Tax Hit Is Another Reason to Switch to ETFs
November 21, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) may snatch up investors from mutual funds as investors see unsatisfactory returns in their mutual funds being taxed. The insult to industry may exacerbate the exodus that mutual funds have been... Continue Reading »

Stock, ETF Slump Drives China to U.S. Treasuries
November 19, 2008 – As stocks, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and other securities plummeted in September, the Chinese turned to the safe haven of government debt and became the largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasuries. It appears that most foreign... Continue Reading »

Pimco On Track to Enter ETFs in the Race
November 17, 2008 – Pacific Investment Management Co. (PIMCO) has taken a different angle upon entering into the exchange traded fund (ETF) market. By filing a prospectus for its first ETF, it has taken the next step. As of  July... Continue Reading »

Study Looks At Bond ETF Creations, Redemptions
November 11, 2008 – During the market meltdown, trading problems in bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) left huge discounts relative to net asset values (NAVs). To find an answer to this phenomenon, Citi Investment Research generated a report focusing on specific... Continue Reading »

Barclays’ New ETFs Focus On Fixed Income
November 10, 2008 – The volatility in the market has placed a new focus on fixed-income products such as exchange traded funds (ETFs) offering access to municipal and agency markets. Barclays Global Investors launched two new ETFs that respond to... Continue Reading »

Turmoil Could Spawn Opportunity In High-Grade Bond ETFs
November 8, 2008 – Current market conditions may ultimately translate into a brighter future for corporate bond and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The high-grade bonds are being priced with a highly pessimistic view of the future. Long-term maturity corporate bonds... Continue Reading »

How Obama’s Win Could Lift Muni Bond ETFs
November 6, 2008 – The election of Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States will help out certain exchange traded fund (ETF) sectors more than others. The municipal bond market could be one beneficiary, based... Continue Reading »

Emerging Markets Bond ETFs Put to the Test
November 5, 2008 – We’re hovering around the one-year anniversaries for two emerging market bond exchange traded funds (ETFs). While it’s been a challenging year around the globe, these funds have made their own contributions to ETF investing. Both the... Continue Reading »

Bond ETFs Can Add Stability In Wild Times
November 3, 2008 – The Federal Reserve cut the key interest rate last week to 1%, and while it affects stocks, it also can have an impact on bond exchange traded funds (ETFs). Ron DeLegge for ETF Guide reports that... Continue Reading »

Target-Date ETFs: Are They On Target?
October 31, 2008 – Life-cycle funds or target-date exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a unique balance of fund in that they automatically adjust their allocation of equities and bonds. The closer you get toward your retirement date, the higher the... Continue Reading »

Obama, McCain Will Impact Market, ETFs in Different Ways
October 29, 2008 – Only one thing is this election is for certain: the outcome will have an effect on the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) in one way or another. This is the first time in 76 years... Continue Reading »

ETFs For After The Rate Cut
October 29, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) across several sectors will feel the impact of the Federal Reserve’s decision today to cut rates by 0.5% in an effort to revive the economy and get the credit markets flowing... Continue Reading »

Market Vectors Drops the ‘Lehman’ Name from ETFs
October 29, 2008 – A line of exchange traded funds (ETFs) have undergone a “name simplification,” but behind the scenes, it’s business as usual. Market Vectors’ family of municipal bond funds have erased the Lehman name from its portfolios. Index... Continue Reading »

Muni-Bonds Rally Giving Appeal to ETFs
October 28, 2008 – Cities around the United States need some cash, sparking a municipal bond rally that could be good news for exchange traded fund (ETF) investors. States and cities are selling off around $6 billion worth of debt... Continue Reading »

ETF Assets Surge While Mutual Funds’ Leak
October 28, 2008 – If you think that exchange traded funds (ETFs) have been hemorrhaging assets along with mutual funds, you’d be completely wrong. The kind of inflows and trading volume ETFs have received this year might be enough... Continue Reading »

Buy-and-Hold ETF Strategy Gets Burned
October 27, 2008 – The recent market and exchange traded fund (ETF) turmoil has investors and advisors alike rethinking the “buy-and-hold” strategy. One firm in Pennsylvania has moved 65% of its assets into cash positions, making it the largest cash... Continue Reading »

Corporate Bonds, ETFs Show Lower Prices on Economy Fears
October 27, 2008 – The Wall Street breakdown has given long-term corporate bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) a chance to surface, revealing benefits that can give value. The long-term investment perks of bonds are safer than one may think and... Continue Reading »

Worries Send Dow Down, Investors Clinging to Treasuries
October 22, 2008 – Stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) were battered today, starting off the morning on a down note and remaining there. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) came out with a downbeat report that didn’t help matters, saying... Continue Reading »

Bond ETFs Trade At Discount to NAV
October 17, 2008 – The credit crisis has suddenly made certain areas a lot more interesting than they normally would be: just look at commercial paper and bond exchange traded funds (ETFs). Record volatility in the markets has wound up... Continue Reading »

California Could Get Much-Needed Assist From Bond ETF
October 16, 2008 – Like just about everyone these days, California is looking for ways to raise cash and pay bills until tax revenue arrives later this year, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) may be the route to access... Continue Reading »

Treasury ETFs May Not Shield Investors
October 16, 2008 – Fear has been dictating many market decisions, and as investors run for the shelter of Treasury bonds and related exchange traded funds (ETFs), they may regret letting emotion into the equation. The recent financial plan to... Continue Reading »

Bond ETFs React to Credit Crisis
October 13, 2008 – Fixed income exchange traded funds (ETFs) are of interest in these uncertain times as investors make a flight to quality in treasuries. Murray Coleman of Index Universe talks to bond executive Matthew Tucker for Barclays’ fixed... Continue Reading »

ETFs Weather the Market Turmoil Well
October 13, 2008 – Is there actually a “safe investment” in all of this chaos that investors can turn to when CDs, money markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) all seem to be vulnerable? In general, the money invested in... Continue Reading »

As ETFs, Markets Fall, Government Digs In Toolbox
October 9, 2008 – It seems like every day, a new weapon in the fight to save our economy and exchange traded funds (ETFs) is unleashed. So far, little seems to impress the markets. Since the $700 billion bailout was... Continue Reading »

ETF Spotlight: iShares Lehman TIPS Bond (TIP)
October 8, 2008 – ETF Spotlight on iShares Lehman TIPS Bond (TIP), part of a recurring series. Assets $8.1 billion Holdings This fund holds of a mix of U.S. Treasury bonds and notes. Objective TIP, which began on Dec. 4, 2003, seeks to correspond... Continue Reading »

Mutual Fund Giants Are Taking To ETFs
October 2, 2008 – While exchange traded funds (ETFs) may not take the place of mutual funds anytime soon, they’ve proven themselves a force to be reckoned with. The mutual fund industry seems to be following the old saying,... Continue Reading »

Lehman In Your ETF’s Name Is Not a Worrisome Thing
October 2, 2008 – A number of exchange traded fund (ETF) investors are left wondering, “What is in a name, particularly those funds with Lehman in the title?” At times like these, you can forgive those who see a name... Continue Reading »

Some Relief In ETFs As Bailout Plan Nears Approval
October 2, 2008 – After a failure that rocked Wall Street and exchange traded funds (ETFs) earlier this week, the $700 billion bailout package seems closer to reality. The Senate approved the bill, and now it’s off to the House,... Continue Reading »

Asset Managers, Like Investors, Turn to Safe Haven ETFs
October 1, 2008 – Asset managers that deal heavily in exchange traded funds (ETFs) are taking defensive stances on the current market and buying hard, tangible assets like gold and commodities. Gold is, and has always has been the most... Continue Reading »

Looking for ETF Opportunities Today and Tomorrow
September 29, 2008 – Smart exchange traded fund (ETF) investors not only look for opportunities in areas that are currently moving up, but they also look for opportunities that may develop in the future, long before they’re actually here. The... Continue Reading »

House Votes No On Bailout; ETFs, Stocks Sink
September 29, 2008 – As the government’s $700 billion bailout plan failed to pass in the House, fear tore through Wall Street and exchange traded funds (ETFs). As the vote was shown on TV, stocks plunged as investors worried that... Continue Reading »

Bond ETFs Take A Detour Off Track In Wild Markets
September 29, 2008 – Bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) have had a difficult time of late, as at times they’ve not traded at prices that match their underlying values - one of the main purposes of these funds. For example,... Continue Reading »

Bond ETFs Go For the Wild Market Ride
September 25, 2008 – Bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) are being hit by lingering doubts about the government’s proposed $700 billion bailout. As it becomes clear that getting the plan into action will take longer than previously thought, Treasury prices... Continue Reading »

Rush to Treasury ETFs This Week Drove Down Yields
September 21, 2008 – It’s seeming apparent that fixed income exchange traded funds (ETFs) will be affected by the market turmoil, and higher inflation is inevitable, which may hamper these funds, reports Joe Morris for Ignites. While high inflation is... Continue Reading »

Investors Duck for Cover Under Treasury Bond ETFs
September 18, 2008 – Market volatility has investors running for cover in safe havens, and treasury exchange traded funds (ETFs) are no exception. Equities came crashing down on Wednesday in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s bailout of insurer American... Continue Reading »

Barclays, Lehman Deal Could Be a Headache for Some iShares ETFs
September 17, 2008 – The iShares line of exchange traded funds (ETFs) might be getting a bit of a headache from Barclays‘ acquisition of Lehman Brothers’ (LEH) banking division. Barclays will take over the division for what amounts to a... Continue Reading »

When Emerging Markets Turn, One ETF Could Be Worth Watching
September 11, 2008 – Emerging market exchange traded funds (ETFs) haven’t been anyone’s darling lately, but there will come a time when they make a turnaround, and it could wind up even being more robust than our own turnaround. For... Continue Reading »

There Are ETFs You Can Use to Hide From the Bear
September 11, 2008 – The markets are ugly, and many exchange traded funds (ETFs) are reflecting that. But as we always say, even as some areas are down, there are other areas that are performing well. You just have... Continue Reading »

Municipal Bond ETFs Offer Attractive Rates
September 10, 2008 – One beneficiary of the Treasury’s takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is Treasury bond exchange traded funds (ETFs). Treasuries advanced on Tuesday, pushing yields down, as concerns about the health of the banking system here... Continue Reading »

Pimco Goes Active With Filing for Bond ETFs
September 4, 2008 – Pimco’s eagerly anticipated entree into the exchange traded fund (ETF) world will feature actively managed bond funds, among others. Their announcement in July that they had filed for ETFs with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)... Continue Reading »

Timing Could Be Right To Add Muni-Bond ETFs To Your Portfolio
September 3, 2008 – Do municipal bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) have a place within your portfolio? Fund companies have been churning out these new types of ETFs over the past year, and if you believe tax rates are going... Continue Reading »

An Uncertain Future for Active Bond ETFs
September 2, 2008 – In the world of active exchange traded funds (ETFs), the interesting area of portfolios consisting of bonds has emerged. The first actively managed ETF, the Bear Stearns Current Yield (YYY), was actually a bond fund and... Continue Reading »

After Closures, Ron Ryan Is Still Fond of ETFs
August 16, 2008 – As the exchange traded fund (ETF) industry continues to proliferate, many will try their hand at creating and backing new products and portfolios. Ron Ryan is indispensable at creating some of the world’s most renowned bond... Continue Reading »

The Numbers Show Where ETF Investors Are Going
August 14, 2008 – The numbers are telling us that equities are slumping, so where are exchange traded fund (ETF) investors putting all of their money? Through July 31st, ETF assets were heavy in equities, but over the past year,... Continue Reading »

Pimco’s Entry Into ETFs: Will It Be Much Ado About Nothing, Or a New Trend?
August 12, 2008 – Some of the biggest names in the mutual fund industry have so far seemed reluctant to really put their arms around exchange traded funds (ETFs). A case in point is Fidelity, which has just one lone... Continue Reading »

After Three Months Since Inception, Active ETFs Look Promising
August 6, 2008 – After recently passing their three-month anniversaries, the first active stock exchange traded funds (ETFs) have shown better results than their rival indexing funds. Murray Coleman for IndexUniverse acknowledges that it has been a short period of... Continue Reading »

Picking and Choosing Among the Treasury ETFs
August 5, 2008 – Bonds, and bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a good place for investors to hang out and park their cash in uncertain times. ETFs that invest in short-term Treasury bills are known for being one of... Continue Reading »

Pimco Readying to Get Into Bond ETF Market Space
July 29, 2008 – The world’s largest bond fund manager is finally getting into the bond exchange traded fund (ETF) market. Pacific Investment Management Co., better known as Pimco, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a line... Continue Reading »

In Tough Times, High-Yield ETFs Performed
July 26, 2008 – Aside from individual issues, investors can gain access to high-yield bonds through exchange traded funds (ETFs), traditional mutual funds and closed-end funds (CEFs). Dealing with individual issues of high-yield bonds is often difficult because of issuer... Continue Reading »

Japan’s Mellow Mood Fills ETF And Outlook
July 3, 2008 – Confidence is on the down side among big Japanese manufacturers, setting a mellow mood, and low morale for related exchange traded funds (ETFs). The recent fall was less than expected, and capital spending plans... 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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

Bond ETFs Are Still Fair Despite Closings
June 4, 2008 – The fixed-income exchange traded fund (ETF) market has grown as new ways to access bonds have become appealing to investors. Last week, though, investors received a reminder that not every product can be a... Continue Reading »

ETF Assets and Numbers Rocket North In April
June 3, 2008 – For the month of April, exchange traded fund (ETF) assets and numbers notched another increase. The total amount of assets in ETFs at the end of April stood at $596 billion, reports the Investment Company... Continue Reading »

Five More ETFs Closing Up Shop
May 30, 2008 – Some more exchange traded funds (ETFs) are closing their doors. This time, it’s five Treasury bond ETFs that launched last June: Ameristock/Ryan 1 Year Treasury (GKA) Ameristock/Ryan 2 Year Treasury (GKB) Ameristock/Ryan 5 Year Treasury (GKC) Ameristock/Ryan 10 Year... Continue Reading »

PowerShares Launches Line of ETFs of ETFs
May 22, 2008 – PowerShares has broken some new ground in the exchange traded fund (ETF) industry their launch of the first line of ETFs of ETFs in the United States. The new funds are: PowerShares Autonomic Growth NFA Global... Continue Reading »

Are Bond ETF Investors Giving a Thumbs-Up to the U.S. Economy?
May 19, 2008 – Are exchange traded fund (ETF) investors giving a vote of confidence to the U.S. economy by moving their money away from Treasury bonds and back into corporates? Since mid-March, yields on 10-year Treasury notes have... Continue Reading »

Bond Indexes Are Broke, and He Says His ETFs Can Fix It
May 15, 2008 – Ron Ryan says there’s a problem with bond indexes that are tracked by exchange traded funds (ETFs). In fact, the CEO of Ryan ALM says that there are several problems and he’s out to... Continue Reading »

Next Growth Area Could Be Muni Bond ETFs
May 13, 2008 – Are municipal bonds the next growth spot within the fixed-income exchange traded funds (ETFs) area? In the last year, the fixed-income ETF market has ballooned. In 2007, there were fewer than 12 such funds. Today,... Continue Reading »

City’s Bankruptcy Shows Risks of Municipal Bonds and Related ETFs
May 7, 2008 – The economic downturn has hit some municipalities, illustrating the risks of municipal bonds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) that hold them. But it also highlights the opportunities for investors willing to take on risk. The... Continue Reading »

ProShares Wins The Race To Market With Inverse Bond Fund
May 4, 2008 – ProShares wins the race to be the first inverse bond exchange traded fund (ETF) in the world. Deutsche Bank was hot on their heels, after announcing plans a day earlier to issue a new... Continue Reading »

Global Asset Allocation Wrapped In An ETF
May 3, 2008 – Asset allocation is an important factor within a portfolio, and now Invesco PowerShares offers this strategy all wrapped up in an exchange traded fund (ETF). Their latest ETFs are designed to give investors access to... Continue Reading »

Rising Interest Rates In Bond ETFs Signaling Strength As Fed Meets?
April 29, 2008 – Rising interest rates within the bond market are signaling a change within investor sentiment that could possibly boost stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the coming months. It appears that the financial sector... Continue Reading »

Fundamentally Weighted Bond ETF Index In The Works
April 28, 2008 – Fundamental indexes tracked by exchange traded funds (ETFs) are nothing new under the sun. Now the father of fundamental weighting is looking to do the same thing for bonds. Robb Arnott, chairman of Research Affiliates, says... Continue Reading »

Will the Active ETFs Do a Belly Flop or Fly? You Will Decide
April 21, 2008 – Was the first actively managed exchange traded fund (ETF) a good idea after all? Chuck Jaffe doesn’t think so. The Bear Stearns Current Yield (YYY) debuted on March 25, and it’s not going to look... Continue Reading »

Bond ETFs: Just Add Water, Instant Portfolio
April 19, 2008 – Bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be a solid way to take the hassle out of buying individual bonds, which can be costly and time-consuming for individual investors. Heather Bell for Index Universe sat down... Continue Reading »

TIP ETFs Can Be a Savior In Inflationary Periods
April 18, 2008 – Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, or TIPS, have made their way into exchange traded funds (ETFs). These U.S.-government issued bonds are issued by the Treasury and they are sellable in the "after" market. Designed in terms... Continue Reading »

Bond ETFs Are A Sign Of The Times
April 14, 2008 – Bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) have sparked investor interest across the board. It’s largely a by-product of the world we’re living in these days, since people turn to bonds during volatile times. Just look... Continue Reading »

Is It Stupid to Keep It Simple With ETFs?
April 12, 2008 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) industry is currently brimming with excitement over a couple of new all-world funds. But can keeping it too simple be a wise strategy? Gary Gordon for ETF Expert doesn’t... Continue Reading »

PowerShares Launches Its Actively Managed ETF Line
April 11, 2008 – The long-awaited actively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs) from Invesco PowerShares are here. They’re billed as the industry’s first three actively managed equity ETFs, and they began trading on the NYSE Arca today. All of... Continue Reading »

It’s Bond ETF Time - Munis Are Yielding More Than Treasuries
April 11, 2008 – It’s an event like Halley’s Comet, although with a little more frequency: municipal bond yields are higher than those of treasury bonds. For that reason, it makes more sense than ever to grab exchange... Continue Reading »

Are You Ready To Bond WIth Your ETFs?
April 5, 2008 – Bond exchange traded funds (ETFs), known for their defensive or conservative strategies, are starting to feel the impact of the lopsided market. Credit quality, inflation and the uncertain economy are starting to affect the... Continue Reading »

Money Flows to Non-U.S. ETFs And Investments
March 28, 2008 – In the shaky U.S. economy, two research firms have found that investors are increasingly turning to exchange traded funds (ETFs) that focus on global markets. Fund tracker TrimTabs Investment Research reported that total inflows into... Continue Reading »

Playing the Waiting Game With ETFs
March 28, 2008 –   Some believe we’re in a full-blown recession, but no matter what they believe, exchange traded fund (ETF) investors shouldn’t panic. Chris Fichera for Consumer Reports suggests staying put and weathering the storm, while making some... Continue Reading »

When Markets Turn Around, Could High Yield Bond ETFs Benefit?
March 28, 2008 – Once the Federal Reserve decides it’s done making interest rate cuts, junk bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be a beneficiary. The appetite for risk goes up with economic recovery. Gary Gordon for ETF Expert says... Continue Reading »

Baby Boomers Might Consider Dividend ETFs
March 25, 2008 – The first crop of baby boomers are reaching the age of retirement and will most likely shift their investment focus to fixed-income products, including bond exchange traded funds (ETFs). While fixed-income products provide... Continue Reading »

New Bond ETF From State Street
March 24, 2008 – State Street Global Advisors unveiled their first International Inflation-Protected Bond exchange traded fund (ETF). The SPDR DB International Government Inflation-Protected Bond (WIP) began trading on the American stock exchange March 19. The index, DB... Continue Reading »

Investors Turn to Bond ETFs As Commodities Get Rocky
March 20, 2008 – Investors, feeling more skittish than ever in these "what’s going to happen next?" times, are showing signs that they’re moving money away from commodities and metals exchange traded funds (ETFs) and stocks, and into... Continue Reading »

With Rising Inflation, TIPS ETFs Come On Strong
March 13, 2008 – Fixed-income exchange traded funds (ETFs) are fast becoming the investment of choice for those concerned with the market’s recent direction. TIPS (Treasury Inflation Protected Securities) are a special type of note or bond that offers... Continue Reading »

Fixed-Income ETFs Forecast to Have a Growth Spurt
March 12, 2008 – The fixed-income exchange traded fund (ETF) market still has plenty of room to grow. In fact, iShares predicts that the area is primed to grow by 200% over the next three years. Globally, fixed-income ETFs... Continue Reading »

Bear Stearns Enters the Active ETF Game on March 18
March 10, 2008 – Bear Stearns is going to launch the first actively managed exchange traded fund (ETF). The Bear Stearns Current Yield Fund (YYY), or the Triple Y, will be made up of a variety of short-term fixed... Continue Reading »

Scouting for Yield In Your ETFs
March 10, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have different ways of generating returns for investors, and one way is through bond funds. They buy a relatively static pool of securities based on an index, and they’re attractive for... Continue Reading »

SSGA Files for Line of Target-Date Active ETFs
March 2, 2008 – Now that actively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs) are just around the bend, investors can expect a slew of filings. State Street Global Advisors on Wednesday filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission... 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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

PowerShares Launches New Preferred ETF
January 31, 2008 – PowerShares has launched the newest exchange traded fund (ETF) of preferred stocks today. The PowerShares Preferred Portfolio (PGX) is based on the Merrill Lynch Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index and gives investors exposure to fixed-income securities. Preferred... Continue Reading »

ETF Investors Want Shelter
January 18, 2008 – Some may wonder if the Fed is in denial: while Bernanke calls for a "slow growth path," Wall Street is calling "recession" and exchange traded fund (ETF) investments and benchmarks are on a steady... Continue Reading »

TIP ETF Gains Foreign Ground
January 12, 2008 – iShares Lehman Bond ETF (TIP) has been a popular exchange traded fund (ETF) choice for investors all around the world. Carl Delfeld at ETF XRAY explains that these Treasury-inflation protected securities (TIPS) are a... Continue Reading »

Look At The Bright Side With ETFs
January 3, 2008 – A recession is still looming over the U.S. economy, but it isn’t doom and gloom for investors, as exchange traded funds (ETFs) still present opportunities. Gary Gordon for ETF Expert reports that with the... Continue Reading »

ETFs Becoming a Household Name
December 31, 2007 – Actor Sam Waterston of "Law and Order", the television show on which he plays a district  attorney, is making a case for exchange traded funds (ETFs) on ads for online broker TD Ameritrade. This... Continue Reading »

ETFs Offer Diversification In Many Forms
December 26, 2007 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) market is flooded with hundreds of choices, around 600, so it is time to take a look at what you are investing in. The latest market volatility means watching... Continue Reading »

2007 ETF Concepts Flow Into 2008
December 21, 2007 – The real opportunities in 2007, as far as exchange traded funds (ETFs) are concerned, can also be ones that will continue into 2008. ETFs aid investors in diversifying their portfolios, and protect against downside... Continue Reading »

New Emerging Market Bond ETF
December 21, 2007 – Barclays added another bond exchange traded fund (ETF) to their growing list, the iShares JP Morgan US Dollar Emerging Markets Bond Fund (EMB). EMB will trade on NYSE Arca and will track the JPMorgan... Continue Reading »

Muni-Bond ETF 101
December 18, 2007 – How would you like to own a piece of your state or city, through an exchange traded fund (ETF) investment? The path to take is with a muni-bond ETF. Through a traditional municipal bond,... Continue Reading »

Vanguard’s Newest Bond ETF Joins the AMEX
December 16, 2007 – Vanguard has another entrant in the exchange traded fund (ETF) marketplace: the Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV), listed on the American Stock Exchange. The fund tracks the Lehman Brothers Treasury STRIPS 20-30 Year Equal... Continue Reading »

TIPS ETF Watching Economy and Inflation Closely
December 15, 2007 – The threat of inflation is looming, as November’s consumer price index increased the most in two years, which has increased the demand for inflation hedges, including exchange traded funds (ETFs). Increased demand has lifted... Continue Reading »

ETFs in Market Segments
December 11, 2007 – Asset classes are important to most investors and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are helping progress within specific market segments. Matthew Hougan for Seeking Alpha reports that there are some areas of the market that... Continue Reading »

Muni-Bond ETFs Want Individual Investors
December 10, 2007 – Investors haven’t flocked to the latest branch of exchange traded funds (ETFs), the municipal bonds. Although the individual investor is the target, interest hasn’t grown quite yet. Heavyweights such as Barclays, State Street Global... Continue Reading »

New High Yield Bond ETF Launched On Amex
December 5, 2007 – A new bond exchange traded fund (ETF) launched on the American Stock Exchange today. The SPDR Lehman High Yield Bond ETF (JNK) joins the State Street Global Advisors ETF family, and brings the Amex... Continue Reading »

Bond ETFs Making Up a Piece of the Pie
November 30, 2007 – Remember last year when there were only six fixed income exchange traded fund (ETF) options?  ETF providers have certainly been working to increase the offering in this area, as there are now 30 bond-focused... Continue Reading »

Falling Dollars And ETF Investors
November 26, 2007 – Here’s a word for the wise: Don’t let the weak dollar dictate your investment strategy or your exchange traded fund (ETF) confidence. Individual investors can take advantage of the weakening dollar, and ETFs  make... Continue Reading »

New Fixed Income PowerShares ETFs
November 19, 2007 – Two new exchange traded funds (ETFs) from PowerShares launched on the American Stock Exchange, bringing the total number of ETFs traded on the Amex to 375.  PowerShares VRDO Tax Free Weekly Portfolio (PVI) and... Continue Reading »

Short Term Bond ETFs as an Alternative to Money Market Funds
November 16, 2007 – Concern about economic conditions is the reason for a rise in money market assets. Meanwhile, advisors say clients are showing interest in short-term bond exchange traded funds (ETFs). As more investors are looking for... Continue Reading »

Dealing With Correlation Via ETFs
November 15, 2007 – Where can an exchange traded fund (ETF) investor find shelter? Once upon a time, foreign markets and energy moved independently of stocks, but these days, they tend to move in the same direction, writes... Continue Reading »

The Fix Is In: New PowerShares Fixed Income ETFs To Launch
November 6, 2007 – PowerShares is adding three new members to its exchange traded fund (ETF) family. They are fixed-income ETFs and include a tax-free variable rate demand obligations(VRDO) portfolio. A high-quality preferred and U.S. dollar denominated high-yield... Continue Reading »

Order In the Court for Municipal Bond ETFs
November 6, 2007 – Municipal bonds — debt issued by state or local governments to finance public projects — are fashionably late to the exchange traded fund (ETF) party. The first one arrived on the scene in September,... Continue Reading »

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

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

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

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

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

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

XShares Advisors New Life-cycle and Real Estate ETFs
October 2, 2007 – Exchange traded fund (ETF) provider XShares Advisors recently introduced 12 new ETFs on the NYSE Arca. Five of the ETFs are "target date" or "lifestyle funds" that range in maturities from 2010 to 2040, ETFGuide... Continue Reading »

Vanguard Moves Forward with ETFs
October 2, 2007 – It appears as if the exchange traded fund (ETF) provider Vanguard might be trying to reinvent itself. For years, Vanguard turned its back to trendy investing, such as alternative asset classes. Firm founder Jack... Continue Reading »

Portfolio Inflation Protection with ETFs
October 1, 2007 – How will the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cut affect exchange traded funds (ETFs) in the near future? In general, the stock market has fared well recently; however, many analysts believe the rate cut will... Continue Reading »

Pricing Service Could Help Municipal-bond ETFs
September 27, 2007 – This week, Interactive Data introduced the first intraday-pricing service to value U.S. municipal bonds based on movements in interest-rate swaps, providing a tool for new tax-exempt muni-bond exchange traded funds (ETFs). Interactive Data will... Continue Reading »

How Politics and Taxes Could Influence Municipal-bond ETFs
September 25, 2007 – The new municipal bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) have generated a lot of buzz lately. The subprime mortgage fiasco combined with the possibility of a Democrat as the new President could make these new... Continue Reading »

ETFs of the Muni-bond Type
September 21, 2007 – Did you know that municipal-bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) offer investors affordable access to a broad universe of the municipal bond market? Muni bonds are a fairly opaque area of the market, and these... Continue Reading »

Muni-bond ETF in Step with State’s Events
September 16, 2007 – Last week, Barclays Global Investors issued the first municipal-bond exchange traded fund (ETF) followed by State Street Global Advisors. This happened around the same time that North Carolina announced it will borrow $200 million... Continue Reading »

More on Municipal-bond ETFs
September 13, 2007 – Everyone is talking about the new municipal-bond exchange traded funds (ETFs). Barclays was the first to release one, followed immediately by State Street. The competition will become even more fierce when Van Eck and... Continue Reading »

“Junk” Bond ETF Rebounds
September 10, 2007 – With all the summer market turmoil, an exchange traded fund (ETF) tied to high-yield corporate debt is showing signs of life. iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond Fund (HYG) previously felt the blows... Continue Reading »

Money-market Funds Are the Current Hot Spot for ETF Investors
September 7, 2007 – Although some money-market funds have been under scrutiny lately, exchange traded fund (ETF) investors and others continue to stash their money in them. U.S. money-market mutual fund assets rose to a record $2.73 trillion... Continue Reading »

Know Risks with Bond ETFs
September 6, 2007 – Fixed-income exchange traded funds (ETFs) are allowing investors easy access to areas of the bond market. The easier route isn’t always better, as there is plenty of room for trouble. Bond investors have felt... Continue Reading »

Fed’s Remarks Calm ETF Investors; High-Yield Bond ETF Rises
August 31, 2007 – Now that investors are returning to high-yield corporate bond funds, the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond (HYG) exchange traded fund (ETF) could continue to climb. Having just launched in April, HYG is... Continue Reading »

5 ETF Areas to Follow Closely
August 31, 2007 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) industry has seen a lot of major developments since July 12. ETFs are on the move, and if investors aren’t paying attention, they could miss some opportunities. Jim Wiandt... Continue Reading »

Prepare for the Giant Wave of ETFs
August 31, 2007 – With almost 400 exchange traded funds (ETFs) in registration, it’s easy to see why it can be difficult to keep up with this rapidly growing industry. Matt Hougan for Index Universe did an excellent... Continue Reading »

Vanguard’s Bond ETF Is an Ace up Its Sleeve
August 30, 2007 – One of Vanguard’s key players against its exchange traded fund (ETF) rival Barclays is the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND). BND holds more than 3,500 issues compared to some bond ETFs that hold... Continue Reading »

Barclays Working to Expand ETFs into New Frontiers
August 29, 2007 – In addition to working on the first exchange traded fund (ETF) based on municipal bonds, Barclays Global Investors also has ETFs based on natural gas, private equity and infrastructure in the pipeline. Also, Barclays... Continue Reading »

Places to Go When ETFs Plummet with the Market
August 28, 2007 – When the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) get shaky, investors have several safety shelters: Health care, consumer staples, large-cap, utilities, mega-cap, fixed-income are a few options that tend to ride the volatile market... Continue Reading »

Low-risk ETFs Could Help Provide Foundation
August 27, 2007 – Investors looking for lower-risk investment opportunities might want to consider some fixed-income exchange traded funds (ETFs). Because fixed-income ETFs are considered "safe," don’t expect high-flying returns you might get on a riskier ETF. Treasury... Continue Reading »

Some Closed-end Funds (CEFs) Might Offer Benefits
August 24, 2007 – Although most closed-end funds (CEFs) have been affected by the market volatility and credit crunch like exchange traded funds (ETFs), some CEFs might provide investors with buying opportunities. Unlike ETFs, CEFs have a set... Continue Reading »

PowerShares Adds to Its ETF List
August 24, 2007 – One of PowerShares’ latest exchange traded fund (ETF) filings that is set to launch in October is the PowerShares Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt Portfolio. This ETF is based on the soon-to-be-launched DB Emerging Markets... Continue Reading »

Is a High-yield ETF Right for You?
August 23, 2007 – To minimize the risk associated with high-yield bonds (also known as junk bonds), investors might want to consider an exchange traded fund (ETF) with diversified holdings. High-yield bonds are considered especially risky because there’s... Continue Reading »

Variable-rate Fund (VVR) Stabilizes after Huge Decline
August 22, 2007 – Some exchange traded funds (ETFs) that have dropped the most recently are now experiencing handsome rebounds. Closed-end fund Van Kampen Senior Income Trust (VVR) lost more than 25% in a matter of weeks because... Continue Reading »

How Safe is My Money-market Fund?
August 22, 2007 – During the subprime fiasco, many exchange traded fund (ETF) investors have sought safety by moving their holdings into money-market funds and U.S. Treasury bonds. In fact, investors poured $49 billion into these funds in... Continue Reading »

Consider Bonds in Addition to ETFs
August 21, 2007 – Bonds are another essential tool for any investor’s toolbox. Roger Nusbaum for Random Roger’s Big Picture offers some tips on how to watch the bond market: Look at bonds from the long-term, big picture view. Yields... Continue Reading »

ETF Diversification = Risk Control
August 18, 2007 – During a tumultuous time in the market, diversification helps keep the market and exchange traded funds (ETFs) working for investors instead of against them. What happens on Wall Street doesn’t necessasrily stay there in... Continue Reading »

Fixed-Income ETFs Looking Up
August 17, 2007 – Fixed-income exchange traded funds (ETFs) tend to look more attractive, as rates in other areas decline. One of the most popular bond ETFs by volume is the iShares Lehman 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund... Continue Reading »

ETF Performance Fluctuates for the Month
August 17, 2007 – Amid stormy conditions on the market’s rough water, is there any calm where exchange traded funds (ETFs) can fare well? Aaron Pressman for Business Week shows us what is staying afloat for the month... Continue Reading »

Municipal Bond ETFs Galore
August 14, 2007 – It looks as if everyone has caught on to the municipal bond exchange traded fund (ETF) trend. At least four major ETF providers submitted applications to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in July... Continue Reading »

ETFs Get a Triple A Rating From Moody’s
August 11, 2007 – The new Ameristock fixed-income U.S. Treasury exchange traded funds (ETFs) got a Aaa (triple A) rating from Moody’s. These ETFs are part of the first real competition in the fixed-income arena for the ETF... Continue Reading »

PowerShares Municipal Bond ETFs Are Cutting Edge
August 9, 2007 – PowerShares Capital Management continues to revolutionize the exchange traded fund (ETF) market by launching the first ever family of municipal bond ETFs. It announced Tuesday that the first of these ETFs should begin trading... Continue Reading »

Protect Your ETF Portfolio
August 9, 2007 – In unsteady market times such as these, exchange traded fund (ETF) investors tend to seek safer investment options. Many look to bond ETFs for security. "Megacap" stocks within ETFs also tend to be stable,... Continue Reading »

Foreign Market, Currency and Bond Investing with ETFs
July 31, 2007 – As the U.S. dollar weakens, investors are looking into international mutual funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and currencies. Bonds allow a way to invest in another country’s currency and some can have attractive rates.... Continue Reading »

Bond ETFs - Insight Through Indexes
July 24, 2007 – Baby boomers are approaching retirement and many are looking into the bond market and bond exchange traded funds (ETFs). The fixed-income market has been hard to dissect and fund strategies are complex, yet the... Continue Reading »

Some ETF Sectors’ Losses Are Others’ Gains
July 20, 2007 – As the dollar declines to record lows, other exchange traded fund (ETF) sectors benefit. International currency ETFs get a boost from our weakened dollar as well as fixed-income ETFs. Here’s why: If you haven’t heard,... Continue Reading »

Bond Yields Bring on Assets for Bond ETFs
July 15, 2007 – The boom in bond yields for June was a blessing for the new fixed-income exchange traded funds (ETFs). ETF-focused bonds acquired $1.03 billion in assets, bringing the total to $25 billion, reports Lawrence Carrel... Continue Reading »

Barclays Pioneers First Muni-Bond ETF
July 13, 2007 – Barclays Global Investments are the pioneers for the first municipal bond exchange traded fund (ETF).  They are off to leading another segment of the industry. The iShares S&P National Municipal Bond Fund will track... Continue Reading »

New Junk Bond ETF Tackles Liquidity Issues
July 10, 2007 – The first "junk" bond exchange traded fund (ETF) that hit the market in April ignited immediate interest among investors. iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) contains 50 bonds that are highly... Continue Reading »

Ameristock Joins the Cool Kids; Launches its First ETFs in Underserved Fixed Income Arena
July 2, 2007 – The Ameristock Corporation announced today that it has launched its first five Treasury exchange traded funds (ETFs). These fixed income ETFs will attempt to track certain U.S. Ryan Treasury securities indexes, according to Ameristock.com.... Continue Reading »

High Yields Don’t Deter Bond ETFs
June 20, 2007 – Fixed-income exchange traded funds (ETFs) are trying to catch up to their stock-fund cousins; but will the pullback in the bond market mixed with Treasury yields hitting multi-year highs hurt their chances? Yields on... Continue Reading »

ETFs And Interest Rates
June 9, 2007 – The 10-year U.S. treasury note went above the 5.00% mark for the first time since August 2006, so what does this mean for exchange traded funds (ETFs)?  Jon C. Ogg for 24/7 Wall Street reports... Continue Reading »

ETFs Offer Short Term Options
June 8, 2007 – There have been some new exchange traded funds (ETFs) added to the fixed income pool this year.  The newest one also has the shortest duration.  The SPDR Lehman 1-3 Month T-Bill (BIL) has a... Continue Reading »

State Street Debuts Fixed-Income ETF Family
May 29, 2007 – State Street Global Advisors are launching five new fixed-income exchange traded funds (ETFs). They will trade on the American Stock Exchange beginning May 30. State Street joins Barclays and Vanguard as the providers of... Continue Reading »

More Bond ETFs On The Horizon
May 25, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have proliferated into every corner of the market, except one-bonds. Investors who want a fixed-income ETF only have a few choices, ironically, since ETFs are available for every niche sector... Continue Reading »