Commodity ETFs On Ice for Now
October 9, 2008 – The hot streak commodity exchange traded funds (ETFs) saw this year is now on a cooling trend, as values have dropped 26-44% in the three months leading to Tuesday. The commodities slide is vast, and mutual... Continue Reading »

PowerShares’ ETF Family Grows With Biotech, Commodities
September 18, 2008 – The PowerShares exchange traded fund (ETF) family is adding a slew of new members this week. The PowerShares Global Biotech Portfolio (PBTQ) covers the growth of this industry. The biotech industry has seen increasing growth and... Continue Reading »

Dusting Off the Coal ETF After Prices Burn Out
September 9, 2008 – The coal-focused exchange traded fund (ETF) Market Vectors Coal (KOL) was one of the biggest losers last week, as it fell 17.2%. This week, it hasn’t gotten off to the strongest of starts, as it... Continue Reading »

Coal Industry Rallies for Clean Coal At Conventions, Supporting Their Cause And ETFs
August 27, 2008 – The Democratic and Republican conventions might be “green,” but it’s nothing the coal industry and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are afraid of. Instead, they have brought the coal supporters out in full force in an effort... Continue Reading »

Commodities Continue To Fare Well In South Africa And ETFs
August 4, 2008 – The pressure is on for the South African central bank to raise interest rates as the cost of exports leaving the country rose the fastest pace in 19 years, changing the dynamic of exchange traded... Continue Reading »

Solid Steelmaker Earnings Build Up ETF
July 30, 2008 – The steel exchange traded fund (ETF) has been showing strength that’s typical of the metal, after two major players in the industry reported big earnings. U.S. Steel Corp. (X) gained 14% in trading yesterday after reporting... Continue Reading »

Coal Company Earnings Leave ETF Stoked
July 25, 2008 – Arch Coal (ACI) reported that its profits tripled in the second quarter, stoking the coal exchange traded fund (ETF). The company attributed the profits to soaring global coal prices and tighter supplies, reports Jim Suhr for... Continue Reading »

Will Russia’s ETF Suffer Collateral Damage In Wake of Allegations?
July 25, 2008 – Russia’s exchange traded fund (ETF) is trading down early today after the country’s RTS index plunged headlong into a bear market. The index went into turmoil after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said OAO Mechel, a metals... Continue Reading »

Eskom Profits Fall, Touching Down On A Variety Of ETFs
July 18, 2008 – The rising demand for coal is helping the commodity’s exchange traded fund (ETF) while weighing on some companies that deal with it. South Africa’s state-owned power utility company Eskom is experiencing a full-years’ profit-plummet because of... Continue Reading »

Will Creation of a Megasupplier Generate Mega Returns for Natural Resources?
July 6, 2008 – Down under in Australia, BHP Billiton (BHP) reported that U.S. Antitrust regulators are granting partial approval for its aggressive takeover of Rio Tinto (RTP), a move that might stoke some exchange traded funds (ETFs). BHP is... Continue Reading »

Poland Has Potential As Top Holding in Frontier Market ETF
July 6, 2008 – With the recent launch of the Claymore/BNY Mellon Frontier Markets (FRN), it is now possible to invest in the first U.S.-listed exchange traded fund (ETF) that provides investors access to up to 41 countries... Continue Reading »

Australia and ETF Could Ride High On Natural Resource Boom, Wiping Out Trde Deficit This Year
July 3, 2008 – Australia and the related exchange traded funds (ETFs) can enjoy the latest news that the country’s trade deficit narrowed to the smallest gap in 15 months in May, as coal shipments boosted exports. Jacob Greber... Continue Reading »

KOL ETF Takes Lumps from Holding’s Pollution Battle
July 2, 2008 – One of the five largest coal producers in the United States may take a big hit if it has to pay damages in a pollution case, and it’s got the coal exchange traded fund... 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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

Coal ETF Is Smokin’ This Week
May 30, 2008 – As financials continue to be battered, the energy sector seems to have most of the positive activity on Wall Street of late and the coal-focused exchange traded fund (ETF) is no exception. A jump mid-week... Continue Reading »

S&P Launches Commodities and Natural Resource Indexes, Perhaps ETFs For Them Will Follow
May 30, 2008 – Standard & Poor’s has launched two new indexes which may someday give exchange traded fund (ETF) investors a benchmark with some more exposure to commodities and natural resources. The S&P Global Natural Resources Index provides... Continue Reading »

17 Commodity ETFs to Help Hedge Your Portfolio
May 28, 2008 – Americans are being hit by rising inflation and the subsequent explosion in commodity prices where it hurts most—at gas stations and grocery stores. Right alongside this growth have been the opportunities available to investors... Continue Reading »

New ETFs Are Reaching Untapped Markets, Offering Innovative Strategies
May 23, 2008 – So far, 2008 has been an interesting year for exchange traded funds (ETFs). Between Dec. 28, 2007, and May 16 of this year, 50 new ETFs have launched. Matthew Hougan for Index Universe counts... Continue Reading »

Global Supply and Demand Could Keep Coal ETF From Getting Sooty
May 22, 2008 – Global warming fears don’t seem to have affected the coal exchange traded fund (ETF) just yet, as investors seek to harness the benefits of soaring oil prices and a global coal shortage. Market Vectors... Continue Reading »

Digging Deeper Into Metals And Mining ETFs
May 20, 2008 – As commodities become all the rage with investors, commodities exchange traded funds (ETFs) have proliferated alongside them. ETF Expert’s Gary Gordon for Equities Magazine has five mining-focused funds that might fit an investor’s risk... Continue Reading »

Food Shortage, Fuel Prices Keep Transportation ETF Chugging
May 19, 2008 – One would think that airlines would be dragging down the transportation sector and its exchange traded fund (ETF), but that isn’t the case in trading today. The  iShares Dow Jones Transportation Average (IYT) is... Continue Reading »

Long-Term Impact of China’s Quake on Country and ETFs May Be Limited
May 19, 2008 – The economic damage as a result of China’s earthquake last week has been tallied, but can their exchange traded funds (ETFs) plow ahead in spite of it? So far in trading today, the answer... Continue Reading »

Good Morning! A Vietnam ETF Is In Registration
May 15, 2008 – There seems to be great interest in a Vietnam exchange traded fund (ETF), if the search engines are any indication. Week after week, "Vietnam" turns up as one of our top ten search words. Market... Continue Reading »

More Costly Natural Gas and Electricity Could Burn Cash, But Help ETFs
May 13, 2008 – Get ready for a spike in electricity costs - it might hurt wallets more, but it could at least benefit exchange traded funds (ETFs). California State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore says in Red County that if you... Continue Reading »

South African ETF Digging Its Way Up
May 7, 2008 – The South African benchmark rose its highest since March 25, mining strong performance for its exchange traded fund (ETF). The FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index rose by its largest amount since March 25 yesterday.... Continue Reading »

Oil Prices May Get Worse; Steel and Natural Gas ETFs Are Keeping Pace
April 24, 2008 – The price of oil has slipped some over the last few days, but it’s projected to soar even higher - what will it mean for its exchange traded funds (ETFs)? The reports on fuel got... Continue Reading »

Strong Coal Profits Stoke the KOL ETF
April 24, 2008 – Coal prices are getting fired up, as demand for steel products and supply disruptions in Australia are aiding the rise of the fossil fuel’s exchange traded fund (ETF). It looks like the commodity is... Continue Reading »

Coal ETF Fires Up After Acquisition News
April 4, 2008 – News of an acquisition of one coal company by another could be having a positive impact on the coal exchange traded fund (ETF). Patriot Coal (PCX) announced its plans on Wednesday to acquire its rival,... Continue Reading »

When It Comes to Hedging, Gold and Agriculture Emerge in a Tie
April 2, 2008 – There’s a battle going on: which commodity exchange traded funds (ETFs) are the best hedge, gold or agriculture? And the answer is…well, we’re not sure. Roger Nusbaum for The Street says that since August 2007,... Continue Reading »

Coal Has a Smudged Reputation, But Can KOL ETF Rise Above It?
March 22, 2008 – Coal is hardly glamorous - it’s got a bad reputation as a dirty pollutant, but it can be a smoking bet in an exchange traded fund (ETF). Gold is taking the limelight at the moment,... Continue Reading »

Foreign Worker Program Could Lift Austrian Economy and Maybe Its ETF
March 18, 2008 – An Austrian program that brings unpaid, experienced foreign workers to the country could spur its economy and, in turn, its exchange traded fund (ETF). The program, called Amadeus, brings bright, young things to work in... Continue Reading »

Basic Materials ETFs Could Spike From Commodities Bull
March 11, 2008 – At the moment, it doesn’t appear that raw materials stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are crumbling under the weight of a struggling market and rising oil prices. Don Dion for Seeking Alpha says that... Continue Reading »

Will a Vietnam ETF Ever See the Light of Day?
March 7, 2008 – A Vietnam-focused exchange traded fund (ETF) may not be so far off. The country continues to post strong economic growth despite the U.S. economic slowdown. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the country’s government... Continue Reading »

U.S. Malaise Spreads to Malaysia’s ETFs and Beyond
March 3, 2008 – Has the economic downturn in the United States finally hit Malaysia and its exchange traded fund (ETF)? For awhile, the iShares MSCI Malaysia Index (EWM) was one of the few single-country funds exhibiting decent performance... Continue Reading »

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

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

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

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

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

Coal ETF Mines the Opportunities
January 24, 2008 – Last week, a new exchange traded fund (ETF) covering a commodity that had many asking, "Wait, wasn’t there one for that already?" began trading on the American Stock Exchange. Market Vectors Coal (KOL), as you... Continue Reading »

Picking And Choosing From All The ETFs
January 17, 2008 – With a total of 612 exchange traded funds (ETFs) sponsored by 19 managers, how do you choose among them? Because ETFs track an index passively, past performance is not useful. Michael Maiello for Forbes reports... Continue Reading »

Two New ETFs Will Track Coal and Gaming
January 2, 2008 – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has cleared the way for two new exchange traded funds (ETFs) from Van Eck. The Market Vectors Coal (KOL), to be launched on the NYSE Arca, and Market Vectors... Continue Reading »

Our 2008 ETF Predictions
December 27, 2007 – It was a busy, exciting year in the world of exchange traded funds (ETFs) in 2007. But it’s not time to rest on our laurels just yet, because all indications are that 2008 is... Continue Reading »

ETF Industry Takes Round 2 of Lumps - Of Coal, That Is
December 21, 2007 – Round two of the Lump Of Coal Awards, geared in part toward exchange traded fund (ETF) providers and industry insiders is out. Last week, Chuck Jaffe for MarketWatch mentioned the first 10 awards, and... Continue Reading »

2007 Coal Awards for Fund Industry
December 14, 2007 – The 12th annual Lump of Coal Awards are under way, finger-pointing at the bad boys and girls within the exchange traded fund (ETF) and mutual fund community. These awards recognize managers, executives, firm watchdogs,... Continue Reading »

Where’s the Shipping ETF?
December 10, 2007 – Several readers have left comments and emails about the need for a shipping exchange traded fund (ETF).  There are some indexes out there that tracking shipping companies, but we’ve yet to see the ETF... Continue Reading »

South Korea ETF Affected By Samsung’s Shadiness?
November 14, 2007 – iShares MSCI South Korea Index (EWY), the South Korean-focused exchange traded fund (ETF), may fall victim to allegation of bribery at Samsung. A broad coalition of liberal lawmakers are calling on individual counsel to... Continue Reading »

Boo! Retail ETFs Look Scary Instead of Merry
November 11, 2007 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) are looking more like Halloween fright instead of holiday merriment. Retailers announced disappointing October sales, thanks to consumers’ ongoing fears about housing and the rising cost of energy, according... Continue Reading »

Canada ETF Rises With the Loonie
November 7, 2007 – North of our border is heating up, and taking the Canadian exchange traded fund (ETF) with it. The manufacturing, service and mining sectors are growing and they’re the same sectors that create investment opportunity,... Continue Reading »

Good On Ya, Australian ETFs
November 5, 2007 – Australia’s economy is growing at a substantial rate, putting the market and exchange traded funds (ETFs) on an upward trend. In a few days, the central bank is expected to raise interest rates and... Continue Reading »

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

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

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

Germany’s ETF Looks Festive for Octoberfest
October 4, 2007 – Maybe Octoberfest glee has spread to Germany’s exchange traded fund. Currently, iShares MSCI Germany Index (EWG) is up 28.6% year-to-date. More than likely though, something else is behind EWG’s strong performance. One of the factors... Continue Reading »

Russia ETF: Gateway to Russia and Commodities
July 23, 2007 – The Russian economy has come to life, and U.S. investors can now tap into this market with exchange traded funds (ETFs). As we’ve mentioned before, the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are... Continue Reading »

Transportation ETF Up
April 17, 2007 – The iShares Dow Jones Transportation Index (IYT) is a 23-stock exchange traded fund (ETF) that includes railroad, trucking, shipping, and airline companies.  Trang Ho for Investor’s Business Daily reports analysts were already bullish on... Continue Reading »

Sweden ETFs - To Be Appreciated
March 1, 2007 – Considering Sweden as an investment option?  There are two exchange traded funds (ETFs) that focus on the country, iShares MSCI Sweden Index (EWD) and the CurrencyShares Swedish Krona Trust (FXS).  Ericsson (ERIC) accounts for... Continue Reading »

Attn: ETF Fans-The Lump Of Coal Awards For 2006
December 27, 2006 – Chuck Jaffe is one of the most humorous financial writers around, and he’s a huge fan of exchange traded funds (ETFs). This is Chuck’s 11th year giving out the Lump Of Coal Awards which... Continue Reading »

Is a Copper ETF Next?
April 28, 2006 – Barclays’ silver ETF (SLV) is barely out of the gate and investors are asking "What’s next?"  There’s talk that Barclays has a copper ETF in registration using the same formula and structure of the... Continue Reading »

Australia ETF (EWA) - Something’s Going On Down Under
April 12, 2006 – Australia’s economic growth is expanding and there is increased confidence across most sectors for the first quarter 2006 earnings.  This is reflected in the Australian exchange traded fund.  iShares MSCI Australia (EWA) is up... Continue Reading »

Transport ETF (IYT) Has a Full Tank
January 24, 2006 – iShares Dow Jones Transportation Average (IYT) jumped 2.5% today as trucking and railroad stocks advanced on positive earnings news. This was helped by oil prices falling more than $1 a barrel.Profits surged at two... Continue Reading »

ETF Provider Gets Lump of Coal Award
December 12, 2005 – Financial columnist, Chuck Jaffe is at it again this Holiday Season with a Lump of Coal Award for ETF manufacturer PowerShares Capital Management. It seems Chuck feels that basketing stocks representing small sectors of... Continue Reading »