ETFs Have Got You Covered
August 17, 2008 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) fan club keeps on growing. Brian Neill for the Bradenton Herald says that he’s staying away from most individual stocks. Instead, he’s spending more time on ETFs, and the more he... Continue Reading »

July ETF Performance Report
July 31, 2008 – It’s been a volatile year so far for many exchange traded funds (ETFs), and July was no exception. The Dow Jones industrial average finished exactly even. The Nasdaq lost 0.7%, while the S&P 500 fell... Continue Reading »

Short and Leveraged ETFs Are Beefing Up
July 30, 2008 – Some investors like to say short and ultra short exchange traded funds (ETFs) are similar to steroid use - bulking way up on an unnatural time scale. For instance, the ProShares Ultra Oil and Gas (DIG)... Continue Reading »

Caterpillar’s Earnings Give an Assist to Industrials ETFs
July 22, 2008 – It’s a win-win-win for the global building boom, Caterpillar and exchange traded funds (ETFs) that hold the heavy-equipment manufacturer. Caterpillar’s (CAT) second-quarter profit jumped 34%, handily dusting expectations, reports Daniel Lovering for the Associated Press. Much... Continue Reading »

Can NBC’s Purchase Forecast Better Days for Industrial ETFs?
July 7, 2008 – NBC Universal is gearing up to purchase The Weather Channel and Weather.com, which might help exchange traded funds (ETFs) that count NBC’s parent company, GE (GE), as a top holding. The deal is to purchase... 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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

May ETF Performance Report
May 30, 2008 – Overall, May wasn’t a bad month for exchange traded fund (ETF) investors, but the economy still faces some hurdles. Two of the major indexes finished higher while the Dow Jones industrial average lost 1.4%.... 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 »

Short ETFs Stand Tall on a Rough Market Day
May 23, 2008 – While the Dow Jones industrial average and other major indexes sank in trading today, exchange traded funds (ETFs) that short the markets reaped the rewards. The strongest 20 ETFs in trading today were all funds... Continue Reading »

Proposed Leveraged ETFs Put the Pedal to the Metal
May 23, 2008 – An investment manager has plans for a new type of exchange traded fund (ETF) that may give Speed Racer a run for his torque. Direxion Funds has proposed the first turbocharged portfolio, that includes an... Continue Reading »

GE to Leave Ailing Appliance Business; Will It Impact ETFs?
May 16, 2008 – General Electric (GE) is planning to leave the appliance business, but what will it mean for exchange traded funds (ETFs) that count the company as a holding? General Electric was once best known for its appliance... Continue Reading »

April ETF Performance Report
April 30, 2008 – The markets were a little sunnier this month, improving on the gains they had made in March, and most exchange traded funds (ETFs) finished in brighter territory. That’s despite bad news about consumer confidence,... Continue Reading »

Nasdaq, Dow and ETFs Close at Three-Month Highs
April 25, 2008 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) that tracks the Nasdaq 100 hit a three-month high in trading yesterday after its 10 most-heavily weighted components moved higher. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to stick if... Continue Reading »

GE Earnings Reports Don’t Bring Markets and ETFs To Life
April 11, 2008 – General Electric (GE) reported disappointing profits today, dimming stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The reading was weaker than expected, reports Tim Paradis for the Associated Press. The report sent the markets south, as the... Continue Reading »

The Dow Theory Does Good For Modern Day ETF Investors
April 10, 2008 – The Dow Theory is one of the most respected trend systems in the investment world, leading exchange traded fund (ETF) investors and others in their market-related decisions. Charles Dow, founder of the industrial average... Continue Reading »

ETFs Hold Steady While Earnings Reports Are Awaited
April 8, 2008 – There was no rally in the first day of trading this week for stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) like the one last week, in which the Dow Jones industrial average skyrocketed nearly 400... Continue Reading »

New Quarter, New Start for Some ETFs
April 1, 2008 – Financial, homebuilder and retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) were among the biggest winners on a day when the Dow Jones industrial average rose nearly 400 points. Although Swiss bank UBS (UBS) and Deutsche Bank (DB) announced... Continue Reading »

Caterpillar Down, But Big Growth Is Predicted; Will Industrial ETFs Feel It?
March 20, 2008 – Shares of Caterpillar (CAT), a major component of the DIAMONDS Trust, Series 1 (DIA), pulled back from five-month highs yesterday. Caterpillar is 4.6% of the fund. For two months, the company had been bulldozing to... Continue Reading »

Financial ETFs Look Different In the Afternoon
March 19, 2008 – It just goes to show: these days, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and the market can turn on a dime, and today was a perfect case in point. This morning, things kicked off nicely off... Continue Reading »

A Banner Day for Financial ETFs As Fed Unveils Latest Plan
March 11, 2008 – What a difference 24 hours makes: Bear Stearns’ shares were downgraded by Moody’s on Monday, a move that weighed heavily on financial exchange traded funds (ETFs). It sent the Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF) down... Continue Reading »

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

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

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

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

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

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

January ETF Performance Report
January 31, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) and the markets got off to a rocky start in 2008. Already this year, oil has managed to top $100 a barrel, gold set new records and the Federal Reserve... Continue Reading »

Bernanke Wields the Ax Again, Boosting Stocks and ETFs
January 30, 2008 – Once again, the Federal Reserve stepped in and made a half-point rate cut, a move that Wall Street and exchange traded funds (ETFs) apparently liked. The rate cut didn’t come as a complete surprise, as... Continue Reading »

Don’t Call It a Comeback for ETFs and the Markets Yet, but It Was a Good Day
January 23, 2008 – It was like the semi-annual running of the brides at Filene’s Basement in Boston: bargain hunters entered the markets today looking for a deal, sending stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) hopping. The Dow Jones... Continue Reading »

ETF Investors Feel Relief at the End of a Long Week
January 18, 2008 – Investors in stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are probably shouting: "TGIO!" That’s "Thank God It’s Over." It’s been a long week, and today wasn’t much better. This morning, things kicked off looking hopeful. Madlen... Continue Reading »

Another Rough Day; Save Your Portfolio By Having an ETF Sell Strategy
January 17, 2008 – The markets wrapped up another ugly day for stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) this afternoon. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 2%, says Tim Paradis of the Associated Press, and it was... 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 »

S&P 500 Marks Its Golden Anniversary
December 5, 2007 – This year marked the anniversary of the index on which the first exchange traded fund (ETF) was based: the S&P 500. In March 1957, the index that would become the most widely used U.S.-linked index... Continue Reading »

New BuyWrite ETFs Coming
November 30, 2007 – PowerShares is set to launch the first family of BuyWrite exchange traded funds (ETFs) in December 2007. They will provide access to but-write option strategies on three of the most widely used benchmarks -the... Continue Reading »

November ETF Performance
November 30, 2007 – November has been a volatile month, to say the least, for the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs).  Major market indexes and ETFs ended the month down.  Thus it isn’t too surprising that the... Continue Reading »

Dogs of the Dow ETN Can Be a Tax-Free Treat
November 23, 2007 – Woof! An exchange traded note (ETN) that tracks the Dogs of the Dow is finally here to take advantage of the Dogs’ "market-beating" strategy. In case you didn’t know, the Dogs of the Dow... Continue Reading »

Tech ETFs Taking Brunt of Market
November 8, 2007 – Technology stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) ended the day down more than any other sector.  The markets had another difficult day, but were able to bounce back from lows reached in intraday trading. ... Continue Reading »

Mortgage Turmoil Boils Into Market And Financial ETFs
November 5, 2007 – This summer’s credit meltdown is far from being cool beans and is simmering over into the markets and financial related exchange traded funds (ETFs). Investors are putting caution to the wind even after Wednesday’s... Continue Reading »

Dow Loses 362 Points as Financial ETFs Lead the Fall
November 1, 2007 – Trading ended on a down note, with financial exchange traded funds (ETFs) taking the biggest hit, giving back, on average, 5%. They include KBW Regional Banking (KRE), iShares Dow Jones U.S. Financial Services (IYG) and... Continue Reading »

The Fed Rate Cut Gives Good News and Bad
October 31, 2007 – When it comes to investing and exchange traded funds (ETFs), is the glass half empty or half full? The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter point, to 4.5%, and Wall Street sure... Continue Reading »

October ETF Performance
October 31, 2007 – Ghouls didn’t spook exchange traded fund (ETF) investors this Halloween as new highs were reached globally this month.  With today’s rate cut by the Federal Reserve, many ETFs hit new highs. Domestically, the Nasdaq was... Continue Reading »

Transportation ETF Moves Up Slowly but Surely
October 23, 2007 – The iShares Dow Jones Transportation Index (IYT) exchange traded fund (ETF) has been hit-or-miss recently as rising energy prices take their toll. IYT jumped today, after Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., a railway operating... Continue Reading »

Hedging with ETFs in a Declining Market
October 22, 2007 – Anytime there’s a hiccup in the market, ETF investors look for ways to protect themselves on the downside. Last week, the market volatility index (VIX) closed at 22.96, its highest level since Sept. 17.... Continue Reading »

ETFs and the Market Dip on Bernanke’s Gloomy Economy Forecast
October 16, 2007 – The markets, and many exchange traded funds (ETFs), were down today on news from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that the housing market continues to dampen the economy. In a speech Monday night, Bernanke... Continue Reading »

“Stock Trader’s Almanac” Can Be a Fun Resource for ETF Investors
October 2, 2007 – While we can’t predict what exchange traded funds (ETFs) will do, it’s interesting to look at their trends. One source for this is through the "Stock Trader’s Almanac." Generally speaking, the "Stock Trader’s Almanac" says... Continue Reading »

ETFs Celebrate on Dow’s New High
October 1, 2007 – Many exchange traded funds (ETFs) increased today as the Dow Jones industrial average index rose almost 200 points to a new trading high. This is the first time in 2 1/2 months that the Dow... Continue Reading »

How Volatility and the VIX Interact with ETFs
September 11, 2007 – When talking about exchange traded funds (ETFs) and the markets, we sometimes talk about volatility. But what does that mean? One definition, according to InvestorWords.com is: "The relative rate at which the price of... Continue Reading »

Some ETFs That Are Up Despite Gloomy Market Conditions
September 9, 2007 – Even though some exchange traded funds (ETFs) have declined and the Dow Jones industrial average fell 250 points on Friday, some areas are prospering. Gold is one of them. Ashraf Laidi for TheStreet.com says... Continue Reading »

Examining Large-cap ETFs
August 24, 2007 – One of the conveniences of the DIAMONDS Trust, Series 1 (DIA) exchange traded fund (ETF) is that by mimicking the Dow Jones industrial average, it gives investors exposure to the 30 largest, best American... Continue Reading »

Market Update: Stocks and ETFs Drop Again
August 15, 2007 – It seems as if nothing will satisfy the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) that continue to drop and climb in protest of the credit tightening and housing market slump. Even another cash injection... Continue Reading »

Market Update: Stocks and ETFs Suffer Losses
August 14, 2007 – No bulls are in sight today for the markets or exchange traded funds (ETFs). The Dow Jones industrial average and it’s ETF counterpart DIAMONDS Trust, Series 1 (DIA) dropped more than 200 points, and... Continue Reading »

Major Indexes and Counterpart ETFs Have Second Biggest Drop of the Year
August 9, 2007 – The rocky road continues for the market and exchange traded funds (ETFs) as most major indexes dropped sharply today. The Dow Jones industrial average fell more than 380 points. It was the biggest drop... Continue Reading »

Market Update: Stocks and ETFs Rebound from Friday’s Losses
August 6, 2007 – As we reported Friday in our weekly Market Update newsletter, most of the major indexes and the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track them were down: The Dow Jones industrial average ended the week... Continue Reading »

With the Dow Jones Sale Inevitable, Murdoch’s Media Empire Will Control America’s Most Trusted Index and ETF Counterpart
July 31, 2007 – The Dow Jones industrial average and its exchange traded fund (ETF) counterpart, DIAMONDS Trust, Series 1 (DIA), will soon be under the control of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. The currently controlling Bancroft family has... Continue Reading »

ETFs on the Rise Despite Recent Giant Market Drop
July 30, 2007 – Exchange traded fund (ETF) investors are still a little nervous after last week’s plunge sent the Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 on their largest drop in five years. The Dow is... Continue Reading »

Industrials: The Catch-all Category for ETFs
July 30, 2007 – Some exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be difficult to define. For example, "industrials" represent companies that produce and distribute goods and services but don’t fall into a specific niche. Some big name examples include... Continue Reading »

Mid-Day ETF Market Update: Dow Drops 300 Points
July 26, 2007 – The Dow Jones industrial average took a dive today and brought exchange traded funds (ETFs) down with it. It marks the second biggest drop of the year as the Dow dropped more than 300... Continue Reading »

Wouldn’t a VIX ETF Be Great?
July 25, 2007 – As the Market Volatility Index (VIX) looks to be awakening from its slumber, wouldn’t it be great if there was an exchange traded fund (ETF) to track its activity? The VIX, which measures risk... Continue Reading »

Stock Market and ETF Indexes Decline
July 25, 2007 – Although indexes such as the Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 reported record highs just last week, they dropped sharply yesterday along with their exchange traded fund (ETF) counterparts. The Dow fell 226.47... Continue Reading »

The Dow Rides Record Highs; its ETF Follows
July 18, 2007 – Lately the Dow Jones industrial average index has reached record highs. It even passed 14,000 (in intra-day trading) for the first time, and its exchange traded fund (ETF) counterpart, the DIAMONDS Trust, Series 1... Continue Reading »

Indexes: ETFs’ Heroes
July 7, 2007 – If you invest in exchange traded funds (ETFs), it’s in your best interest to know about indexes. Indexes are like big brothers or sisters to ETFs. ETFs track their every move, trying to outperform... Continue Reading »

An American Beauty ETF
July 4, 2007 – This Fourth of July, you might consider investing in an exchange traded fund (ETF) to show your patriotism. An ETF that represents a pure American play, with companies all domiciled in the United States,... Continue Reading »

Transportation ETF IYT Moving On
February 5, 2007 – The iShares Dow Jones Transportation Average (IYT) exchange traded fund (ETF) has reached new highs recently and is up this year 9.8%.  In an environment in which the price of oil has dropped 29%... Continue Reading »

10 New ETF Trends for 2007
January 5, 2007 – As the champagne corks ushered in 2007, investors celebrated more next generation exchange traded funds (ETFs) that promise an exciting variety of targeted new offerings. All grown-up, with everywhere to go, new ETFs continue to... Continue Reading »

ETF and Indexes-Traditional or Enhanced
November 3, 2006 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are all "index" funds-they track the performance of a  benchmark. Most of the first ETFs tracked well-known benchmarks like the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Now that... Continue Reading »

Dow ETF (DIA) Hits Record High Too!
October 18, 2006 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average went past 12,000 for the first time today as investors grow optimistic about corporate earnings and the economy.  The exchange traded fund that follows the index, Diamonds Trust (DIA),... Continue Reading »

Will The Dow Do It Next Week?
September 29, 2006 – With the Dow Jones industrials coming within a breath of hitting an all-time record high this week, investors have questions. Is this large-cap market rally for real this time? And, if so, what’s the easiest... Continue Reading »

Time For A Dog ETF?
August 16, 2006 – No, I am not referring to the recently launched exchange traded fund that has the ticker symbol DOG and allows you to short the Dow Jones Industrial Average. I am talking about an ETF... Continue Reading »

Global ETFs Flooded With New Money
May 2, 2006 – Investors are noticing global markets and the opportunities they offer.  According to Financial Research Corp., more new money went into global and international mutual funds in the first three months of 2006 than in... Continue Reading »

Small-Cap ETFs Better Than Small-Cap Funds
April 18, 2006 – For the past five years, small-cap stocks have outperformed large-cap stocks by a huge factor. No doubt, investors have chased this trend. In an effort to get a handle on the growing portfolios (and... Continue Reading »