President Barack Obama and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, both told Chinese officials that letting the yuan appreciate would help the global economy. Chinese President Hu Jintao and other Chinese officials and economists,  however, continue to defend the country’s current currency policy, reports Andrew Batson for The Wall Street Journal. (Why strong yuan may be a good thing)

With exports for the year down about 20% and many manufacturers closed, China is loath to let the yuan appreciate because it would make exports more expensive overseas. Currently, the Chinese economy is recovering at the expense of European and Asian competitors since the U.S. dollar, along with the pegged yuan, is falling. Most private analysts don’t see any changes to China’s policy with the yuan anytime soon.

Strauss-Kahn has stated that China needs to “look more forward to investment and to long-term stability.” A stronger currency would help a Chinese household’s purchasing power, which would support economic growth from within the country.

Not everyone agrees. World Bank Chief Economist and former Chinese government adviser Justin Yifu Lin argues that a stronger yuan could hamper China’s export sector and possibly China’s entire economy, which would have a negative affect on global growth.

According to WisdomTree, there are several factors that favor an appreciating yuan relative to the dollar in years to come:

• Long-term economic growth potential.
• Emerging role as an economic leader in the world arena.
• Diversification away from the dollar by arranging trade agreements using the yuan with other countries.
• A gradual transition from an economic model focused on exports to one focused on domestic consumption.
• Rising yuan valuation as China develops even further. Emerging market currencies are often valued at a discount to long-term purchasing power because of risks associated with emerging markets.

For more information on the Chinese currency, visit our Chines yuan category.

• WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund ETF (NYSEArca: CYB): up 1.8% year-to-date; expense ratio is 0.45%

Max Chen contributed to this article.

In an interview with Gary Shilling, Heesun Wee of Tech Ticker states that Shilling believes deflation is inevitable because of technological advances boosting productivity, globalization and weak demand for U.S. consumer goods.  He suggests these factors could lead to higher inventories and cut about 1.5% off real U.S. GDP growth each year.

If this is the case, you don’t have to run for the hills, as there are ways to hedge deflation with ETFs.  A common place to look is at high-dividend paying investments, such as utilities, which can be accessed through the Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU), up 5.1% year-to-date (More reasons to look at utilities).

Another good sector to consider is health care. (More reasons health care is appealing).  This can be played through the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Healthcare Providers (NYSEArca: IHF), which is up 28.3% year-to-date.

For more stories on health care, visit our health care category.

Consumer staples are also an option to hedge deflation. The unemployment rate is at a 26-year high, which means that there are still millions of people feeling the pinch. When they shop, they’re looking for what they need, not what they want. Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (NYSEArca: XLP) is up 15.4% year-to-date.

If deflation does become a factor, the dollar should begin an uptrend. If this happens, a potential play could be the PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Bullish (NYSEArca: UUP), which is down 9.4% year-to-date.

Kevin Grewal contributed to this article.

The spike in investor interest in funds like United States Natural Gas (NYSEArca: UNG), PowerShares DB Commodity Index Fund (NYSEArca: DBC), PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund (NYSEArca: DBA) has resulted in creation halts and strategy reconstruction as the Commodity Futures Trading Commision (CFTC) scrutinizes the industry, writes Don Dion for TheStreet. (More on the CFTC’s commodity limits).

The iPath Dow Jones AIG Platinum TR Sub Index (NYSEArca: PGM) recently had to halt creation in order to remain within position limits. (Regulation hits platinum ETN). And most recently, PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Bullish (NYSEArca: UUP) had to rush to get  approval to create new shares as trading volume suddenly picked up. (Bullish dollar ETF granted new shares).

Traditional ETFs track underlying indexes, which is made possible through the share creation and redemption process. When the creation process is halted, it creates premiums to an ETF’s underlying value. The result is an environment good for shareholders but bad for investors chasing the trend.

As an investor, you should be aware of when an ETF’s share creation has been suspended and understand that if a futures-based ETF runs out of shares, this could happen. If you’re already holding such an ETF, monitor your funds to be sure that all is running smoothly. The risk of holding a fund with suspended share creation is that when normal trading resumes, losses could be incurred as the premium disappears.

For more information on ETF trading, visit our ETF 101 category.

Max Chen contributed to this article.

The Chinese government may let the Chinese yuan appreciate against other currencies, which means better exports and better growth for everyone – except China, reports Jeff Cox for CNBC. (Reasons to watch China).

European and U.S. manufacturers would stand to gain the most since their products would be cheaper in China. Revenue would also get that extra kick when exchanged back to domestic currencies. The U.S. trade deficit with China would also diminish, giving the U.S. economy another boost.

Of course, there are drawbacks to a stronger yuan. Higher prices on Chinese goods could push up inflation in the United States and force the Fed to raise interest rates faster than desired. Investors also see that the Chinese monetary policy is a linchpin in the prevention of a trip back to global recession.

Investors can take advantage of the yuan with the WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund ETF (NYSEArca: CYB). CYB tries to reflect money market moves in China and changes in the yuan against the dollar. China may soon need to begin a tighter monetary policy to control inflation. Any Fed moves to raise U.S. interest rates will likely be mirrored by China’s boost to the yuan. (How to play China’s currency)

For more information on global currencies, visit our currency category. Or, take a look at our ETF Trends’ guide to currency ETFs.

• WisdomTree Dreyfus Chinese Yuan Fund ETF (NYSEArca: CYB): up 1.8% year-to-date

Max Chen contributed to this article.

PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Bullish (NYSEArca: UUP)

Last week, trading in PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Bullish (NYSEArca: UUP) was halted after it ran out of available shares. Trading was resumed after a filing with the SEC for 100 million additional shares was made.

At the close on Thursday, the fund was trading at a 1.8% premium. As normal trading resumes, the premium should slowly start to dissipate, but it may not happen immediately.

Some funds have limits on how many shares can be created at a time. Heavy trading volume can deplete the supply, in which case the provider files an 8-K with the SEC for more shares. While existing shares of an ETF can be traded while approval is awaited, funds run the risk of trading at a premium to their net asset value (NAV) in the meantime. Approval can take days, weeks or months.

A similar situation was seen with United States Natural Gas (NYSEArca: UNG) when the fund ran out of shares. (What happened?)

For more stories on currency ETFs, visit our category.

The U.S. dollar has hit a 15-month low against a basket of major currencies today on positive economic news from Asia. The feeling that the Fed won’t raise rates anytime soon and the fact that central banks will continue to provide liquidity could continue to pressure the dollar, reports Bradley Davis for The Wall Street Journal. PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bearish (NYSEArca: UDN) is down slightly this morning.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said today that he’s encouraged by the efforts Japan and China have made to increase internal demand instead of relying on Americans. It’s a shift, he said, that could contribute to more stable growth. iShares FTSE/Xinhua China (NYSEArca: FXI) is up about 0.25% this morning.

Homebuilder exchange traded funds (ETFs) are trading as high as 4.5% this morning on news that Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL) new contracts are up 42%. The luxury homebuilder also expects fourth-quarter revenue to top expectations. SPDR S&P Homebuilders (NYSEArca: XHB) is up 3.2% this morning. For more stories about real estate, click here.

UPS (NYSE: UPS), the world’s largest package delivery service, said this morning that it expects volume to grow next year amid economic recovery. The company also said it may raise shipping rates next year, and the size will be announced in December, reports Harry Suhartono for Reuters. iShares Dow Jones Transportation Average (NYSEArca: IYT) is up about 1.5% today; UPS is 8.2%. For more stories on the transportation sector, click here.

Is the world finally losing its appetite for the U.S. dollar? Michael Schuman for Time asks the question. There are signs we should be concerned:

• The price of gold has catapulted to new highs and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is selling 200 metric tons of gold to India’s central bank for $6.7 billion.
• Around the world, U.S. dollars accounted for 37% of new reserves in central banks.

The worst recession since the 1930s may almost be behind us and the beaten-down financial sector seems to be mending. Can the dollar rise from the ashes like a phoenix? Some say perhaps not. In a decade, says one historian, the world won’t be so dollar-denominated. But whether that spells doom is another question altogether.

The U.S. dollar is not going to disappear. But if the talk becomes reality, the greenback could take a hit. Central bankers are the currency market’s buyer of last resort, and thus the private sector’s view of the dollar’s value and stability can be heavily influenced by what they do. (How to play currency baskets).

• PowerShares DB US Dollar Up (NYSEArca: UUP): down 7.5% year-to-date

• PowerShares DB US Dollar Bearish (NYSEArca: UDN): up 8.2% year-to-date

• PowerShares Group 10 Carry Trade (NYSEArca: DBV): up 20.3% year-to-date (How DBV works)

The number of ETFs available in the market may be confusing, but there are so many choices that investors can customize their portfolios according to their personal preferences and strategy. The ultimate goal is usually the same (to make money), there are two primary categories investors fall into: those who use a fundamental strategy and those who prefer a sector strategy, explains Don Dion for TheStreet. We throw in a third strategy below, too.

Fundamental Strategy: Fundamental ETF portfolios are suitable for investors looking to take advantage of the cost efficiency and tax efficiency of ETFs over an extended time period. These portfolios are usually not traded very often and provide exposure to the broad market while meeting their needs for income.

Investors who find this strategy appealing often cite taxes as the primary lure.

• iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index (NYSEArca:DVY): up 4.8% year-to-date

• PowerShares QQQ (NYSEArca: QQQQ): up 42.9% year-to-date

Sector Strategy: A sector ETF strategy is designed to actively capture market trends. Some prefer  a momentum-based strategy to indicate the best times to enter and exit funds. ( The strategy you choose is just as important as the approach). These portfolios are considered active, as they are traded and monitored constantly.

• iShares iBoxx $ High Yield (NYSEArca: HYG): up 23.8% year-to-date

• PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Bullish (NYSEArca: UDN): up 8.1% year-to-date

A Blend Strategy. We use trend following by monitoring the 200-day moving average in order to find those areas that are moving. By getting in and out of the market at set signals, you give yourself the opportunity to be in the markets for any potential long-term uptrend. The stop loss enables you to put a cap on your losses. The benefit of relying on market signals to determine where and when you invest also removes the “noise” that emotions can generate and cloud your judgment. Any ETF works with this strategy, whether it’s a broad-based, plain-vanilla fund or a more exotic, niche ETF. (How to get in on the rebound).

Always do some research on what you are implementing and consider the liquidity, underlying stocks and pricing taking place in the ETFs you choose.

For more stories about trend following, visit our trend following category.

After the fund ran out of available shares, trading in PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Bullish (NYSEArca: UUP) was halted today at 1:23 p.m. ET until a filing with the SEC could be made.

An application for 100 million additional shares was filed and the fund began trading again at 1:51 p.m. ET. As long as no new creation baskets can be issued, UUP runs the risk of trading at a premium to its net asset value (NAV). Investors who want to monitor the intraday indicative value of the fund can visit the ticker page on Yahoo Finance.

UUP is trading at four or five times normal volume today, and until new shares are granted, the fund could continue to trade at a premium. Investors who aren’t comfortable with the premiums should wait until new shares are issued if they plan to buy the fund. Today, UUP is trading at roughly a 1.7% premium.

UUP has been seeing trading volume with moves valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Hours before the Federal Reserve announced plans to keep the federal fund target lending rate at current levels, options traders poured into UUP, reports Tennille Tracy for The Wall Street Journal. (ETFs to play the Fed’s move).

UUP tracks the moves of the U.S. dollar against other major currencies. The bulk of the action in the PowerShares fund appears to have been driven by professional investors who emerged to buy options in batches of 10,000 or more, and many of the transactions cost $150,000 and up.

Nguyen Ahn Thu, Darcy Crowe, and Will Conners for The Wall Street Journal report that although the U.S. dollar has lost value, it’s still king on the black market in foreign countries. It’s estimated that as much as 75% of U.S. notes in circulation are held outside the United States, and most of that is in the underground economy.

Residents of poorer countries, such as Venezuela, prize the dollar for its inflation-protection ability against weaker local currencies. (Other reasons foreign countries like a strong U.S. dollar).

For more stories about the U.S. dollar, visit our U.S. dollar category.

Copper started the week with a new year high and brokers are uncertain as to the cause, reports Andrea Hotter for The Wall Street Journal. Market fundamentals aren’t supporting any strong price gains at the moment. Copper did receive a boost yesterday after the factory orders report. (Where’s copper going?)

• iPath DJ AIG Copper TR Sub-Idx ETN (NYSEArca: JJC): up 107.8% year-to-date

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Commitments of Traders report revealed that speculative long positions have hit a high last seen in the beginning of 2006, which means downside risk is accumulating, and the current commodities market is still bullish. Experts and analysts are divided as to how prices will pan out.

• iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (NYSEArca: GSG): up 10% year-to-date

China is the largest holder of U.S. debt, with around $1 trillion, and experts are urging China to diversify its currency holdings unless the country enjoys watching its dollar holdings depreciate in value, remarks Andrew Snyder for Today’s Finance News. Another option for China is to exchange some dollars for commodity holdings as a better way to hold value – also, better for commodities investors gazing at those price upticks.

• PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bearish (NYSEArca: UDN): up 7.4% year-to-date

Natural gas inventories are almost topped off  with a little more than 3.7 trillion cubic feet – the total country storage space is 3.9 trillion cubic feet. Snyder believes the natural gas market has ridden the commodities bubble and a correction may soon take place as the spot market corrects for the excess inventory. (How to avoid a bubble).

• United States Natural Gas (NYSEArca: UNG): down 57% year-to-date

Keep in mind that these are just predictions. Watch the markets for what really happens, and act accordingly. When investing in commodities, it’s wise to have an exit strategy that involves a stop-loss points that you can execute when the time comes. (How to protect yourself with a trend-following plan).

For more information on commodities, visit our commodity category.

Max Chen contributed to this article.