Rhapsody’s Deal is Music to UK ETF’s Ears
June 30, 2008 – The United Kingdom exchange traded fund (ETF) was humming along to news that another subscription music site is going to begin selling digital songs. Rhapsody wants to challenge iTunes and is therefore offering unprotected digital songs... Continue Reading »

June ETF Performance Report
June 30, 2008 – Today, the markets wrap up a month, a quarter and the first half of the year and it was a rocky June for exchange traded fund (ETF) investors. The Dow Jones industrial average lost... Continue Reading »

Stop the Presses: Newspaper Industry Woes Might Drag Media ETF
June 30, 2008 – The media exchange traded fund (ETF) contains companies that represent nearly every corner of the media universe, from television, the internet and newspapers. That could be a good thing, since the newspaper industry had one... Continue Reading »

Looking for the ETF Silver Lining Amid the Clouds?
June 30, 2008 – With the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) getting socked by near-daily bad news, you might be wondering how Pollyanna did it. Wasn’t she exhausted? How can you stay optimistic when: Oil keeps hitting new... Continue Reading »

Inflation in Euro Countries Hits a 16-Year High; Could It Dent ETFs?
June 30, 2008 – Euro nations are finding themselves in the same pickle we’re in: combating problems that might be helping exchange traded funds (ETFs) and other investments, but causing the economy to feel a pinch as consumer spending... Continue Reading »

France Telecom Drops Bid for Swedish Company, Dialing Up ETFs
June 30, 2008 – France Telecom dropped its takeover bid that, had it gone through, would have created Europe’s largest telecommunications company and perhaps boosted France’s exchange traded fund (ETF) as well. The bid for Swedish company TeliaSonera was... Continue Reading »

There Is Plenty Of Market Space for Both ETFs and Mutual Funds In the Investment Universe
June 30, 2008 – Do you think exchange traded funds (ETFs) will ever replace the mutual funds’ place in the industry? There are plenty of people who aren’t so sure, and believe it or not, we’re among them. There have... Continue Reading »

Thinking Caps Are Calling For Large-Cap Stocks And ETFs To Step Up
June 30, 2008 – As far as exchange traded funds (ETFs) divvied up by cap size and growth vs. value, it’s been all about the mid-caps so far this year. For the last three months, mid-caps have returned... Continue Reading »

In Case You Needed Convincing, Morgan Stanley’s ETF Report Presents More Pluses
June 29, 2008 – Morgan Stanley’s research group, headed by Paul Mazzilli, released a report on an age-old debate: exchange traded funds (ETFs) vs. mutual funds. The title of the document - "Exchange-Traded Funds: ETFs Provide Attractive Alternatives... Continue Reading »

New Index Rates Better Than OK, With An ETF To Track It
June 29, 2008 – SPADE Indexes has published the SPADE Oklahoma Index, which will serve as the basis of the upcoming Oklahoma exchange traded fund (ETF). The index is designed to track companies that have corporate headquarters within the... Continue Reading »

We Might Not Like Our Dollar Weak, But Some ETFs Do
June 28, 2008 – While our economy is plagued by a weak dollar and its implications, exchange traded funds (ETFs) can benefit. These days there are more options than ever for investors to hedge against a falling dollar. And... Continue Reading »

Hedge Funds Adding Leveraged ETFs Into the Mix
June 28, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are one of the most popular investment tools, and hedge funds are picking up on them - especially the leveraged type. That’s making some of the hedge funds more risky because... Continue Reading »

Cocoa Shortage Could Be Sweet for Cocoa ETN
June 27, 2008 – Rising food prices have been a boon to commodities exchange traded funds (ETFs) this year. Corn, wheat, soybeans, sugar, you name it - it’s getting pricier by the minute. But…chocolate? Precious, precious chocolate that many... Continue Reading »

Is There Any Magic In An ETF Share Split?
June 27, 2008 – When a share split among stocks and the exchange traded funds (ETFs) which hold them occurs, are investors any better off? Earlier this month, Vanguard declared a 2-for-1 split of three ETFs in an... Continue Reading »

Speculators, ETF Traders - No One Is Safe from Bogeyman Suspicions
June 27, 2008 – The finger-pointing about who’s to blame for the rising commodities prices is in full force, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are not immune from being fingered as a possible cause. Market Club for iStockAnalyst ponders... Continue Reading »

Homebuilder, Financial Losses Give ETFs Mixed Results
June 27, 2008 – The woes for the financial and homebuilding sectors continued today, while related exchange traded funds (ETFs) differed in their reactions. Bank of America (BAC) announced job cuts of 7,500 upon closing its acquisition of Countrywide... Continue Reading »

ETN Gives First Exposure to Carbon Credits Market
June 27, 2008 – iPath this week launched an array of exchange traded notes (ETNs), and one of the most interesting is the first such note linked to carbon credits. The iPath Global Carbon (GRN) is designed to provide investors with exposure... Continue Reading »

Markets, Some ETFs and Consumers Down In the Dumps
June 27, 2008 – Surprise, surprise, surprise. Consumer confidence continues to plummet as the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are weighed down by inflation and job losses. The Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers showed that confidence fell... Continue Reading »

John Bogle Questions Sector and Leveraged ETFs
June 27, 2008 – Noted exchange traded fund (ETF) critic and Vanguard Group founder John Bogle recently shared his thoughts about sector and leveraged funds. At a meeting before the Financial Planning Association, he praised ETFs for their endorsement... Continue Reading »

When It Comes to ETFs, Keep Your Eyes Open
June 27, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) can have a number of objectives for the investor, aside from the immediately obvious ones. Beyond the goal of building wealth for the investor, ETFs have several other functions, suggests Peter... Continue Reading »

ETF Banks On Chinese Currency To Be Number “Yuan” Against U.S. Dollar
June 26, 2008 – Many believe that the Chinese currency will eventually become number "yuan" to the U.S. dollar, so it’s fortunate for them that there’s an exchange traded fund (ETF) to track it. WisdomTree Chinese Yuan Fund (CYB),... Continue Reading »

Belgium’s ETF Waffles on Battle Between Brewers and Lender’s Troubles
June 26, 2008 – Belgium’s exchange traded fund (ETF) has fallen midday to its lowest point since June 2006 on news of a fight between Anheuser-Busch and InBev, along with news that a lender scrapped its dividend and... Continue Reading »

Citigroup’s Downgrade Sinks Markets and Financial ETFs Lower
June 26, 2008 – Financial exchange traded funds (ETFs) sank lower today after a downgrade of Citigroup (C) sent the bank’s shares to a 10-year low. Goldman Sachs said investors should sell the bank’s stock short, reports Neha Singh... Continue Reading »

Rising Inflation Sends Investors Rushing to Precious Metal ETFs
June 26, 2008 – Gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) have been quiet lately, drowned out by the ruckus oil has been causing. But in trading today, futures jumped at points by as much as $33 an ounce. The price of... Continue Reading »

International Health Care ETF Gets a Booster Shot From Recommendations
June 26, 2008 – One of the international health care exchange traded funds (ETFs) is trading higher today after a few rounds of good news for some of its holdings. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) benefited from a recommendation by the advisory... Continue Reading »

iShares Welcomes New Additions To ETF Family
June 26, 2008 – Barclays Global Investors made three new additions to the iShares exchange traded fund (ETF) family this week. iShares S&P Global Timber & Forestry Index Fund (WOOD) iShares S&P Global Nuclear Energy Index Fund (NUCL) iShares S&P Global... Continue Reading »

Buy-and-Hold Portfolios Are Easy With ETFs
June 26, 2008 – One it comes to an exchange traded fund (ETF) buy-and-hold portfolio, it’s not a one-size-fits-all venture. Studies have shown that the performance of investors who are in it for the long haul mostly rides on... Continue Reading »

A Triple-Threat in the Markets Makes Short ETFs Popular
June 26, 2008 – Is there are triple crisis threatening to hurt the economy, Wall Street and exchange traded funds (ETFs)? Martin D. Weiss for Money And Markets reports that he warned us one week ago about a... Continue Reading »

International Real Estate ETFs Can Be Like Apples and Oranges
June 25, 2008 – Two exchange traded funds (ETFs) can sound alike, but pulling back the curtain can often reveal big differences, such as those between two international real estate funds. The PowerShares FTSE/RAFI International Real Estate Portfolio (PRY)... Continue Reading »

Boeing, Durable Goods Ground Transportation, Aerospace ETFs
June 25, 2008 – A double whammy of bad news took the aerospace and defense exchange traded fund (ETF) lower today. First, orders for durable goods (those items meant to last three years or more) were stagnant last month.... Continue Reading »

Homes Sales and Prices Fall, Real Estate ETFs Head Up
June 25, 2008 – Bargain hunters once again are emerging, seeking out real estate exchange traded funds (ETFs) after more bad news from the sector was released this morning. New home sales fell for the sixth time in seven... Continue Reading »

Fed Takes It Easy for Now, Financial ETFs Trading Higher
June 25, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) and the markets waited with bated breath for the Federal Reserve’s decision, and it’s here: they’re doing nothing. The short-term interest rate will, for the time being, remain at 2%, reports Chris... Continue Reading »

Apply SPF When Perspiring Over Your Solar ETFs
June 25, 2008 – Who would have thought that investors would need SPF when they are investing in solar exchange traded funds (ETFs)? The sun protection factor has more to do with stock volatility and risk appetite, mixed with... Continue Reading »

Food and Beverage ETF Might Not Be the Breakfast of Champions After General Mills’ Earnings
June 25, 2008 – General Mills (GIS) reported that its fourth-quarter net earnings fell and that costs could rise by 9% in the current fiscal year, which might eventually catch up to the food and beverage exchange traded fund... Continue Reading »

While Squeaky Wheel Gets Oil, Natural Gas ETFs Quietly Outperform
June 25, 2008 – The outlook toward natural gas and the related exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track it is looking good. As the hype over oil drowns out the noise in other commodity ETFs, natural gas funds... Continue Reading »

Will H&M’s Strong Sales Bring Sweden’s ETF Back Into Fashion?
June 25, 2008 – Sweden has really come into its own: first the Volvo, then Ikea, and now Hennes & Mauritz (also known as fashion retailer H&M, for you non-fashionistas) - could the country’s sense of style translate... Continue Reading »

ETFs and Sectors to Watch In the Second Half of 2008
June 24, 2008 – Those who prefer investing with exchange traded funds (ETFs) may have bountiful choices to pick from, as there are several areas worth watching for the latter half of 2008. Can you believe we’re already just about halfway through... Continue Reading »

Spanning a New Frontier With ETFs
June 24, 2008 – Upon any new frontier, the possibilities for growth and prosperity are endless, so investors might be taking a liking to the new frontier exchange traded funds (ETFs) that take the "emerging markets" concept even... Continue Reading »

Energy ETFs Play the Waiting Game While Congress Mulls Action
June 24, 2008 – Oil prices and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) continued the see-saw, wavering a little today. Gas dropped below $4.07 a gallon (hooray!), while oil rose by a scant 8 cents to $136.82 a barrel, reports... Continue Reading »

Could Tiger Woods Be Helping Your ETF?
June 24, 2008 – Increasingly, companies are turning to celebrities to hawk their wares, often with successful results, and it might be paying off for some exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the long run. Celebrity endorsements have been around... Continue Reading »

Housing and Inflation Take Down Consumer Confidence and ETFs
June 24, 2008 – If you were waiting for some good news to indicate that the housing market has made a turnaround and the related exchange traded funds (ETFs) would soon be ripe for the picking, you’ll have... Continue Reading »

UPS Says Outlook Not So Good; Will It Be So for Transportation ETF?
June 24, 2008 – UPS (UPS) has lowered its second-quarter outlook, putting a crimp in the transportation exchange traded fund’s (ETF) style. The world’s largest shipping carrier has been hit by a slowing economy in the United States and record... Continue Reading »

Looking Forward When It Comes to ETF Research
June 24, 2008 – Your old system of rating exchange traded funds (ETFs) just isn’t cutting it anymore. The ETF market is booming, and it’s leading research firms to take another look at how they analyze these funds. Standard... Continue Reading »

Germany’s Green Ambition Could Enter ETFs
June 24, 2008 – Germany has taken ambitious attempts to cut down on energy consumption, and with the government backing this serious effort, there will likely be changes within their economy and possibly, the focused exchange traded fund... Continue Reading »

Financial, Consumer Discretionary ETFs Hit By Goof
June 23, 2008 – Goldman Sachs & Co. admitted that it made a mistake in upgrading the financial and consumer discretionary sectors, putting related exchange traded funds (ETFs) back in a funk. Seven weeks ago, the sectors were boosted... Continue Reading »

Keeping Your Eye On the Double Inverse ETF
June 23, 2008 – Does a double inverse exchange traded fund (ETF) give clues to which direction the market sentiment will go? Trading volume was on the thin side last week, although it was time for options to expire,... Continue Reading »

Can the Housing Slump and ETFs Rebound Like Rodman?
June 23, 2008 – A study by some at Harvard University showing that the United States has challenges when it comes to trying to reverse the housing slump is challenging exchange traded funds (ETFs) as well. The record number... Continue Reading »

Netherlands ETF Gives Heineken Cold Shoulder And Warms Up To Renewable Energy
June 23, 2008 – It has been all quiet on the Netherlands front, so what’s going on with the related exchange traded fund (ETF)? As of now, the Dutch government has set aside 7.5 billion euros ($11.6 billion USD)... Continue Reading »

High Grain Prices Might Make Thanksgiving a Turkey, But the ETFs Hog Returns
June 23, 2008 – Two of the country’s oldest agriculture companies, holdings of a global agriculture exchange traded fund (ETF), are joining forces. Bunge Ltd. (BG) announced that it’s buying Corn Products International (CPO) for $4.4 billion, the Associated... Continue Reading »

Taiwan And China Diminish Animosity For Improved Economy And ETFs
June 23, 2008 – The long standing animosity between mainland China and Taiwan may be near an end, which will help boost both countries’ economies, stock markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The long-awaited political breakthrough between Chinese and... Continue Reading »

Unemployment Rate Could Drag Italy’s ETF
June 23, 2008 – Italy’s unemployment rate is now at its highest point since the third quarter of 2006, which could weigh down its exchange traded funds (ETFs). The rate rose to 6.5%, report Robin Pomeroy and Gavin Jones... Continue Reading »

Real Estate ETFs Can Forget The Granite! (And The Crown Moulding)
June 23, 2008 – Bargain hunters waiting for the bottom of the real estate market to drop out shouldn’t hold their breath, as an inventory glut, price-cutting standoffs and economic conditions continue to weigh down homeowners and exchange... Continue Reading »

Are We Just Being Eeyores In Regard to the Economy and Some ETFs?
June 22, 2008 – When it comes to the big picture of the economy, our investments and exchange traded funds (ETFs), are we just being Eeyores? When you look at the cold, hard facts, and compare the statistics from today... Continue Reading »

SSGA ETFs Are Turning Japanese
June 22, 2008 – State Street Global Advisors is reaching across the Pacific to try their luck in Japan, starting with a gold-focused exchange traded fund (ETF). By the end of 2008, SSGA plans to list some of... Continue Reading »

Do You Know What ETFs Bring To The Table?
June 21, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have a lot to offer investors, but what do they really bring to the table? Matthew Hougan for Index Universe offers his take on what are truly the best things... Continue Reading »

Bond, Junk Bond ETF, That Is
June 21, 2008 – The bond exchange traded fund (ETF) market has a life of its own, under the cover of equities, similar to their smoother counterpart James Bond. Investors have been avoiding the riskier areas of the credit market... Continue Reading »

When It Comes to ETFs, Each Area Marches to Its Own Drummer
June 20, 2008 – The Dow Jones industrial average tested new lows today, so you might be feeling gloomy, but taking a look at the mid-cap growth exchange traded fund (ETF) and the Nasdaq helps round out the... Continue Reading »

Infrastructure Can Be Approached With Broad or Focused ETFs - Your Call
June 20, 2008 – Infrastructure exchange traded funds (ETFs) may be just what your town or country needs to get a good face lift. Gary Gordon on ETF Expert refers to infrastructure improvement as the need for both developed... Continue Reading »

Gloves Are Off In Mexico’s Battle Against Inflation - Can the ETF Win?
June 20, 2008 – Mexico is ready to throw down with inflation, which might turn its exchange traded fund (ETF) back around after negative one-month performance. The country took two big steps to get control of the situation: first,... Continue Reading »

ETFs Shoot Up from Higher Fuel Prices, But Finger-Pointing is Irresistible
June 20, 2008 – As the cost of fossil fuel prices rise and exchange traded funds (ETFs) reap the rewards while our wallets take a beating, people are beginning to want answers. Who’s to blame? Lately, "speculator" seems to... Continue Reading »

Canadian ETF And Economy Remains Healthy Despite U.S. Proximity
June 20, 2008 – Canada may have a close proximity to the United States, but the exposure to these markets has remained low, giving the Canadian dollar and the exchange traded fund (ETF) some strength. Canada has not been... Continue Reading »

Financial ETFs and Markets Have a Headache This Big
June 20, 2008 – More woes are hitting the financial sector, and the related exchange traded funds (ETFs) are reflecting the pain in early trading today. Merrill Lynch (MER) issued a report this morning that U.S. banks are in... Continue Reading »

ETFs Benefit from High Food Prices, But Hawaiians Don’t
June 20, 2008 – The rising food prices that have ravaged our wallets and lifted exchange traded funds (ETFs) have hit few so hard as those in Hawaii. Think you’ve got it bad? Maybe you won’t complain so much... Continue Reading »

Wind ETF: We Hope You Like Puns
June 20, 2008 – The newest form of alternative energy to get the exchange traded fund (ETF) treatment is wind. The First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy Index (FAN) blew in on Wednesday. The index behind it is a... Continue Reading »

If You Think Commodity ETFs Are Popular Here, You Haven’t Seen Europe
June 20, 2008 – When it comes to commodity exchange traded fund (ETF) inflows, Europe is leaving the United States in the dust. In fact, assets under management for such funds is currently double that of the United States,... Continue Reading »

Tom Lydon on Fox Business
June 19, 2008 – Earlier this week, Tom Lydon appeared on Fox Business to discuss U.S. inflation and commodity ETFs with hosts David Asman and Liz Claman as well as fellow guest Adam Bold. Below is video of that... Continue Reading »

S&P Jumps On The Asian Bandwagon
June 19, 2008 – Asia has been one of the most popular areas for exchange traded fund (ETF) investors to gain some international exposure. So, why not provide indexes that focus on specific portions of the region? Standard &... Continue Reading »

No Hanging Chad Here: Presidential Campaign Could Help Internet ETFs
June 19, 2008 – There is already one winner in the presidential elections: the internet, and this could help download returns for some of the internet and technology related exchange traded funds (ETFs). Between the increasing views of online... Continue Reading »

Russian Economy and ETF Loaded Like a Freight Train
June 19, 2008 – Russia keeps on chugging, as the economy is lifted by soaring commodity prices that are helping capture great numbers for the related exchange traded fund (ETF). For the first quarter, Russia’s economy expanded at 8.5%,... Continue Reading »

Let’s All Raise a Guinness for the New Irish ETF
June 19, 2008 – The long-awaited Irish exchange traded fund (ETF) is here, just in time for the routing of the L.A. Lakers by the mighty Boston Celtics for the NBA Championship. The NETS ISEX 20 Index Fund (IQE)... Continue Reading »

China’s ETFs Could Grow Along With the Country
June 19, 2008 – China’s exchange traded funds (ETFs) might be staging a turnaround if a World Bank report on the country turns out to be accurate. The growth forecast for the country has been raised to 9.8%, up... Continue Reading »

PowerShares, Deutsche Bank Team Up With Oil, Base Metal ETNs
June 19, 2008 – PowerShares and Deutsche Bank are teaming up again to launch eight base-metal and crude oil-linked exchange traded notes (ETNs). The notes will be linked to the performance of industrial metals and crude oil, through a... Continue Reading »

ETFs Can Be Fine-Tuned For Each Investor
June 19, 2008 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) industry is going strong, with nearly 700 funds to choose from and another 400 in registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). iMoney: Profitable ETF Strategies For Every... Continue Reading »

When Outperformance Isn’t Enough, The 130/30 ETN Can Take You Beyond
June 19, 2008 – A strategy that’s popular with hedge fund investors is now being applied to an exchange traded note (ETN). JP Morgan Chase & Co. ETN 130/30 (JFT) tracks the First Trust Enhanced 130/30 Large Cap Index and... Continue Reading »

Not All ETFs and Mutual Funds Are Created Alike; Know the Differences
June 18, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are gunning for the mutual fund throne. But as investors try to figure out what’s right for them, it’s important that they know what the differences between the various types of... Continue Reading »

Investors Follow the Yellow Brick Road With Gold ETFs
June 18, 2008 – Gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) offer investors a safe haven during economic crisis. We are experiencing a rough patch: equities are losing value, employment numbers aren’t good, inflation is rising and fixed-income is getting... Continue Reading »

FedEx, Financials Take Markets and Some ETFs Lower
June 18, 2008 – FedEx (FDX) made an express delivery of disappointment to the markets this morning, but the transportation exchange traded fund (ETF) is holding steady in early trading. The company said that falling demand and rising oil... Continue Reading »

AC/DC Comes to Wal-Mart With Open Arms, But Will ETFs Be Ready to Rock?
June 18, 2008 – Well, hell’s bells. AC/DC’s decision about where they’re going to sell their new album could wind up helping exchange traded funds (ETFs). That is, if enough people still care about them and enough people... Continue Reading »

If Energy Exploration Is Stepped Up, ETFs Won’t Feel It for Years
June 18, 2008 – President Bush is calling for Congress to get on board with energy exploration, but related exchange traded funds (ETFs) are still smarting from an explosion this week at Apache (APA). Record oil and gas... Continue Reading »

All-In-One Funds: It’s An ETF and a Dessert Topping!
June 18, 2008 – To all things in life, there has to be a balance for it to maintain health and longevity, and this applies to exchange traded funds (ETFs) as well. As an all-in-one investment, a globally... Continue Reading »

iMoney Table of Contents
June 18, 2008 – Chapter 1 - Busted: The Failure of Mutual Funds and Birth of ETFs Chapter 2 - The Art of Indexing Using the iMoney Plan Chapter 3 - Investing in Domestic Shares: U.S Stock Index ETFs Chapter 4 -... Continue Reading »

Small Companies Might Be Dinged By Active ETFs
June 18, 2008 – While the disclosure rules for actively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs) might benefit the investor who still craves transparency, the rules could inadvertently hurt small-company stocks. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules mandate that... Continue Reading »

iMoney: Profitable ETF Strategies for Every Investor Is Now Available and #1 Mutual Fund Book at Amazon.com
June 17, 2008 – We’re thrilled to announce that our book about exchange traded funds (ETFs), iMoney: Profitable ETF Strategies for Every Investor, is now for sale and ready for shipping at both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. We... Continue Reading »

In Slicing Up the Dow’s ETF Sectors, a Picture Emerges
June 17, 2008 – The past few weeks have been hard on investors and their sector-focused exchange traded funds (ETFs). But not all sectors are suffering equally. A glance at the Diamonds Trust (DIA), which tracks the Dow Jones industrial... Continue Reading »

Japan’s ETF Shaky As Economy And Country Are Rattled
June 17, 2008 – The near future of Japan’s economy and its related exchange traded fund (ETF) are flashing mixed signals. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development states that Japan’s economy is looking better as slow domestic... Continue Reading »

Tough Times May Fall On South Africa And ETF As Interest Rates Rise
June 17, 2008 – South Africa may be in for hard times ahead, news that may affect its exchange traded fund (ETF) . The recent run of solid growth may get stunted as higher interest rates are looming,... Continue Reading »

When the Financial Sector and ETFs Turn Around Depends on Who You Talk To
June 17, 2008 – What’s the deal with financials and the sectors’ related exchange traded funds (ETFs)? Are we at the bottom yet? That’s a tough one to call, because for every bit of hopeful news, there’s yet... Continue Reading »

ETFs Enjoying the View from Rising Inflation
June 17, 2008 – Inflation is still a vexing problem for most of us, but not for food and energy exchange traded funds (ETFs). The Producer Price Index - a measure of the price of goods before they hit... Continue Reading »

Not All ETFs Are Created Equally
June 17, 2008 – Opportunity is knocking on investors’ doors in the form of exchange traded funds (ETFs). They are becoming increasingly popular with both investors and advisors and they’re bringing more technique and innovation to the table... Continue Reading »

Question and Answer Session About ETFs and Why They’re So Likable
June 17, 2008 – You may have noticed that we love exchange traded funds (ETFs) over here. Tom Lydon recently had a Q&A session with Stan Choe of the Associated Press and talked about exactly why that is. Click here... Continue Reading »

ETFs for a Rainy Season
June 17, 2008 – Everybody knows that when it rains, it pours, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are no exception. The uncertainty is pouring in all around us, with a looming presidential election, a Dow Jones industrial average that... Continue Reading »

401(k) Bill Laid to Rest for Now; Wait for ETFs In Plans Continues
June 16, 2008 – The movement to get exchange traded funds (ETFs) into 401(k) plans has hit a stumbling block. House Education and Labor Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., pronounced his bill to increase disclosure of retirement account fees dead... Continue Reading »

Killer Fossil Fuel Prices Turn ETF Investors Green
June 16, 2008 – Oil exchange traded funds (ETFs) weren’t the only winners today - record prices sent investors once again scurrying for alternative energy sources. The First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge US Liquid (QCLN) was up nearly... Continue Reading »

Weakening Dollar Polishes Up Metals ETFs
June 16, 2008 – Metals exchange traded funds (ETFs) were golden today as the dollar lost ground. Gold futures rose to their highest level in a week as the euro gathered steam, reports Alan Fein for Axcess News. Silver futures... Continue Reading »

GE Shares Downgraded, Industrial ETFs Hold Steady
June 16, 2008 – General Electric (GE) had its shares downgraded from "neutral" to "overweight," but that doesn’t seem to be dragging exchange traded funds (ETFs) that count the company as a top component. It’s just the latest bit of... Continue Reading »

Financial Moving and Shaking Doesn’t Rattle ETFs
June 16, 2008 – Financial exchange traded funds (ETFs) are breaking even so far in trading today after lots of news spilled out from the sector: Lehman Brothers (LEH) announced a loss of $2.8 billion, which was right in line... Continue Reading »

Corn Helps ETFs, But It Might Be Missing From the Grill This Summer
June 16, 2008 – When it comes to the weather, crops just can’t seem to win, but exchange traded funds (ETFs) do. If you’re hungry, the flooding in the Midwest is probably just making a bad situation worse. But... Continue Reading »

Commodity ETFs Hot Streak
June 16, 2008 – As a consumer, the commodities boom can make you feel pinched, but the bull market of raw materials could be an investment opportunity with exchange traded funds (ETFs). So why and how do you... Continue Reading »

New Commodity ETN is Cyclical
June 16, 2008 – The ELEMENTS exchange traded notes (ETNs) are adding a new and different commodity-based product to its line-up. The note tracks the S&P Commodity Trends Indicator Total Return Index (S&P CTI), which includes 16 physical... Continue Reading »

Turkish ETF Here for Economic Reforms
June 15, 2008 – The country of Turkey is getting a make-over and with the government implementing major economic reforms the exchange traded fund (ETF) can stand to benefit. Turkey has not gotten its membership into the European... Continue Reading »

Fathers, ETFs and Sports - What Could Be Better?
June 15, 2008 – Happy Father’s Day to all you dads, who are anticipating a day of leisure while your exchange traded funds (ETFs) do the work. There isn’t a sports-related ETF, but there are other ETFs that... Continue Reading »

Mutual Funds’ Decade of Turbulence Has Helped ETFs
June 14, 2008 – The mutual fund industry’s tough decade has paved the way for exchange traded funds (ETFs). Ten years ago, mutual funds were looking swell: more than 130 of them posted returns of 100% or more at the... Continue Reading »

Quant ETFs Take You Outside The Box
June 14, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) that employ non-traditional strategies are capturing investors’ imaginations. By straying from tradition, the rules-based quant strategy ETF promises pumped up returns by hedging a portfolio or taking a directional bet on... Continue Reading »

With Advent of Active ETFs, Will We See More CEF Conversions?
June 13, 2008 – Now that actively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a reality, closed-end funds (CEFs) could begin seeing evolution in greater numbers. Since the approval of the actively managed ETF, the CEFs that are trading below... Continue Reading »

When It Comes to ETF Investing, Don’t Get So Emotional, Baby
June 13, 2008 – Removing the emotions from your investing, whether it’s exchange traded funds (ETFs) or something else, is one of the smartest things you can do. Money Coach Alvin Hall turned up on NPR this week and... Continue Reading »

Belgium Makes Offer for Bud, But Will ETFs Drink It Up?
June 13, 2008 – Could the sale of an American icon benefit a few exchange traded funds (ETFs)? Belgium company InBev recently made an unsolicited bid for Anheuser-Busch (BUD), and it has people torn. While shareholders might find themselves unable to... Continue Reading »

Single-Country ETFs: Will Different Construction Show Different Performance?
June 13, 2008 – Northern Trust has taken a different tack when it comes to exchange traded funds (ETFs) that focus on single countries. A new family of ETFs lets investors buy into 14 nation-based portfolios. This area of the... Continue Reading »

Advisors Give ETFs a Big Thumbs-Up
June 13, 2008 – Everything’s more expensive these days and we’re all sick of being nickeled and dimed to death with random, surprise fees. This frustration has led to the success of exchange traded funds (ETFs), and they’ve changed... Continue Reading »

MacroShares ETFs Dip Into Housing Market
June 13, 2008 – MacroShares is taking another swing at the up/down market movement, this time with exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track the upward and inverse movement of U.S. home prices. MacroShares Major Metro Housing Up (UMM)... Continue Reading »

April Showers Bring May ETF Flowers
June 12, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) had another month of growth in May. Twenty-three new ETFs were added to the fold in May, and the most positive performance was seen by global equity markets, according to... Continue Reading »

Internet HOLDRs ETF Falls After Yahoo and Microsoft Call It Off
June 12, 2008 – Technology stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) didn’t exactly shout "YAHOO!" when news of a failed deal between Yahoo and Microsoft (MSFT) came through this afternoon. Anupreeta Das and Daisuke Wakabayashi for Reuters report that Microsoft... Continue Reading »

ETFs Can Harness a Bullish Dollar
June 12, 2008 – After the government has indicated it’s ready to start defending the dollar, recent sentiment is pointing toward bullish, and some exchange traded funds (ETFs) give investors the chance to jump in. The dollar continued... Continue Reading »

Hedge Against Oil’s Wild Swings With New Long/Short ETFs
June 12, 2008 – Is the time nigh for some exchange traded funds (ETFs) that short oil and gas? The answer seems to be mixed - while oil prices have retreated some today, down to $132 a barrel, gas... Continue Reading »

That Shopping Spree Was Justified - It Helped Retail ETFs
June 12, 2008 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) are jumping for joy at the news of an unexpected gain. So, if you were feeling a little guilty about that splurge, just tell yourself it was for the greater... Continue Reading »

When the Bears Come Out, the Short ETFs Aren’t Far Behind
June 12, 2008 – Are you feeling a bit bearish on your exchange traded fund (ETF) bets because of the market turmoil? You’re not alone. Some of the strongest funds in trading yesterday were the shorts, including ProShares UltraShort... Continue Reading »

New ETF Ventures Into New Frontiers
June 12, 2008 – Investors have been salivating for an exchange traded fund (ETF) that gives some exposure to frontier markets. Finally, it’s here. Claymore this morning is expected to launch the Claymore BNY/Mellon Frontier Markets ETF (FRN), the first fund... Continue Reading »

Semiconductors Take A Chip Off The ETF
June 12, 2008 – The semiconductor sector hit a six-week low on Wednesday, chipping away at related exchange traded funds (ETFs). A chip industry tracker cut its global sales outlook for the year to 4.3% from 7.7%, reports... Continue Reading »

Media ETF Could Benefit From NBA Playoffs, But I May Not
June 11, 2008 – While the NBA playoffs could be helping some exchange traded funds (ETFs), they sure aren’t helping me any. I grew up in Boston, and if you hadn’t noticed, we’re nutty about our sports teams. You’d... Continue Reading »

The Fall of Mutual Funds and the Rise of ETFs
June 11, 2008 – A market crash should provide lessons for every investor, although far too many have short memories. In March 2000, the stock bubble popped. By the fall of 2002, the S&P had declined 46% percent from... Continue Reading »

ETFs Are Hoping to Start Blowin’ In the Wind
June 11, 2008 – As an exchange traded fund (ETF) investor, do you need a weather man to know which way the wind blows? PowerShares and First Trust Advisors don’t think so. They have recently filed with the... Continue Reading »

Flooding in Midwest Damages Corn Crops and Raises ETFs
June 11, 2008 – Agriculture exchange traded funds (ETFs) shot up in trading today as a flood in the Midwest damaged the 2008 corn crop. Corn futures rose more than 4%, the fifth straight record trading session, reports Sam... Continue Reading »

Talking to People On the Street Can Help When it Comes to China ETFs
June 11, 2008 – By heading over to China and having some conversations with regular people, one can learn a lot that could help when it comes time to start looking at exchange traded funds (ETFs). Tony Sagami for... Continue Reading »

Oh Canada! Booming Economy Helps Their ETF
June 11, 2008 – Tom Lydon appeared on the ETF Tracker segment of Closing Bell on CNBC to discuss Canada’s booming economy, which is benefiting from the world’s rising energy costs. Canada is home to the world’s largest oil... Continue Reading »

Commodity ETFs Were a Bunch of Bull In May, and Remain So In June
June 11, 2008 – Commodity exchange traded funds (ETFs) were among the strongest performers for May, and if things keep going the way they are, June might be another decent month. In fact, it might be a good... Continue Reading »

Financial Markets And ETFs Remain Bogged Down By Mortgages
June 11, 2008 – Economists and market experts are wary of problems lying ahead with a new type of credit crisis about to blow that could affect everything from consumers to businesses and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The... Continue Reading »

The ABCs of REIT ETFs
June 11, 2008 – The four major asset classes for exchange traded fund (ETF) and other investing are: stocks, bonds, cash and real estate. You can get direct exposure to real estate by actually owning it. The second... Continue Reading »

New Van Eck Currency ETNs Attempt To Lure Investors With Magnification
June 11, 2008 – Currency exchange traded funds (ETFs) have helped investors to cash in on the weakness of the U.S. dollar, while giving exposure to foreign currency in the process. So far this year, the U.S. dollar... Continue Reading »

Target Date ETFs Need to Make a Bigger Push for Education
June 10, 2008 – While target-date products, including exchange traded funds (ETFs), are seeing big growth, it’s been found that many investors still don’t understand quite how they work. Kevin Burke for Ignites points out that this lack of understanding... Continue Reading »

The Closing of an ETF Is an Orderly Process
June 10, 2008 – Recently, a reader wrote in to ask us what happens when an exchange traded fund (ETF) you happen to own is closing. In the wake of a few closings this year, it’s a great... Continue Reading »

ETFs Have Gone From Ugly Duckling To Market Swan
June 10, 2008 – Just like the ugly duckling, exchange traded funds (ETFs) were once an oddity floating in a pool of the more popular mutual funds. But their success has grown beautifully and gracefully, like a swan. At the... Continue Reading »

Fidelity Falling Flat This Year - Maybe ETFs Can Turn Them Around
June 10, 2008 – Perhaps Fidelity’s recent performance struggles will cause the fund provider to reconsider its strategy when it comes to exchange traded funds (ETFs). For now, they’ve just got the one with the aptly-named ticker: Fidelity Nasdaq Composite... Continue Reading »

Trade Gap Widens on Surging Oil and ETFs Gain
June 10, 2008 – Stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are all mixed up this morning as the trade deficit rose to its highest point in more than a year, thanks to oil prices. The gap between what the... Continue Reading »

Survey Has Surprises On How ETFs Are Used In Europe
June 10, 2008 – A recent survey has found that exchange traded funds (ETFs) aren’t being used to their full potential. Of course, the survey was of more than 110 European institutional investors, but we still wonder if... Continue Reading »

Rydex Proposes Leveraged ETFs For The Market
June 10, 2008 – Rydex Investments is planning to add to its family of leveraged exchange traded funds (ETFs), this time with sectors. They’re scheduled to begin trading Thursday. The move is in hopes that it will put... Continue Reading »

ETF Provider Parent Prepares for Roiling Waters Ahead
June 10, 2008 – When the waters ahead look turbulent, it’s best to prepare, and the parent of exchange traded fund (ETF) provider State Street Global Advisors is the latest firm to do just that. Several banks and financial... Continue Reading »

Spain’s Water Shortage May Trickle Into Its ETF
June 9, 2008 – For Murcia, Spain, the water crisis has been sped up by developers and farmers who are fighting over this resource, impacting exchange traded funds (ETFs) from both sides. Murcia was once a forgotten, poor... Continue Reading »

Airline Industry Turbulence Hasn’t Hit Transportation ETF
June 9, 2008 – With all the airlines’ woes, you’d think the transportation exchange traded fund (ETF) would be in the tank. But you’d be wrong. Last week, the iShares Dow Jones US Transportation Average (IYT) closed at a... Continue Reading »

Financial Sector and ETFs Hit By Lehman Bros.’ Writedown
June 9, 2008 – Lehman Brothers’ (LEH) announcement of a $2.8 billion loss rocked some financial exchange traded funds (ETFs) slightly and made it clear that the sector’s troubles aren’t over yet. The nation’s fourth-largest investment bank said it... Continue Reading »

Steel Prices Rise and Metals Gain to Solidify Related ETFs
June 9, 2008 – May turned out to be a good month for the metals and mining exchange traded fund (ETF). SPDR S&P Metals and Mining (XME) was the third-best ETF for the month, returning 14.9%,  according to... Continue Reading »

Pending Home Sales Spike, Real Estate ETFs Consider It
June 9, 2008 – Real estate exchange traded funds (ETFs) held steady this morning as numbers about pending home sales shot unexpectedly higher. Pending home sales for April were up 6.3% from March, but sales were still down 13.1%... Continue Reading »

Knowing ETFs Means Knowing Their Risks, Too
June 9, 2008 – Whenever there is a chance to gain through investments, there is risk involved, even with those trusty exchange traded funds (ETFs). Matthew Hougan for Index Universe has some basic old-fashioned information about researching ETFs, what risks... Continue Reading »

Alternatives To Energy ETFs
June 9, 2008 – As the price of crude oil is going off the charts, the push for alternative energy sources gears up and investing through exchange traded funds (ETFs) has never been more convenient. The so-called alternative... Continue Reading »

ETFs Are A Passage To India
June 9, 2008 – India’s economy is growing and outpacing the U.S., but what about the India-related exchange traded fund (ETFs)? They are down year-to-date, but there could be potential in the future. Larry Edelson for Money and... Continue Reading »

ETF Qualities Most Admired By Advisors
June 8, 2008 – A recent survey revealed what qualities advisors relish in exchange traded funds (ETFs) and what they think can improve. There were 840 investment professionals surveyed and asked to rate the importance of different characteristics... Continue Reading »

UN Food Conference Goes Bananas; Can ETFs Help?
June 8, 2008 – > The three-day conference held by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization went bananas to say the least, and didn’t do much to help solve the root of the problem; but that didn’t hurt... Continue Reading »

Free Tickets on jetBlue
June 7, 2008 – With all the bad news floating around about the airline industry, it’s nice to be able to share a positive story. You’ve probably had a negative airline travel experience recently. It might have been... Continue Reading »

New ETFs From PowerShares Announced
June 7, 2008 –   Indicative of the overall well-being of the exchange traded fund (ETF) industry, PowerShares announced the launch of two funds, due June 12. These two new ETFs will track Nasdaq indexes: PowerShares NASDAQ-100 BuyWrite Portfolio (PQBW) PowerShares... Continue Reading »

Funds of ETFs Face Regulation Hurdles Before Taking Off
June 7, 2008 – Before funds of exchange traded funds (ETFs) gain popularity, regulatory hurdles must be dealt with for the popularity to materialize. Current regulations prevent mutual funds from acquiring more than 3% of any other fund, however... Continue Reading »

Riding the Coal ETF Plumes Of Success
June 6, 2008 – A closer look at the coal oriented exchange traded fund (ETF) tells us that the fund really is a bag of coal. Market Vectors Coal ETF (KOL) is a basket of 39 coal-related companies... Continue Reading »

Expansion Into Hong Kong May Help Luxury ETF
June 6, 2008 – Many Chinese women will be able to look like a "tai tai" or a Canto starlet, while boosting the exchange traded fund (ETF) focused on luxury items, thanks to Coach (COH). Hong Kong is... Continue Reading »

Tom Lydon Talks Commodity ETFs on CNBC
June 6, 2008 – Tom Lydon discussed commodity ETFs and ETNs with Sue Herera on CNBC’s Power Lunch earlier today. Video of Tom’s segment is available below: Continue Reading »

Hedge Higher Gas Prices With ETFs
June 6, 2008 – Energy exchange traded funds (ETFs) have been abuzz for 2008, thanks to the price of light, sweet crude oil reaching historic highs, today over $139 a barrel. This week, we’ve seen the the biggest... Continue Reading »

ETFs Are Going Nuclear
June 6, 2008 – Nuclear energy was once a shunned energy source, treated and disliked as a leper, but the latest surge in crude oil and the related exchange traded funds(ETFs) have many seeking other energy sources. Will... Continue Reading »

What’s Going On With South Korea And It’s ETF?
June 6, 2008 – South Korea and its related exchange traded fund (ETF) have been juggling with the current global economic conditions, just as any other country. The South Korean economy grew faster than expected for the first quarter,... Continue Reading »

Future Success of ETFs
June 6, 2008 – Although actively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs) have hit the market, there is still debate as to whether or not they will succeed. In their infancy, these ETFs don’t have a track record, which... Continue Reading »

Japanese Economy and ETFs Land of the Rising Sun?
June 6, 2008 – The land of the rising sun could be in a great position as the country may be able to stave off a recession with domestic demand, helping it’s exchange traded funds (ETFs) and market... Continue Reading »

Claymore’s New Raymond James ETF
June 6, 2008 – Claymore Advisors is moving closer to convert the Claymore/Raymond James SB-1 Equity closed end fund into an exchange traded fund (ETF). The board for both the fund and the Claymore ETF Trust approved the conversion.... Continue Reading »

ETFs Continue to Evolve
June 5, 2008 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) was born in 1993. It provides investors the perfect blend of a stock and a mutual fund. Overall, they help control portfolio costs, and add efficiency plus diversification. The... Continue Reading »

Are Semiconductor ETFs Trying To Tell Us Something?
June 5, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the technology sector are showing strength, but is it driven from true demand or is it simply from a bargain hunting spree by savvy investors? The semiconductor space of the... Continue Reading »

Tom Lydon on Cavuto; Politics and Wall Street
June 5, 2008 – Tom Lydon appeared on a panel on the Cavuto show with Neil Cavuto on Fox Business Network last night. Video of Tom’s segment appears below: Continue Reading »

Russian Expansion Extends to ETF
June 5, 2008 – A lot can happen in a decade, fashions change, music shifts and countries such as Russia expand, sending related investments and exchange traded funds (ETFs) up. Although the U.S. is hurting from high oil... Continue Reading »

Vanguard Planning ETF Share Split Strategy
June 5, 2008 – Vanguard Group is planning an exchange traded fund (ETF) split, slicing shares of three of its most popular funds in half. This move could be an attempt to capture more market share, appeal to... Continue Reading »

Wireless Deal Calls Telecommunication ETFs
June 5, 2008 – Today’s acquisition announcement by Verizon Wireless reached out and touched the telecommunication exchange traded funds (ETFs). Verizon Wireless announced that it will acquire the regional wireless carrier, Alltel, in a deal worth $28 billion, report... Continue Reading »

Retail ETFs Report in on Retail Sales Data
June 5, 2008 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) seem to like the sales reports that came out today. Retail sales data for the month of May came in strong, despite gas prices hitting consumer wallets and a... Continue Reading »

What Exactly Is an ETF?
June 5, 2008 – When it comes to exchange traded funds (ETFs), are there industry posers who are trying to disguise themselves? Dan Dolan of the Select Sector SPDRs ETF family thinks so. Among the newer ETFs, a pure... Continue Reading »

ICI Throws Support Behind Proposed ETF Rules Changes
June 5, 2008 – The Investment Company Institute (ICI) has announced its support for a proposal to ease the way for new exchange traded fund (ETF) launches. The new proposals would allow certain ETFs to launch without having to... Continue Reading »

Options for Gold ETF Investors
June 4, 2008 – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) determined that exchange traded fund (ETF) investors will now be able to trade futures and options contracts on the SPDR Gold... Continue Reading »

Swiss Inflation Healthy for ETF?
June 4, 2008 – Swiss inflation is appearing higher than the Alps, so will the Swiss exchange traded fund (ETF), iShares MSCI Switzerland Index (EWL), be able to tread water? Economists forecast the recent spike in inflation for the Swiss... Continue Reading »

Almost Halftime For ETFs In 2008
June 4, 2008 – We are almost at the half-way mark for 2008, an interesting year for the market and exchange traded funds (ETFs). As the first five months are over, ETF Guide points out the top leaders... Continue Reading »