Claymore Declares Final Proceeds on Closed ETFs
February 29, 2008 – Claymore Securities has officially closed 11 of their weakest-performing exchange traded funds (ETFs) and they ceased trading on Feb. 20. All shareholders of those closed funds should have received the value of their shares as... Continue Reading »

February ETF Performance Report
February 29, 2008 – February was another volatile month for the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The Dow Jones industrial average lost 1.4%, while the S&P 500 was down 1.9% and the Nasdaq dropped 3.3%. The metals and... Continue Reading »

Spring Clean Your Portfolio and Broaden Your Exposure
February 29, 2008 – If you feel spring in the air, it may be time to do some seasonal cleaning for your overall portfolio, including exchange traded funds (ETFs). Does it appear your portfolio has taken a beating... Continue Reading »

Oil Briefly Tops $103, Markets and ETFs Drop
February 29, 2008 – The price of oil briefly surpassed $103 overnight, sending stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) all over the place. Suddenly, $100 a barrel is looking like a real bargain. The price jump retreated, but many analysts... Continue Reading »

SEC’s Proposed Rule Changes Could Lead to More ETFs, More Innovation
February 29, 2008 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) approval process could become streamlined, thanks to moves by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We caught up with John McGuire, partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, and he... Continue Reading »

U.S. Dollar Falls Further and Currency ETFs Rally
February 29, 2008 – It could be just what exchange traded fund (ETF) investors who are bearish on the U.S. dollar want to hear: another day, another low. After two days of setting records, the euro once again... Continue Reading »

Down The Line With Telecom ETFs
February 29, 2008 –   Fourth-quarter earnings reports among telecommunication companies found in related exchange traded funds (ETFs) were down as of Thursday. The Associated Press says that Sprint already warned in January that subscriber numbers were lower than... Continue Reading »

Now That Active ETFs Are Here, It’s Up to Investors to Bite
February 28, 2008 – Actively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs) are just about here, as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) granted exemptive relief to PowerShares, the first fund provider to receive it. And PowerShares President Bruce Bonds believes... Continue Reading »

Oil-Related ETFs Pumped Up By Record Prices
February 28, 2008 – Crude futures are breathing down the neck of an all-time high, giving oil-service stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) some upward momentum. Oil’s surge owes much to the weakness in the U.S. dollar and... Continue Reading »

Deutsche Bank Launches Three Gold ETNs as Metal Hits Record Prices
February 28, 2008 – Three more gold-focused products are hitting the marketplace - this time in the form of exchange traded notes (ETNs). Deutsche Bank’s new line of ETNs are linked to the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum... Continue Reading »

Rumors of Target-Date ETFs’ Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
February 28, 2008 – Let’s get this straight: No target-date exchange traded funds (ETFs) are closing. However, portfolio provider XTF Advisors is shutting down its lineup of target-date ETF portfolios. Since Claymore’s announcement that it’s booting 11 of its weakest-performing ETFs,... Continue Reading »

Bernanke Upbeat About Economy, but So Far, Wall Street and Some ETFs Aren’t Buying It
February 28, 2008 – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke continued to testify before Congress about his attempts to stabilize the economy and stimulate Wall Street, consumer activity and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The good news: the United States... Continue Reading »

Retail ETF Sell-Off Shows No Support For Economy
February 28, 2008 – Retail investors are selling off their exchange traded funds (ETFs) at the highest rate since the bear market of 2001-2002. Year-to-date as of Feb. 13, investors have redeemed more than $60 billion from equity... Continue Reading »

New Municipal Bond ETF Joins the Growing Family
February 28, 2008 – The list of choices within the municipal bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) continues to grow. On Tuesday, Van Eck Global launched a new ETF on the American stock exchange, the Market Vectors-Lehman Brothers AMT-Free... Continue Reading »

The Second Clear Indexes Student ETF Contest
February 28, 2008 – Clear Indexes is holding their second student contest for best exchange traded fund (ETF) idea. The Second Clear Next Generation ETF Contest boasts a $5,000 prize and a paid internship, plus the chance to... Continue Reading »

They’re Here: the First Batch of Actively Managed ETFs
February 27, 2008 – A new era of exchange traded funds (ETFs) is here: PowerShares got the go-ahead from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an actively managed fund. Make that four of them. The anticipated names, according... Continue Reading »

Some ETFs Are Like Snowflakes, Even In the Same Sector
February 27, 2008 – Just because two or three exchange traded funds (ETFs) share a similar names, it doesn’t mean that they have the same investment focus. And simply because ETFs cover the same sector it doesn’t mean... Continue Reading »

Visa’s Close to Going Public, and It Could Land In IPO ETF
February 27, 2008 – Visa is readying to take the plunge and go public - does this mean it could be making an appearance in the IPO exchange traded fund (ETF)? This IPO is coming at an interesting time... Continue Reading »

Housing and Big Ticket Item Sales Drop, Taking ETFs With Them
February 27, 2008 – More housing and consumer numbers came in today, affected real estate and retail exchange traded funds (ETFs). The Commerce Department reported that new home sales fell in January by 2.8%. It’s the slowest pace in... Continue Reading »

Financial News Has Domino Effect on Markets and ETFs
February 27, 2008 – Wall Street hardly waited for its coffee to kick in before a slew of news began sending stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) this way and that in a series of chain reactions. The dollar... Continue Reading »

First Gas ETF Launches, Just In Time for Record Prices at Pump
February 27, 2008 – It’s better late than never for a new exchange traded fund (ETF) that tracks the price of gas. The United States Gasoline Fund (UGA), from provider Victoria Bay Asset Management, began trading yesterday. It’s the... Continue Reading »

Vanguard’s Leadership Shift Mean Interesting Times Are Ahead for Their ETF Division
February 27, 2008 – Jack Brennan is leaving Vanguard Group just as their exchange traded fund (ETF) segment is ready to take off and the company is humming along. Brennan is leaving on a high note, says Matthew... Continue Reading »

CurrencyShares Celebrates $1 Billion In Assets For Yen Trust
February 27, 2008 – Rydex Investments announced that the exchange traded fund (ETF) tracking the Japanese yen has passed the $1 billion milestone. The year-old ETF CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (FXY) tracks the price movements of the yen against... Continue Reading »

New ETFs Take Innovative Approach To S&P
February 27, 2008 – A trio of new exchange traded funds (ETFs) launched on Friday, taking a different twist on the Standard & Poor’s benchmarks. They will use the same stocks as the S&P but the ETF will... Continue Reading »

The Euro and Its ETF Hit All-Time Highs
February 26, 2008 – You might want to hold off on booking that European vacation: the euro surged to an all-time high against the dollar today, sending the CurrencyShares Euro Trust (FXE) exchange traded fund (ETF) into record... Continue Reading »

Bad Economic News Doesn’t Dampen Oil and Energy ETFs
February 26, 2008 – There’s one sector and its exchange traded funds (ETFs) that doesn’t appear to be cracking under the weight of U.S. economic worries: oil. Futures went back above $100 a barrel today, once again setting a... Continue Reading »

Capital Markets ETF Does Turnaround
February 26, 2008 – Some positive news in the financial sector gave a lift to the KBW Capital Markets (KCE) exchange traded fund (ETF). Two of the biggest bond insurers, MBIA Inc. (MBI) and Ambac Financial Group (ABK), avoided... Continue Reading »

Silver Benefits from the Commodities and Resources Boom
February 26, 2008 – Silver is making headlines and polishing up exchange traded funds (ETFs) that hold the metal. Both PowerShares DB Silver (DBS) and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) were up more than 2% in midday trading. Year-to-date, they’re... Continue Reading »

Housing and Consumer Reports Are Good News for Investors Who Love Bad News
February 26, 2008 – Bad news about the economy continues to flow in from all corners, but it doesn’t seem to be dragging certain exchange traded funds (ETFs) down with it at the moment. The Consumer Confidence Index fell to... Continue Reading »

Brazil Is Tranquil Amid US Turmoil; ETF Stays Solid
February 26, 2008 – Brazil remains confident and poised, convinced that a U.S. recession will not affect neither the thriving domestic markets nor its related exchange traded fund(ETF). President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva said they are well-prepared to... Continue Reading »

Play Tenacious D With Your ETF Portfolio
February 26, 2008 – Consider playing defense with exchange traded funds (ETFs) this year. Thomas Smicklas on Seeking Alpha says he recently spent time with Air Force officers and is firm that the military is in need of... Continue Reading »

Bidding Farewell to Mutual Funds, Saying Hello to the All-ETF Portfolio
February 26, 2008 – When it comes to exchange traded funds (ETFs), resistance is futile. On Seeking Alpha, Index Universe’s Murray Coleman questions the logic of buying higher-priced versions of the same benchmarks he’s been investing in up to... Continue Reading »

Belgium ETF Dinged by Financials, But Any Turnaround Could Deliver a Boost
February 25, 2008 – What comes to mind when you hear the iShares MSCI Belgium (EWK) exchange traded fund (ETF)? It gives a lot of banking exposure - these days, that’s tantamount to a four-letter word. But if... Continue Reading »

Managed ETF Accounts Capture The Market
February 25, 2008 – Assets in managed accounts surged forward in 2007, with exchange traded funds (ETFs) fueling much of the growth. Around 291 exchange traded funds (ETFs) were launched last year in the United States, and captured $146 billion... Continue Reading »

Gold ETFs Dip After U.S. Treasury Reports
February 25, 2008 – After months of up-up-and-away performance, the gold sector and exchange traded funds (ETFs) moved slightly southward this morning. The cause of the turnaround was comments by the U.S. Treasury that it supported gold sales by... Continue Reading »

If the Bottom Is In Sight, Is It Time to Snap Up ETF Bargains?
February 25, 2008 – New existing home sales numbers are in, and home construction and real estate exchange traded funds (ETFs) went higher on investors’ hopes that the slump is approaching the bottom. Martin Crutsinger for the Associated Press... Continue Reading »

Water ETF Quenches Investor’s Thirst
February 25, 2008 – Water is making waves as an exchange traded fund (ETF) investment and as a serious element in demand on a global level. The forecast calls for 2025 to be the year when two-thirds of the... Continue Reading »

Which Way Is the China ETF Going to Swing?
February 25, 2008 – The iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 (FXI) exchange traded fund (ETF) was up a whopping 53.3% last year. So far this year, it’s down 13.5%. What’s going on over there? asks Trade Radar Operator for Seeking... Continue Reading »

High Oil Prices Are Great for ETFs, Not For Consumer
February 25, 2008 – The recent triple-digit crude oil prices have impacted a certain type of exchange traded fund (ETF) and has pleased many investors. Rob Wherry for Smart Money explains that a new breed of investor is... Continue Reading »

Have a Portfolio Oscar-Themed Party With Metals ETFs
February 24, 2008 – Just when you think gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) have hit their peak, the upward momentum continues. Yesterday, gold finished at $946.30. And let’s just say, if you’re an actor who has been appearing in... Continue Reading »

Understanding the Anatomy of a Crash Can Help With ETF Investments
February 24, 2008 – Today’s market environment can be confusing - one minute market averages and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are at all-time highs, the next they’re heading for the bottom. The volatile market has created a lot... Continue Reading »

Mutual Funds Behind the End of Foreign Currency ETN Tax Breaks
February 23, 2008 – The mutual fund industry isn’t so excited about exchange traded funds (ETFs), which are seen as a threat to their multi-trillion dollar industry. It’s almost a certainty that they will try to put the kibosh... Continue Reading »

Are High Dividend Yield ETFs Misleading?
February 23, 2008 – Investors are drawn to high dividend yield exchange traded funds (ETFs) because of their supposed security and as a hedge tool during a down market. But investors often try and buy the yield and... Continue Reading »

All Eyes on Two New India ETFs
February 22, 2008 – Two India-focused exchange traded funds (ETFs) have been locked in a fierce race to the starting line, and one of them finally reached it today. The WisdomTree India Earnings Fund (EPI) began trading on the NYSE... Continue Reading »

Investors Growing and Evolving Along With ETF Industry
February 22, 2008 – State Street Global Advisors‘ Tony Rochte is the head of the firm’s exchange traded fund (ETF) distribution. He’s got a few thoughts on the current state of the ETF industry. As ETFs make gains... Continue Reading »

Both Bellies and Agriculture ETFs Benefit From Whole Grains
February 22, 2008 – Whole grains are good for you, and agriculture exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be, too. The planting season is just around the corner. With that is the result of a study showing that people can... Continue Reading »

When Will ETF Industry Cotton to Demand?
February 22, 2008 – Agriculture is all the rage right now, but where is that cotton exchange traded fund (ETF)? Demand for this soft commodity hasn’t dropped. You’re probably wearing some of it right now. In fact, rapidly growing... Continue Reading »

As the ICI Embraces ETFs, Investors Are Keeping Watch
February 22, 2008 – It’s a tricky time for the Investment Company Institute (ICI), a trade group that represents mutual funds and dues-paying exchange traded fund (ETF) companies. A poll by Ignites, though, shows that they’re generally navigating... Continue Reading »

Canada’s ETF Gives Exposure to Natural Resources and More
February 22, 2008 – Canada is a developed country that offers commodities exposure without all the geopolitical risk, making its exchange traded fund (ETF) that much more enticing. As a commodities play, iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC) has... Continue Reading »

Is the U.S. Falling Behind When It Comes to Innovative ETFs?
February 22, 2008 – The United States isn’t chopped liver when it comes to offering interesting and creative exchange traded funds (ETFs), but where do we stand when compared with the rest of the world? Matthew Hougan for Index... Continue Reading »

Just Two ETFs Can Give You Diversification
February 22, 2008 – These days, the investment world is all about diversification to minimize risk, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) can help you get the necessary exposure. ETFs are a great diversification tool that can help buy-and-hold... Continue Reading »

Is The Dow ETF A Diamond In The Rough?
February 21, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) tracking the Dow Jones industrial average will experience a sector shift along with lesser valuation. The coming changes to the index will make it even more attractive to bullish analysts... Continue Reading »

The Year of Metals, Food and Foreign Markets ETFs
February 21, 2008 – Foreign markets and international-focused stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) have displayed exceptional growth and gained popularity over the past couple years. The foreign markets may not outperform U.S. market forever, but they are... Continue Reading »

Latin America ETFs Have Stability and Growth to Their Name
February 21, 2008 – We’re only six weeks into the year, and the U.S. markets and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) have gotten off to a slow start. The domestic markets are down anywhere from 7-12%. But emerging... Continue Reading »

Ultimately, Market Forces Will Decide Where Active ETFs Go
February 21, 2008 – Since 2001, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been considering the actively managed exchange traded fund (ETF). Slow-forward seven years, and the SEC is now comfortable with the concept. But in the end,... Continue Reading »

Russia’s ETF Is On the Right Track; the Right Moves Could Keep It There
February 21, 2008 – On Dec. 24, Russia’s exchange traded fund (ETF) hit an all-time high. By Jan. 23, its value dropped 26% as panic over the U.S. economy spread. Since then, things have begun to look up once... Continue Reading »

Understanding National Debt Could Help You Understand Bond ETFs
February 21, 2008 – Understanding the national debt and the role treasury bonds play in it can help investors understand how their treasury bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) work. Last week on "Fresh Air," host Terry Gross spoke with... Continue Reading »

Vanguard Cuts ETF Expense Ratios - Again
February 21, 2008 – Vanguard is playing hardball in an effort to gain the better bulk of the exchange traded fund (ETF) market share. For the third time in as many months, Vanguard has reduced expenses on its... Continue Reading »

Fidelity Faces Radiating Central Fund Losses
February 21, 2008 – Some trouble in a Fidelity fund can be ill-afforded as the exchange traded fund (ETF) industry gains on mutual funds. Fidelity is facing subprime losses in a central fund, an internal fund that only other... Continue Reading »

Malaysia ETF Looks Like a Port in a Storm
February 20, 2008 – Little Malaysia is full of big surprises, as evidenced by their single country-focused exchange traded fund (ETF). iShares Malaysia ETF (EWM) has shown strong performance to date and the small country is ranked the... Continue Reading »

Nuclear Power Sector Is Beginning to Glow, But There’s Only One ETF
February 20, 2008 – In these times of global warming and growing concern over emissions, one area of growing interest for exchange traded fund (ETF) investors is that of nuclear power. Peter Charles for Seeking Alpha is currently employed... Continue Reading »

Metal and Mining ETFs Are So Bright, You Have to Wear Shades
February 20, 2008 – Metal and mining exchange traded funds (ETFs) continue to get a rise from a slowing dollar here and continued power outages in South Africa. Yesterday, the SPDR S&P Metals and Mining (XME) jumped to a... Continue Reading »

Cuba’s CEF Surges After Castro’s Resignation
February 20, 2008 – Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro’s transfer of power to his brother could have a positive effect on Cuba’s closed-end fund (CEF). Rumors of Castro’s demise last May seemed to.  And where is the Cuban exchange... Continue Reading »

Consumer, Housing Numbers Roll In, But Will ETFs Feel It?
February 20, 2008 – Worries continue to plague both the retail and housing sectors and exchange traded funds (ETFs) as more numbers are released today that show signs of creeping inflation. The Labor Department reported today that the consumer price... Continue Reading »

Are ETF Liquidations Really That Painful?
February 20, 2008 – In the wake of Claymore’s closing of 11 exchange traded funds (ETFs), many industry experts believe that’s not the last of it. Morningstar believes that up to 23 funds could be shut down, reports  David Hoffman... Continue Reading »

NSX Reports Record U.S. ETF Trading Volume For January
February 20, 2008 – National Stock Exchange (NSX), an exchange traded fund (ETF) and market statistic compiling company, announced that notional trading volume in U.S.-listed funds reached a record monthly total in January 2008. The record monthly total... Continue Reading »

Risk Aversion Not Restricted to Just ETF Investors
February 20, 2008 – As you manage your exchange traded fund (ETF) portfolio and find yourself becoming more risk averse, you’re not alone. Fund managers are, too. In fact, they’ve become more averse to taking risks than they have... Continue Reading »

Oil Settles Above $100 a Barrel. Which ETFs Are the Best Hedge?
February 19, 2008 – The price of oil hit a new record, and investors might be wondering which oil-focused exchange traded funds (ETFs) they should be looking at: oil services, oil companies or oil futures? Brian Baskin for the... Continue Reading »

New ETF Gives Global High Dividend Yield Exposure
February 19, 2008 – State Street Global Advisors began trading a new exchange traded fund (ETF) today: the SPDR S&P International Dividend (DWX). The fund tracks the S&P International Dividend Opportunities Index, which consists of 100 tradeable, exchange-listed stocks from... Continue Reading »

Wal-Mart Profits Up, But Little Effect on Retail ETFs So Far
February 19, 2008 – Wal-Mart (WMT) reported a jump in sales both here and abroad, but the positive numbers are so far showing minimal effect on retail exchange traded funds (ETFs). It’s good news for the retail sector, though,... Continue Reading »

Clean Energy ETF Will Bask In Solar Power
February 19, 2008 – Clean energy exchange traded funds (ETFs) may see sunny days as First Solar Inc. (FSLR) got a thumbs up for revenue increases from analysts. Analysts raised their estimates for the solar panel maker, saying... Continue Reading »

Lehman Brothers Introduces 3 New ETNs
February 19, 2008 – Lehman Brothers introduced their first commodity exchange traded notes (ETNs) and a listed private equity ETN on Friday. All three are expected to begin trading this week. Timing for the two commodities ETNs are... Continue Reading »

Bernanke’s Comments Weigh On Homebuilders And ETFs
February 19, 2008 – Ben Bernanke’s sentiment and comments toward the homebuilder sector is continuing to echo through related stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs). Shares of homebuilders were trading even lower Friday for the second session as... Continue Reading »

For Some ETF Analysts, Words Carry a Lot of Weight
February 19, 2008 – Words can carry a whole lot of power, even in the world of exchange traded funds (ETFs). Mariana Bush of Wachovia Securities is an ETF analyst who knows what she’s talking about. One ETF shop that... Continue Reading »

Small ETFs Could Feel Effects of a Slumping Market the Most
February 19, 2008 – Small exchange traded funds (ETFs) may dissolve in the market slump, regardless of higher past performance. Of the roughly 650 ETFs that exist now, 200 were rolled out in the past two years, and... Continue Reading »

It Could Be Time to Take a Global View with Healthcare ETFs
February 18, 2008 – While the United States is still trying to sort out its own health care system, perhaps it’s time to take a more global perspective with health exchange traded funds (ETFs). Here, we’re trying to figure out... Continue Reading »

Despite Recent Slip, There Are Great Expectations For Oil Service-Focused ETF
February 18, 2008 – The oil service exchange traded fund (ETF) can’t seem to get a grip and is slipping in the wrong direction. The oil services sector tracking stock hit a one-month high before turning slightly lower... Continue Reading »

South Korean ETF Positioned To Benefit From Capital Act
February 17, 2008 – South Korea and its related exchange traded fund (ETF) are constrained by an over-regulated financial sector. This may be causing the iShares MSCI South Korea (EWY) ETF to have a trading pattern that looks a... Continue Reading »

UltraShort S&P ETF Doubles Up in Downward Trend
February 17, 2008 – Short exchange traded funds (ETFs) are meant to head up as the market heads south - something it seems to have been doing a lot of lately. The ProShares UltraShort S&P 500 (SDS) and Rydex... Continue Reading »

What Stands Between Active ETFs and Their Launch? You.
February 16, 2008 – Exchange traded fund (ETF) provider PowerShares has been given the green light to launch the first group of actively managed funds. But there’s a catch, reports Murray Coleman for Index Universe. The Securities and Exchange Commission... Continue Reading »

If It’s Clinton Or Obama, These ETFs Might Benefit
February 16, 2008 – Now it’s time for the flip-side: What exchange traded funds (ETFs) stand to gain from a Democrat (that will be either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton at this point) occupying the White House? If Obama... Continue Reading »

Sector Rotation In A Global ETF Portfolio
February 15, 2008 –   Adapting your investment strategy with exchange traded funds (ETFs) is important when economies around the world are becoming more interrelated. Doing so will add value and increase the chance of outperforming benchmarks, reports  Carl... Continue Reading »

What’s Behind the Activity in the Steel, Metals and Mining ETFs?
February 15, 2008 – Two exchange traded funds (ETFs) posted stellar numbers this week. What’s behind all the movement? Market Vectors Steel (SLX) is up 7.2% this week and up 18.4% since Jan. 22. One possible factor in the... Continue Reading »

Tom Lydon on ETF Tracker Yesterday
February 15, 2008 – Tom Lydon appeared on CNBC’s "ETF Tracker" segment of Closing Bell yesterday to discuss the surge in demand for silver. Below is a video of Tom’s appearance: Continue Reading »

Materials ETF Moves to Highest Level in Four Weeks
February 15, 2008 – The materials exchange traded fund (ETF) is starting to materialize after Monsanto (MON) lifted its 2008 profits forecast. Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) rallied to its highest level in four weeks, reports Wangfeng Zhou... Continue Reading »

Five Global Safe Havens for Risk-Averse ETF Investors
February 15, 2008 – For risk-averse investors, there are still ways to gain exposure to foreign markets with exchange traded funds (ETFs) and minimizing the homework involved with single stock-picking. Todd Wenning for The Motley Fool points out... Continue Reading »

China’s ETFs Are Irresistible; Here’s How To Deal
February 15, 2008 – China and its exchange traded funds (ETFs) might occasionally bring back memories of that dramatic high school relationship: volatile and full of high highs and low lows. Just look at the 2007 performance of... Continue Reading »

Japan’s Outlook Stronger, but Can the Economy and ETFs Keep It Up?
February 15, 2008 – Do Japan’s exchange traded funds (ETFs) finally have a chance to pull ahead? After a period of economic weakness in the country, Japan’s economy grew at a faster pace during the fourth quarter, at... Continue Reading »

Please Help Us Improve ETF Trends - Take Our Survey!
February 15, 2008 – The best way to find out if we’re meeting your needs for exchange traded fund (ETF) news and information is to simply ask. So, could we have two minutes of your time? Please click here... Continue Reading »

Will Paper’s Push Out the Door Impact the Timber ETF?
February 15, 2008 – The desire for efficiency and reducing consumption is leaving paper in the dust, but could the use of the wood derivative someday slow down enough to impact the timber-focused exchange traded fund (ETF)? The... Continue Reading »

Not All Finance Professors Practice What They Preach When It Comes to ETF Investing
February 14, 2008 – A research paper about how financial professors do their investing with stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) showed some enlightening things. The paper, conducted by professors at Florida State University and Central Michigan University, revealed... Continue Reading »

Five ETF Sectors To Recession-Proof Your Portfolio
February 14, 2008 – The signs are all there that we’re in a recession: many exchange traded fund (ETF) sectors have taken a hit, Congress is calling hearings, the Federal Reserve is talking about more rate cuts, housing, retail... Continue Reading »

Platinum Price Skyrockets, But There’s No ETF to Choo-Choo-Choose
February 14, 2008 – Platinum prices jumped in January because of the power outage in South Africa - too bad there’s no exchange traded fund (ETF) for the precious metal available here in the United States. Prices will... Continue Reading »

Natural Gas-Related ETFs Are In Oil’s Shadow
February 14, 2008 – Natural gas is an energy play that appears undervalued as oil and its related exchange traded funds (ETFs) have taken center stage. But natural gas is still dirt cheap, and it climbed 6% during... Continue Reading »

Denial May Make Real Estate And ETFs Miserable Longer
February 14, 2008 – It appears De Nile is not just a river in Egypt, as homeowners will not accept that their home has lost value over the past year, evidenced by the state of the market and... Continue Reading »

Bernanke Plays Role Of Heartbreaker for Markets and Some ETFs
February 14, 2008 – It’s Valentine’s Day, but the economy and exchange traded funds (ETFs) aren’t feeling much love from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Bernanke told Congress today that the country’s economic outlook has deteriorated. But, perhaps as... Continue Reading »

Switzerland’s Quietly Strong Economy Could Prime Its ETF for a Takeoff
February 14, 2008 – As some markets are see-sawing, Switzerland’s exchange traded fund (ETF) could be primed for a rise after having underperformed. The iShares MSCI Switzerland (EWL) ended 2007 up 4.5%, but has gotten off to a slow... Continue Reading »

Food And Agriculture ETFs Grazing For Resources As Cereal Stockpiles Fall
February 13, 2008 – Cereal stockpiles are set to hit their lowest levels in more than two decades, possibly helping to boost exchange traded funds (ETFs) that are food- and agriculture-related. This low stockpile will affect the high... Continue Reading »

ETFs Take Vanguard To The Top
February 13, 2008 – Vanguard Group regained its status as as the nation’s top-selling fund company, helped along by exchange traded fund (ETF) sales. Last year, the company made it past rival American Funds which has held the... Continue Reading »

Ouch - ETF Assets Decline In January
February 13, 2008 – Weakness in the U.S. economy and the international equity markets has begun to affect exchange traded funds (ETFs). State Street Global Advisors report that while five new ETFs were added in the first month of... Continue Reading »

Retail Sector and Related ETFs Get a Surprise Package
February 13, 2008 – The retail sector finally got some surprise good news, which brought retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) higher along with it. The U.S. Commerce Department reported today that January retail sales rose 0.3%, reports Tomi Kilgore... Continue Reading »

Brazil ETF Shaking Things Up
February 13, 2008 – It is hard to determine what moves a broad group of stock so much that an exchange traded fund (ETF) will move sharply, but one factor could be that the major holdings are concentrated.... Continue Reading »

Sports Illustrated and ETFs - It’s a Reach, but Stay With Us
February 13, 2008 – It’s that time of year again: the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. What’s that have to do with exchange traded funds (ETFs)? Well, not a whole lot, really. But we’re just wondering if the stampede to... Continue Reading »

Actively Managed ETFs vs. Regular ETFs
February 13, 2008 – In our recent post on actively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs) being closer to a reality than ever before, reader Marketworth wanted to know the difference between an actively managed ETF and a traditional one. We’re... Continue Reading »

Some Dividend ETFs Going Down With Financial Sector
February 13, 2008 – Dividend-focused exchange traded funds (ETFs) are experiencing a meltdown of their own. These types of funds have large plays in high-yielding financial stocks and this is the sector that has been hit hard by the... Continue Reading »

Video of Tom Lydon on CNBC’s ETF Tracker
February 12, 2008 – Tom Lydon was featured on CNBC’s "ETF Tracker" segment of Closing Bell earlier this afternoon, where he discussed gaming-related ETFs and the Sin Index. Continue Reading »

New Claymore ETFs Almost Have It All - Literally
February 12, 2008 – If you were looking for a one-stop shop to get access to the U.S. capital markets via exchange traded funds (ETFs), it’s here. Today, Claymore launched a group of Capital Markets ETFs on the American Stock... Continue Reading »

The Dow Makes a Rare Component Change, ETFs Will Change Along With It
February 12, 2008 – It doesn’t happen often: Dow Jones announced they will be changing the composition of the Dow Jones industrial average, changing the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track this index. Two component stocks will be replaced: Bank... Continue Reading »

Stagflation-Fighting ETFs for Your Toolbelt
February 12, 2008 – Is there an exchange traded fund (ETF) to add to a portfolio that can offer protection against an evil greater than even that of inflation? That’s stagflation: a state of the economy in which... Continue Reading »

Some ETFs Experience a Reversal of Fortune
February 12, 2008 –   It isn’t all doom and gloom: some exchange traded funds(ETFs) are experiencing a reversal of fortune during these trying economic times. The performance for the past month of these lucky ETFs are listed: ProShares UltraShort... Continue Reading »

Muni Bond ETF Yields Safer as Buffett Bails Out Insurers
February 12, 2008 – Municipal bonds and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) are in a bit of a pickle, but billionaire Warren Buffett has stepped in to help. As we wrote yesterday, while municipal bonds are currently offering attractive yields,... Continue Reading »

Transportation ETF Flying High
February 12, 2008 – The transportation exchange traded fund (ETF) is on a roll, as it was a leading issuer for the week. Dow Jones Transportation Average (IYT) issued $500 million or 74.8% of assets. Runners up were... Continue Reading »

ETFs Are Circling the Globe
February 12, 2008 – From a global standpoint, exchange traded funds (ETFs) are truly a prime investment tool. Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Equity group presented the numbers to back that up on Jan. 31. Heather Bell for Index Universe... Continue Reading »

ETFs Hot in Chilly Scandinavia
February 12, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are taking off in some far-flung places. Pension funds in Scandinavia are among the top investors in ETFs, Deutsche Bank says. Large pension funds in the region have been seen investing... Continue Reading »

When It Comes to Currency ETFs, You’ve Got Options
February 11, 2008 – Currencies once were the domain of the big-time investors, or were considered "too risky," but exchange traded funds (ETFs) have made it easy for regular investors to get in on them, too. These are interesting... Continue Reading »

Municipal Bond ETFs Have Attractive Yields
February 11, 2008 – Competitive yields are suddenly giving municipal bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) a new level of attractiveness to investors. Muni bond ETFs are the new kids on the block; the first ones didn’t appear until last... Continue Reading »

Commodities ETF Growing Like Wheat
February 11, 2008 – The price of wheat leaped to a record high, taking a commodity exchange traded fund (ETF) to greater heights along with it. On Friday, the Agriculture Department forecast that supplies will drop 40% from last... Continue Reading »

Insurance ETF Hits All-Time Low After AIG News
February 11, 2008 – The KBW Insurance (KIE) exchange traded fund (ETF) is in the doldrums. The ETF’s steep drop to an all-time low is primarily because of news that American International Group (AIG) has been hit harder by... Continue Reading »

Are You Doubling Up With ETFs?
February 11, 2008 – When you look at your exchange traded fund (ETF) portfolio, and consider all of the single stocks that you own, are you ever doubling up? Investing in individual large-caps is great, however, if you... Continue Reading »

Precious Metals And ETFs Reaching Historic Highs
February 11, 2008 – Precious metals and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) are making all-time records right now. Platinum hit a new record high of $1,850 an ounce Thursday. Investors were drawn to the metal after the concerns... Continue Reading »

G-7 Summit Keeps Financial Market Hopeful
February 11, 2008 – The G7 Summit meeting takes place this weekend and we’ll have to wait and see what effect decisions made there will have on the economy and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The dollar was slightly weaker... Continue Reading »

The Everyman’s Way to Invest In Timber with ETFs
February 11, 2008 – Buying into timberland is a route to diversify away from financial markets trends, and a recent exchange traded fund (ETF) allows everyday investors to do so. Previously, you needed millions of dollars to invest... Continue Reading »

Mutual Funds Finding ETFs Harder to Ignore
February 10, 2008 – How long can mutual funds hold back the rising tide of exchange traded funds (ETFs)? Now that actively managed ETFs are closer to reality, Kevin Burke for Ignites says that mutual fund companies are going... Continue Reading »

Bonds and Related ETFs Dip After Foreign Banks Hold Back
February 10, 2008 – The bond market isn’t too happy as exchange traded funds (ETFs) fell in response to bond auctions held by the U.S. Treasury. The auctions have foreign and domestic banks submitting offers for bonds. The "indirect" bid... Continue Reading »

Mexico Will Put Billions Into Infrastructure - ETF Might Say ‘Ole!’
February 9, 2008 – Mexico will soon start pouring money into its infrastructure, benefiting its economy and exchange traded funds (ETFs). On Monday, Doug Krizner and Dan Grech for Marketplace report, President Felipe Calderon will make his first presidential... Continue Reading »

Some Sector ETFs’ Performance Signals Optimism
February 9, 2008 – The bear is storming through technology exchange traded funds (ETFs), a result of spillover from the subprime, financial and real estate crises. It’s not as ugly as the 2000-20002 meltdown, says Gary Gordon for ETF... Continue Reading »

No ETF for Israel Yet, but You Can Still Get Exposure
February 8, 2008 – There’s no direct exposure to Israel via exchange traded funds (ETFs) - at least not yet. What’s an investor to do? Zack Miller for Israel Opportunity Investor says that the SPDR Emerging Middle East (GAF)... Continue Reading »

Defense, Biotechnology ETFs Stand to Gain if McCain Wins
February 8, 2008 – The events of Super Tuesday didn’t solidify much in the way of the presidential race on the Democratic side, but one person has taken a few guesses as to which exchange traded funds (ETFs)... Continue Reading »

Indexing and ETFs Get a Fresh Perspective in Outsider’s Report
February 8, 2008 – The indexing and exchange traded fund (ETF) industry recently was privy to the observations of an outside observer. Adam Sussman, a senior analyst for the TABB Group, wrote an exhaustive report titled "Performance Anxiety: A... Continue Reading »

Barclays’ New Currency ETNs Evolve
February 8, 2008 – Barclays is expanding its line of exchange traded notes (ETNs) with three new currency-related filings. Despite the IRS ruling that these notes should be taxed as debt, and that gains from interest income and... Continue Reading »

No Easier Way to Go Green Than With ETFs
February 8, 2008 – It might not be easy being green, as Kermit so prophetically sang, but exchange traded funds (ETFs) make it a lot easier to do so when your locality isn’t. Felicity Barringer for the New York... Continue Reading »

Biotechnology ETFs Raise Hopes On Stock Jump
February 8, 2008 – Biotechnology exchange traded funds (ETFs) and stocks are thriving as fourth quarter earnings from Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB) gave investors an 84% jump in profit. According to the Associated Press, Biogen’s profits rose on... Continue Reading »

Infrastructure ETFs Could Build Up in Weak Economy
February 8, 2008 – Weakness in the economy isn’t the only thing dogging exchange traded funds (ETFs) as well as both developed and emerging markets: the infrastructure is hurting, too. Scott Jagow for Marketplace reports that one only need to... Continue Reading »

No Such Thing as a Free Lunch, Even with Active ETFs
February 8, 2008 – Actively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs) are just around the bend. But the old adage "You’ve got to give something to get something" holds true with them. Ian Salisbury for the Wall Street Journal notes... Continue Reading »

Hong Kong, Taiwan and Their ETFs Could Have Potential
February 7, 2008 – If Hong Kong plays its cards right, it could become the world’s most developed city, something that could be good news for its exchange traded fund (ETF). An Lu for Xinhua says it will need... Continue Reading »

High Yield Bond ETFs Inviting During Dicey Market
February 7, 2008 – In troubled times, investors are on the hunt for safe havens, and one of those is bond exchange traded funds (ETFs). There is always the concern about interest rate risk, but with the possibility of... Continue Reading »

New York Stores Start Accepting Euros - Currency ETFs Might Like It
February 7, 2008 – Money is now talking with a European accent in New York as some stores have begun accepting euros, making some currency exchange traded funds (ETFs) look pretty good. Angela Moore for Reuters says that some shop... Continue Reading »

Could Pending Home Sales Report Dampen Real Estate ETFs?
February 7, 2008 – Pending U.S. home sales fell 1.5% in December, proof that the housing market is even more sour than anticipated, but what could it mean for real estate-related exchange traded funds (ETFs)? The funds have... Continue Reading »

Technology ETF Drops With Cisco
February 7, 2008 – Shares of Cisco Systems have been posting disappointing revenue growth, sending the technology-related exchange traded funds (ETFs) to their lowest levels this year. Tech stocks tumbled Thursday, and shares of Cisco (CSCO) were sold... Continue Reading »

Malaise Shows in Retail ETFs and Sectors
February 7, 2008 – As if the wallets weren’t shut tight enough already: retail sales fell even further in January, putting a damper on related exchange traded funds (ETFs). Anne D’Innocenzio for the Associated Press reports that retailers had... Continue Reading »

BRIC ETFs Caught In Gap Between Perception and Reality
February 7, 2008 – The consistency of economic strength is still being determined among investors of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) exchange traded funds (ETFs). Pierre Daillie for Seeking Alpha says that at best, the general sentiment surrounding... Continue Reading »

Have a Happy New Year and Look at China ETFs
February 7, 2008 – Chinese New Year is celebrated today, as the first day of the first lunar month has begun, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are already reeling. Copper dipped in early afternoon trade while other base... Continue Reading »

Golden Expectations In 2008 For Related ETFs
February 6, 2008 – Gold-focused exchange traded funds (ETFs) will gleam from the idea that the precious metal will likely peak at just more than $1,000 per ounce in 2008, according to a London-based consultancy firm. Gold is... Continue Reading »

You’ve Got Breakup: Time Warner, AOL Might Split - How Will ETFs Take the News?
February 6, 2008 – Big changes are afoot at Time Warner Inc. (TWX) and Wall Street seems to like them so far - will the internet and media exchange traded funds (ETFs) follow? The company’s new CEO, Jeff Bewkes, announced... Continue Reading »

Utilities Investing With ETFs
February 6, 2008 – Public utilities offer value, profit and reliability when the market is at its worst, and so can the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track them. However, Del Thiessen for Seeking Alpha cautions that they’re... Continue Reading »

Coal ETF Won’t Benefit From Plant for Now, But It Could from Global Demand
February 6, 2008 – News that could affect the coal-focused exchange traded fund (ETF) involves the FutureGen project, in which the carbon dioxide emissions from coal power plants will be re-directed away from the atmosphere. Coal-fired power plants... Continue Reading »

Oil Service ETF Slips on Recession Fears
February 6, 2008 – Oil service stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) slipped Tuesday after recession fears deepened. Yesterday’s report showing a slowdown in the service sector ignited fears of a definite economic slowdown in the U.S. The Institute... Continue Reading »

Mr. Burns Might Like This: Nuclear ETF Poised For Demand
February 6, 2008 – Despite a humble beginning, the nuclear energy exchange traded fund (ETF) could prove to be a useful investment. Market Vector’s Nuclear ETF (NLR) is down 8.9% year-to-date and has been down as much as... Continue Reading »

What Do ETF Closings Ultimately Mean?
February 6, 2008 – Claymore Securities announced on Friday that they are liquidating 11 of their least popular exchange traded funds (ETFs), making this the biggest fund closing in history. The last trading day for the funds is... Continue Reading »

Long-Short Funds Prove Their Skills
February 6, 2008 – Long-short exchange traded funds (ETFs) have outperformed any other fund analyzed by Morningstar so far this year. Long-short funds combine traditional long or bullish bets with short or bearish ones that allow fund managers... Continue Reading »

ETFs Narrow Their View
February 5, 2008 – In 2007, more than 270 new exchange traded funds (ETFs) were launched, and half of these funds are niche or "specialty" funds.  Eleanore Laise for The Wall Street Journal reports that few financial experts advise... Continue Reading »

ETFs Prove Women Are Not Shopping ‘Til They Drop
February 5, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) and stocks are reflecting that women’s retailers could be nearing an inflection point, with trends at negative-to-flattish for 10 months. Brigid Gaffikin for Thomson Financial reports that women’s specialty comps... Continue Reading »

Yahoo And Microsoft Stocks Jump; Internet ETFs Sit Tight
February 5, 2008 – Friday’s news of Microsoft’s (MSFT) $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo (YHOO) has driven up share prices could affect related internet exchange traded funds (ETFs) heavily weighted in the companies. Yahoo’s prices went up to $28.68... Continue Reading »

Writers Strike Could Leave ETF Trailing In Its Wake
February 5, 2008 – The movie and television writers who are striking may return to a workplace that will never be the same again, thus affecting Wall street and exchange traded funds (ETFs). Michael Cieply for The New York... Continue Reading »

Cut Cables Aren’t Cutting Internet ETFs
February 5, 2008 – Would the Internet exchange traded funds (ETFs) be affected by four undersea cables that are damaged? Undersea cables are carrying around 95% of the world’s telephone and Internet traffic, and four of them have... Continue Reading »

Actively Managed ETFs Inch Closer to Reality
February 5, 2008 – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has cleared another step in the path to an actively managed exchange traded fund (ETF). On Friday, reports Diya Gullapalli for the Wall Street Journal, gave "close-to-final" approval to... Continue Reading »

China To Gain Access To More US Stocks And ETFs
February 5, 2008 – Chinese investors are soon to be getting more access to U.S. stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs). James T. Areddy for the Wall Street Journal says that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will sign a... Continue Reading »

Frontier ETFs, Anyone?
February 5, 2008 – Ever wonder if there are exchange traded funds (ETFs) for exotic locales such as Kuwait or Kathmandu? Carl Delfeld for ETFfolio did the research and found data on overseas stock markets from Portfolio magazine.... Continue Reading »

Analysts Cozy Up to Financial and Homebuilder ETFs
February 4, 2008 – Some analysts are liking the looks of financial and homebuilder focused exchange traded funds (ETFs) these days. While the financial industry in particular continues to get negative press, advisors and analysts are saying that the two... Continue Reading »

Two New India ETFs Should Hit This Month
February 4, 2008 – The challenge for PowerShares will be getting around India’s rules about foreign stock ownership with its new India-focused exchange traded fund (ETF). Instead of traditional ETFs, which use derivatives and/or notes that provide indirect exposure,... Continue Reading »

If Russia Makes Friends, ETF Could Benefit
February 4, 2008 – Could Russia’s diplomacy be hurting its opportunities for foreign investors and its exchange traded funds (ETFs)? The Kremlin admitted that it is, reports Ambrose Evans-Pritchard for the Telegraph. It said that the country’s hard-nose diplomacy... Continue Reading »

Video of Tom Lydon on FBN This Morning
February 4, 2008 – Tom Lydon was on Fox Business Network’s Opening Bell this morning and discussed silver ETFs, agriculture ETFs, and the advantages of ETFs versus mutual funds with hosts Connell McShane, Ray Hennessey, and Ashley Webster. Below... Continue Reading »

Coal ETF Has Up-and-Down Start
February 4, 2008 – Since its launch on Jan. 14, the Market Vectors Coal (KOL) exchange traded fund (ETF) has been bouncing around, which is a reminder of the commodity’s volatility and risk. Oil is getting all the press... Continue Reading »

World Bank Revises China Forecast; Could ETFs Shiver?
February 4, 2008 – Stormy weather in China could put a beating on the country’s exchange traded funds (ETFs). Today, the World Bank cut its 2008 economic growth forecast for China to 9.6%, down from 10.8%, according to Joe... Continue Reading »

MSCI Growth Driven By ETFs
February 4, 2008 – The Morgan Stanley indexing company provides a range of tools and services for investments such as exchange traded funds (ETFs). The New York-based company publishes more than 100,000 indexes for its namesake international equity benchmarks,... Continue Reading »

The Best Performing ETFs So Far
February 4, 2008 – Tom Lydon appeared this morning on CNBC with Matt Nesto to talk about the top-performing exchange traded funds (ETFs) of the year so far. Click here to view the video. Continue Reading »

ETFs Gaining Market Share
February 4, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are closing in on their counterparts, the actively-managed mutual fund and the hedge fund. Experts are reporting that the global market for ETFs will grow to $2 trillion in 2011... Continue Reading »

ETF Bargain Hunters Start Searching
February 4, 2008 – Bargain shoppers may have their time cut out for them, as many exchange traded funds (ETFs) are touting low price-to-earnings ratios (P/E Ratios). The P/E Ratio is a valuation of a company’s current share price... Continue Reading »

Is The ETF Time REIT?
February 3, 2008 – The subprime mess is in full meltdown mode, so is it time to consider exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the real estate