment and media-related exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be in trouble if the Hollywood writers’ strike goes through as rumors are suggesting. The PowerShares Dynamic Media (PBS) is up 2.9% year-to-date and the PowerShares... Continue Reading »

Keep an Eye on Financial ETFs such as PFF
October 16, 2007 – One exchange traded fund (ETF) that hasn’t received much attention lately is Barclays’ iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund (PFF). One of the reasons for its lack of coverage could be that it’s... Continue Reading »

South Africa ETF Could Be in for Tough Times Ahead
October 16, 2007 – The South Africa exchange traded fund (ETF) iShares MSCI South Africa Index (EZA) could see a decrease after the retail sales growth figures for August are released this week. Currently, EZA is up 24.8%... Continue Reading »

Will Lifecycle ETFs Be the Key to the 401(k) Market?
October 16, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have enjoyed success with more than $500 billion in assets, so will lifecycle ETFs be their best ticket into the retirement market dominated by mutual funds? At the end of... Continue Reading »

ETFs: Cost Efficiency vs. Management
October 16, 2007 – Do actively-managed mutual funds’ higher costs translate to higher returns compared to passively-managed exchange traded funds (ETFs)? When comparing mutual funds and ETFs, it’s important not to confuse cost issues with management-style concerns.... Continue Reading »

U.K. Gets a Timber and Forestry ETF, Where’s Ours?
October 15, 2007 – Although the U.S. still does not have a timber and forestry exchange traded fund (ETF), one recently launched in the U.K., hopefully indicating that ours is coming soon. Barclays Global Investors, launched the first... Continue Reading »

Oil ETFs Rise as Oil Prices Hit Record $86
October 15, 2007 – As oil prices rose to $86.13 a barrel today for the first time, oil-related exchange traded funds (ETFs) increased as well. Oil prices were supported by concerns Turkish forces will pursue Kurdish rebels into... Continue Reading »

A Closer Look at Lifecycle ETFs
October 15, 2007 – A fast-growing mutual-fund investment strategy is seeping into the exchange traded fund (ETF) community. Earlier this month, XShares and Amerivest Investment Management collaborated to launch the first lifecycle ETFs. Lifecycle funds are designed to... Continue Reading »

Boeing Puts a Ding in Defense ETFs’ Performance
October 15, 2007 – Defense-related exchange traded funds (ETFs) such as PowerShares Aerospace & Defense (PPA) and iShares Dow Jones U.S. Aerospace & Defense (ITA) generally have been strong performers this year as the Iraq war continues. In... Continue Reading »

Cancer-fighting ETFs Could Become Healthier as U.S. Cancer Death Rates Fall
October 15, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) that invest in health care, and more specifically cancer, could be influenced by the news that death rates from cancer have been dropping by an average of 2.1% a year... Continue Reading »

What Is ETF Liquidity?
October 15, 2007 –   Do you really know what exchange traded fund (ETF) liquidity is? A true measure of ETF liquidity is based on the liquidity of the underlying stocks in the index, reports ETFZone staff. To understand... Continue Reading »

Which Commodity ETF is Performing the Best?
October 15, 2007 – Commodities-based exchange traded funds (ETFs) have been doing well lately, but they can be intimidating to investors because of their contango and backwardation issues. In July of this year, the oil market switched from... Continue Reading »

A Few Large-cap ETFs for Your Consideration
October 15, 2007 – We’ve mentioned before that small-cap exchange traded funds (ETFs) have outperformed large caps for the last five years. However, as Gary Gordon for ETF Expert says, this year large-cap stocks have outpaced small-cap competitors.... Continue Reading »

Is It an ETF Bargain?
October 14, 2007 – Is there a method to evaluate the valuations and attractiveness of major market indexes and the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that follow them? Morningstar’s 100-plus equity analysts can help give some insight. With more... Continue Reading »

It’s Fiesta Time for Mexican ETF
October 14, 2007 – Mexico’s exchange traded fund (ETF) iShares MSCI Mexico Index (EWW) has been trending upward lately. Currently, it’s up 21.9% year-to-date. One of the factors behind EWW’s rise is Mexico’s Bolsa index’s rise to a new... Continue Reading »

Short on Small-cap ETFs
October 14, 2007 – It appears as if investors are nervous about the future of small-cap stocks and the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that carry them. Jesse Emspak for Investor’s Business Daily reports that investors shorted small-cap ETFs... Continue Reading »

Foreign Bond ETFs Play the Dollar
October 13, 2007 – Foreign bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) have hit the market, and the timing is perfect. SPDR Lehman International Treasury Bond Fund (BWX) is a broad-based ETF that gives exposure to 17 counties: 13 of... Continue Reading »

Exchange Traded Commodities (ETCs) Launch in London
October 13, 2007 – Earlier this week, London-based ETF Securities launched a range of exchange-traded commodities (ETCs) on the London Stock Exchange, allowing access to commodity futures at differing maturities. The ETCs will track 29 individual commodities and... Continue Reading »

What’s Going on with South Korea’s ETF?
October 13, 2007 – South Korea’s exchange traded fund (ETF) iShares MSCI South Korea Index (EWY) has been a superstar this year. Currently, it’s up 45.8% year-to-date. Although EWY is still doing well, its largest holding Samsung reported... Continue Reading »

Variations in Biotechnology ETFs
October 12, 2007 – We’ve mentioned before that not all exchange traded funds (ETFs) that cover a specific region or sector are created equal. Even if the stocks are similar, ETFs can behave differently. In funds weighted by market... Continue Reading »

India’s ETN and CEF Talk Politics and Cars
October 12, 2007 – Although India does not have an exchange traded fund (ETF), it does have the exchange traded note iPath MSCI India Index ETN (INP) and the closed-end fund India Fund (IFN). As Bombay’s SENSEX index... Continue Reading »

Got International ETFs?
October 12, 2007 – Are you an investor that is still ignoring foreign opportunity through exchange traded funds (ETFs)? The foreign equity asset class is the one area many investors neglect when considering their portfolios, according to Investopedia.... Continue Reading »

An Emerging Giant ETF
October 12, 2007 – Emerging markets exchange traded funds (ETFs) have been superstars lately. However, these areas can be laden with volatility. For those looking to invest in larger companies to hopefully offset some of the riskiness, consider... Continue Reading »

Equally Weighted ETFs
October 12, 2007 – Some exchange traded funds (ETFs) are being rolled out based upon equal weight rather than market capitalization. XShares Advisors recently launched a set of REIT ETFs that are equal weighted, and Rydex also has... Continue Reading »

New Asian Index Launched; ETFs Won’t Be Far Behind
October 12, 2007 – New Asian-related exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be coming soon. Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has announced the launch of a new index covering Southeast Asia. Emerging markets in Asia have been on fire lately,... Continue Reading »

A Sun-kissed ETF
October 12, 2007 – An exchange traded fund (ETF) for sun worshipers? Not quite, however, solar energy-related stocks are the center of the universe right now and during the first half of 2007, there was a record $4.7... Continue Reading »

ETFs Help Develop Investing with Diversity
October 12, 2007 – The trend is looking positive for average investors, as studies indicate that they’re using a wide range of their investment vehicles to fully diversify their portfolios: life-cycle funds, international mutual funds, exchange traded funds... Continue Reading »

College Students Get Chance to Launch ETF
October 11, 2007 – College students from Columbia University, New York University and Lehigh University now have the opportunity to design an exchange traded fund (ETF) that will be available for investors in the spring. Clear Indexes, in collaboration... Continue Reading »

Is a Cubes Jr. ETF on the Way?
October 11, 2007 – Is a "Cubes Jr." exchange traded fund (ETF) in the making? The Nasdaq Stock Market started a new index yesterday, the Nasdaq Q-50, which is made up of companies poised to enter into the... Continue Reading »

Industrial ETF (XLI) Gets a Helping Hand from General Electric
October 11, 2007 – One exchange traded fund (ETF) that has been a strong performer lately is the Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI). In fact, it recently hit a new high and is currently up 19.5% year-to-date. General Electric’s... Continue Reading »

France and Its ETF Have Reason to Be Wary
October 11, 2007 – Although France’s exchange traded fund (ETF) the iShares MSCI France Index (EWQ) is up 14.1% year-to-date, its performance could change if the country doesn’t cut its deficits. Euro group president Jean-Claude Juncker called on... Continue Reading »

Will Real Estate ETFs’ Rally Last?
October 11, 2007 – We have to remember that all real estate investing is not tied to the housing market. The real estate (REIT) exchange traded funds (ETFs) were among the ETFs hit the hardest this summer from... Continue Reading »

Asian ETFs Party on with New Highs
October 11, 2007 – Some Asian stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) set new records yesterday, indicating the economic party remains in full swing. Japan and its ETF iShares MSCI Japan Index (EWJ) received a big boost after... Continue Reading »

Happy 5th Birthday to the ETF Bull Market
October 11, 2007 – Today, Oct. 10, marks the fifth birthday for the bull market that has blessed the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The S&P 500 received official cyclical bull market status on Nov, 21, 2002,... Continue Reading »

ETF Review
October 11, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have had a busy week. During this past week, U.S. equity ETFs issued $1.2 billion. Futures-related ETFs issued $396 million, nonfutures-related ETFs issued $3.6 billion and short ETFs issued $201... Continue Reading »

Will Vanguard’s Megacap ETFs Be a “Mega” Hit?
October 10, 2007 – Vanguard’s attempt to capture the exchange traded fund (ETF) market continues with the launch of a trio of mega-cap index funds. The trio includes one for the broad market, one for growth and one for... Continue Reading »

Silver ETFs Shine When the Dollar Declines
October 10, 2007 – We often talk about gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) and commodities in general as a safe haven for when the dollar drops, but silver is another precious metal that often gets overlooked. The dollar... Continue Reading »

Holiday Cell Phones Could Be a Good Luck Charm for Semiconductor ETFs
October 10, 2007 – Semiconductor exchange traded funds (ETFs) seem likely to benefit from Broadcom’s (BRCM) chips and software that will be in new cell phones launched for the holidays by Samsung Electronics. Broadcom is the No. 2... Continue Reading »

More Barclays Muni-bond ETFs Debut with PowerShares Close Behind
October 10, 2007 – Two more municipal-bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) began trading at the end of last week. Barclays’ iShares S&P California Municipal Bond Fund (CMF) and the iShares S&P New York Municipal Bond Fund (NYF) cover... Continue Reading »

Things Are Looking Up for the Down Under ETF
October 10, 2007 – The Australian exchange-traded fund (ETF) iShares MSCI Australia Index (EWA) has rebounded sharply lately. Some of the factors behind its increase include the resilient Aussie dollar that has reached new highs and steady performances... Continue Reading »

Google’s and Apple’s Success Keeps Technology ETFs Happy
October 10, 2007 – Google’s (GOOG) stock crossed the $600 mark for the first time earlier this week, which pleased the technology exchange traded funds (ETFs) that contain the Internet giant within their top 10 holdings. The stock... Continue Reading »

Can’t Keep Down Financial ETFs
October 10, 2007 – Despite all the bad news that has surrounded financial exchange traded funds (ETFs) lately, they’re continuing to rebound. Recently, NetBank and Miami Valley Bank of Lakeview, Ohio, went out of business. These closures made... Continue Reading »

6 Reasons Gold Can Be an ETF Investor’s Best Friend
October 10, 2007 – It’s no secret that as the dollar declines, gold and gold-related exchange traded funds (ETFs) generally benefit. That’s just one reason to consider investing in gold, according to Alexander Green for Commodity Online. Here... Continue Reading »

Variable Annuities Want in on ETF Action
October 9, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have become so popular that 401(k) plan providers and variable annuities want to include them. Variable annuities are contracts sold by an insurance company designed to provide payments to the... Continue Reading »

Norway Provides New Energy Source; Where’s Its ETF?
October 9, 2007 – Although Norway currently does not have an exchange traded fund (ETF), it might soon as its become a hot new source for energy supplies. For years, a harsh climate prevented companies from extracting energy... Continue Reading »

Wal-Mart’s Search for Growth Expands Consumer ETFs?
October 9, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) with Wal-Mart (WMT) as their top holding could see some major movement within the next few years. The world’s largest retailer, has announced plans to more than double its stores... Continue Reading »

Turkey Needs an Economic Plan to Keep up Its CEF
October 9, 2007 – Turkey’s Turkish Investment Fund (TKF) closed-end fund (CEF) has been on a roll since August, but it might hit a wall unless it clearly defines its economic goals, as the economy shows signs of... Continue Reading »

VIX Performance Indicates ETFs and Markets are Calm and Happy
October 9, 2007 – While it’s been a wild ride for most exchange traded funds (ETFs) this summer, it seems volatility might be calming down as the overall markets have been doing well lately. Last week, the CBOE... Continue Reading »

Stay Tuned for an ETF Based on the CRB Commodity Index
October 9, 2007 – The oldest commodity index in the world will be paired with the popular exchange traded fund (ETF) soon. Greenhaven Commodity Services has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch an ETF... Continue Reading »

Eastern European Ties Benefit Austria ETF
October 9, 2007 – While Austria’s exchange traded fund (ETF) generally has been a strong performer, it could be affected by a lower-than-expected increase in its gross domestic product (GDP). Austria’s GDP growth rate is likely to slow... Continue Reading »

Video of Tom Lydon Discussing Single-Country ETFs
October 9, 2007 – Tom Lydon appeared on CNBC’s weekly “ETF Tracker” segment of Closing Bell yesterday and discussed German, Malaysian, and Austrian single-country ETFs with Melissa Francis. Video of Tom’s segment appears below: Continue Reading »

Malaysia ETF Benefits from Rising Prices of Commodities
October 9, 2007 – The strong demand for commodities and their subsequent rising prices have led to a natural resource boom globally, which provides windfall gains to producing and exporting countries and their exchange traded funds (ETFs), experts... Continue Reading »

Canada ETF Says “Thank You”
October 8, 2007 – Canada’s iShares MSCI Canada Index (EWC) exchange traded fund (ETF) has a lot for which to be thankful. First, it’s currently up 32.6% year-to-date. Secondly, the country’s unemployment rate is at a 33-year low... Continue Reading »

Will the Luxury ETF Feel the Effects of the Falling Dollar?
October 8, 2007 – The high-end Claymore/Robb Report Global Luxury (ROB) exchange traded fund (ETF) has been a strong performer lately and one of the factors behind its success could be Coach’s (COH) popularity. Coach, which is a... Continue Reading »

An Array of Funds Join ETFs
October 8, 2007 – Mutual fund companies are trying to grab some of the exchange traded fund (ETF) success by launching alternative investment options. Ian Salisbury for The Wall Street Journal dissects the latest offerings: BRIC funds that... Continue Reading »

Water ETFs Could Be Healthy for Portfolios
October 8, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) that invest in water generally are performing well because water has become a commodity of limited supply and unlimited demand. In fact, water available for human consumption represents less than... Continue Reading »

ETF Provider WisdomTree Jumps on the Retirement Plan Bandwagon
October 8, 2007 – WisdomTree Retirement Services, a subsidiary of the exchange traded fund (ETF) provider WisdomTree Investments, announced today the launch of a 401(k) platform. This is one of several ways companies are trying to set up... Continue Reading »

The Latest Update on 10 ETNs
October 8, 2007 – Exchange traded notes (ETNs) are one of the relatives to exchange traded funds (ETFs) that have blossomed recently. They are beginning to cover a wide variety of areas, although currently commodity and currency ETNs dominate.... Continue Reading »

An ETF Passport
October 8, 2007 –                       Broad-based exchange traded funds (ETFs) could lead you to believe that you own a small piece of the world, but indexes such as the EAFE might... Continue Reading »

State Street Launches First International Treasury Bond ETF
October 8, 2007 – State Street Global Advisors recently launched a new exchange traded fund (ETF) focused on bonds. The SPDR Lehman International Treasury Bond Fund (BWX) began trading on the American stock exchange on Friday, Oct. 5.... Continue Reading »

ETF Investors Can Learn from History
October 7, 2007 – This month marks the anniversary for two major financial jolts in history that exchange traded fund (ETF) investors should know. October 17, 1907 was when the collapse of the Knickerbocker Trust company triggered panic everywhere.... Continue Reading »

If History Repeats Itself, Belgium’s ETF Is Due for a Rebound
October 7, 2007 – Although consumer confidence in the European markets has been shaky lately, some exchange traded funds (ETFs) seem likely to bounce back in the coming months. One such country is Belgium, which has previously seen... Continue Reading »

ETFs That Get Ahead
October 7, 2007 – A typical U.S. investor might have all of his or her money in U.S. dollar-denominated assets, as well as his exchange traded funds (ETFs) and salary earnings. By putting some of your money into... Continue Reading »

ETF Provider Barclays Backs Down from ABN AMRO Deal
October 6, 2007 – Exchange traded fund (ETF) provider Barclays has revoked its bid to buy Dutch bank ABN AMRO after a six-month battle. The withdrawal clears the way for a takeover of ABN AMRO by a rival... Continue Reading »

A Book Worth Reading for ETF Investors
October 6, 2007 – I’m reading a new book by Jason Zweig called “Your Money & Your Brain.” I’ve known Jason for years. You’ve probably followed his work as an editor at Forbes and Money Magazine. The book draws... Continue Reading »

Big News for Small-cap ETFs?
October 6, 2007 – A look inside small-cap exchange traded funds (ETFs) reveals that the holdings have a wide variety of performance numbers. As hedge funds and ETFs seem to be buying back shares of small companies they... Continue Reading »

How to Make Money When the Dollar Rebounds
October 5, 2007 – As the dollar begins to rebound, we had a reader ask how exchange traded fund (ETF) investors can benefit. A couple of ways are available to take advantage of a climbing dollar: Buy long on... Continue Reading »

Oil ETFs Tumble as Dollar Gains Strength
October 5, 2007 – Oil futures, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) that invest in them, fell today upon news that an uplifting employment report lifted the dollar. Investors sold their oil futures likely because they thought a stronger... Continue Reading »

ETFs in 401(k) Plans: The Technology Is Here
October 5, 2007 – We spoke with Darwin Abrahamson, the CEO of Invest n Retire, and asked him about why ETFs should be in 401(k) plans and what his firm is doing to make it happen. Aside from the usual... Continue Reading »

Rydex ETF Essentials Puts Advisers in the Know
October 5, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are the talk of the town, so the timing couldn’t be more perfect for Rydex’s ETF Essentials program. This comprehensive educational initiative is designed to put investors in the know-how... Continue Reading »

It’s a BRIC House in the ETF Industry
October 5, 2007 – As we finish out a strong week for the markets, we see that BRIC exchange traded funds (ETFs) are still among the top performers. China and India have made headlines with their tremendous economic growth... Continue Reading »

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