Small-Cap ETFs Filled With Big Surprises
August 21, 2008 – Sometimes, big things come in small packages, and this summer’s surprise market upswing has revealed that the small-cap focused exchange traded funds(ETFs) are full of surprises. To date, the best small-cap sampler is the iShares... Continue Reading »

This ETF Buys Into Its Own Idea
August 16, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have given rise to a variety of unique funds, and one of them is one that buys into itself - literally. The PowerShares Buyback Achievers Portfolio Fund (PKW) holds a basket... Continue Reading »

Comparing the Large-Cap ETFs
August 12, 2008 – When it comes to exchange traded fund (ETF) investing, are large market capitalization funds created equally? Large-caps are the most common and popular investing asset class, and they are easy to compare because their make-up is... Continue Reading »

New Line of ETNs Pay Homage to Benjamin Graham
August 12, 2008 – Benjamin Graham, the forefather of value investing, is the inspiration for a few exchange traded notes (ETNs) based on his beliefs. The ETNs will seek to track companies with strong, liquid balance sheets, and must... Continue Reading »

ETFs Supporting Value Wait Patiently For Their Day
August 7, 2008 – Value-based managers and investors of exchange traded funds (ETFs) are going through a tough time, despite claims of plentiful stock bargains. Many value funds have sharply tumbled, with Bill Miller’s Value Trust down 29.3% and Morningstar’s... Continue Reading »

Dividend ETFs Are Put Together In Different Ways
July 28, 2008 – Dividend investing with exchange traded funds (ETFs) has had enough time in the game to see which ones are the most successful. Dan Caplinger for The Motley Fool reports that after the tech bubble in the... Continue Reading »

SPDRs Weave An International Web With Sector ETFs
July 24, 2008 – The options for international sector exchange traded funds (ETFs) doubled overnight as State Street Global Advisors announced the addition of ten such funds to their SPDR lineup. This brings the Spider line to include 80 ETFs,... Continue Reading »

If Markets Stay Volatile, Tell ‘Em Large-Cap ETFs Sent Ya
July 23, 2008 – If the dollar remains weak and the markets stay depressed, large-cap exchange traded funds (ETFs) are poised to be sitting pretty. That’s according to Neil Michael, head of quantitative strategies for SPA ETFs. “I suspect that... Continue Reading »

Is A Small-Cap Stock and ETF Rally Set Up?
July 15, 2008 – •If history is to repeat itself, is there a small-cap stock and exchange traded fund (ETF) rally on the horizon? Outperformance by small-cap stocks has generally followed market bottoms of recessions, so says Merrill Lynch. But... Continue Reading »

U.S. Real Estate ETFs Left Standing
July 9, 2008 – Who’s left standing in the real estate exchange traded fund (ETF) category? The real estate sector has been bearing the brunt of the credit crisis and rising interest rates, but it can still be a hedge... Continue Reading »

Do-It-Yourself Diversification With ETFs
July 9, 2008 – For any exchange traded fund (ETF) investor, diversification is key. One of the sole reasons people choose to use these funds is to get the instant diversification with one investment, while keeping risk and volatility... 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 »

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

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

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

Mid-Cap ETFs And Stocks Are Just The Right Size
June 3, 2008 – What type of stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are not too large and not too small, and doing mostly just right in 2008? The mid-caps. Between the three cap sizes, mid-sized companies have been the... Continue Reading »

First 130/30 ETN Launches - Will It Take Off?
June 1, 2008 – JP Morgan is the first to market with a first-of-its kind exchange traded note (ETN). The First Trust Enhanced 130/30 Index (JFT) is a modified equal-weighted total return index that offers 130% long and 30%... Continue Reading »

All-World ETFs: Just Add Water, Instant Diversification
May 28, 2008 – All-world exchange traded funds (ETFs) are the latest industry hot spot, and providers are lining up to launch them. The two-month-old Barclays fund iShares MSCI ACWI Fund (ACWI) holds 694 stocks from the 2,736-stock underlying... Continue Reading »

PowerShares Celebrates Landmark 5 Years For PWC ETF
May 24, 2008 – PowerShares is celebrating the five-year anniversary of its first exchange traded fund (ETF) and the index upon which it is based. PowerShares Dynamic Market Portfolio (PWC) launched on May 1, 2003. Since then, PWC has... Continue Reading »

With ETFs, Sometimes It’s Good to Be the Middle Child
May 20, 2008 – The trouble with mid-caps and their exchange traded funds (ETFs) is that they don’t get the same coverage in the financial media as the large-caps. Even small-caps get more attention as investors mine through... Continue Reading »

WisdomTree Files for Growth Funds, Launches Actively Managed Currency ETFs
May 17, 2008 – Fundamentally weighted exchange traded funds (ETFs) tend to be tilted toward the value end of the spectrum. But WisdomTree has filed for two growth funds, since demand for growth is picking up after having outperformed... 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 »

European Large-Caps On Their Way Up To Help ETFs
May 9, 2008 – Although the U.S.dollar is weak, and the credit crunch has tightened the cash flow, European large-caps don’t seem to be feeling this. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) that hold European large-cap stocks include Vanguard European Stock... Continue Reading »

Can Actively Managed ETFs Beat the Market?
April 25, 2008 – The actively managed exchange traded fund (ETF) doesn’t seem to be turning any heads. After all, we’ve heard it all before. First, actively managed mutual funds can be the market. Then, hedge funds can... 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 »

Small-Caps vs. Large-Caps Are a Tale of David and Goliath This Year
April 8, 2008 – Small-cap value stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) have been benefiting from having less to lose than large-caps and so far this year, they’ve been outpacing them handily. In the last month, small-cap value... Continue Reading »

Worldwide Growth Can Build Up Demand for Industrial ETFs
March 30, 2008 – The PowerShares FTSE RAFI Industrials Sector (PRFN) exchange traded fund (ETF) could benefit from optimism in the industrial sector down the line. How’s that? Many of the companies in this fund’s top holdings have... 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 »

New Index Measures Whether Companies Can Deliver - Will An ETF Track It?
March 12, 2008 – Dow Jones Indexes has launched a new series - could an exchange traded fund (ETF) be far behind? Dow partnered with Transparent Value LLC to deliver the Required Business Performance Index series, which measures the likelihood... 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 »

PowerShares Launches Its India ETF Today
March 5, 2008 – PowerShares launched its India exchange traded fund (ETF) this morning, and it’s trading on the NYSE Arca. The PowerShares India Portfolio (PIN) will join the WidsomTree India Earnings Fund (EPI) as the two ETFs dedicated... Continue Reading »

The Second Clear Indexes Student ETF Contest
February 28, 2008 – Clear Indexes is holding their second student contest for best exchange traded fund (ETF) idea. The Second Clear Next Generation ETF Contest boasts a $5,000 prize and a paid internship, plus the chance to... Continue Reading »

New ETFs Take Innovative Approach To S&P
February 27, 2008 – A trio of new exchange traded funds (ETFs) launched on Friday, taking a different twist on the Standard & Poor’s benchmarks. They will use the same stocks as the S&P but the ETF will... Continue Reading »

Some Dividend ETFs Going Down With Financial Sector
February 13, 2008 – Dividend-focused exchange traded funds (ETFs) are experiencing a meltdown of their own. These types of funds have large plays in high-yielding financial stocks and this is the sector that has been hit hard by the... 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 »

Are You Doubling Up With ETFs?
February 11, 2008 – When you look at your exchange traded fund (ETF) portfolio, and consider all of the single stocks that you own, are you ever doubling up? Investing in individual large-caps is great, however, if you... Continue Reading »

Malaise Shows in Retail ETFs and Sectors
February 7, 2008 – As if the wallets weren’t shut tight enough already: retail sales fell even further in January, putting a damper on related exchange traded funds (ETFs). Anne D’Innocenzio for the Associated Press reports that retailers had... Continue Reading »

Claymore ‘Acts Responsibly’ and Closes 11 ETFs
February 1, 2008 – After three years of billions of dollars flowing into exchange traded funds (ETFs) and hundreds being launched, one ETF provider is showing their accountability and trimming the hedges. Following a recommendation and approval from their... Continue Reading »

Boeing Earnings Lift Off Defense ETFs
January 30, 2008 – Wall Street and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) were impressed by the 4% increase in fourth-quarter profits by Boeing Co. (BA). Delays in the 787 Dreamliner program don’t appear to pose a threat to... Continue Reading »

Could Fight Spill Over Onto ETFs?
January 29, 2008 – Could a lawsuit against an entertainment and Internet heavyweight hurt a couple exchange traded funds (ETFs)? Liberty Media (LCAPA) is suing IAC/InteractiveCorp (IACI) Chairman Barry Diller. The company wants to gain control after Diller proposed... Continue Reading »

Pay Attention To Earnings-Weighted ETFs
January 28, 2008 – WisdomTree rolled out a family branch of exchange traded funds (ETFs) fundamentally weighted on the basis of trailing earnings. So the more a company earns, the more it’s weighted in the index. Roger Nusbaum... Continue Reading »

Gauging ETF Liquidity
January 27, 2008 – Ever wonder if your exchange traded funds (ETFs) are liquid enough for your taste? You can check the liquidity yourself with the bid-ask spread. Although ETFs trade like stocks, trading volume does not give... Continue Reading »

Spa Market Grader ETFs Going International
January 15, 2008 – Spa MarketGrader’s exchange traded funds (ETFs) are now ready to take on Italy, months after launching their funds on the American Stock Exchange. Their six U.S. equity-focused Market-Grader ETFs will appear on Milan’s Borsa Italiana stock... Continue Reading »

Fund’s Performance May Be a Harbinger of Tough Times for Small Cap ETFs
January 10, 2008 – While two exchange traded funds (ETFs) might follow the same underlying index, discrepancies are still possible. A case in point is the SPDRs (SPY) vs. the Rydex S&P Equal Weight (RSP). Each fund has the... Continue Reading »

And the Clear Indexes ETF Creation Winner Is….
January 9, 2008 – Clear Indexes LLC announced the winner of its exchange traded fund (ETF) competition, which took place from October 12-November 26, 2007. James Baker, 18, an NYU freshman, won the Clear Next Generation ETF Competition. His idea was selected... Continue Reading »

Europe Gives ETFs Air Kisses As They Gain In Popularity
January 9, 2008 – The next big market for exchange traded funds (ETFs) is shaping up to be Europe. In fact, reports Vito J. Racanelli of Barron’s, Europe is showing the strongest growth in the popularity of ETFs.... Continue Reading »

Vanguard Plays With Mega-Cap ETFs
January 4, 2008 – You’ve heard that timing is everything, and if mega-cap stocks continue to perform, Vanguard’s three new mega-cap exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be a case of the right ETF at the right time. The... Continue Reading »

Regional Bank ETFs Take a Fall
January 3, 2008 – The bad news continues for financial-related exchange traded funds (ETFs). The Regional Bank HOLDRs (RKH) hit its lowest point in more than two years on this week, reports Thomson Financial. The drop came after National... Continue Reading »

Cubes ETF Rebalances, Fund Holders Win
December 26, 2007 – If you’ve got a piece of the cubes exchange traded funds (ETF), you should be sitting pretty right now. The fund, also known as the PowerShares Nasdaq 100 Trust (QQQQ), has climbed upward since... Continue Reading »

New Vanguard Mega Cap ETFs Launch
December 24, 2007 – Vanguard launched three new exchange traded funds (ETFs) on the NYSE Arca. They seek to track three MSCI Indexes and each fund has an expense ratio of 0.13%, reports Aaron Seigel for InvestmentNews. Vanguard Mega... Continue Reading »

Bargain Basement ETFs
December 19, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are popular because they offer diversification, tax efficiency, lower costs and lower expense ratios than most investment tools. ETFs trade on an exchange like a single stock, but beware that too... Continue Reading »

ETF Asset Class Reveiw for 2007
December 14, 2007 – Which asset classes and similar exchange traded funds (ETFs) fared well for 2007? Matthew D. McCall for Seeking Alpha gives us his take based on the nine categories of market capitalization and growth versus... Continue Reading »

ETFs Could Get Their 130/30 Fund Entry Via ProShares
December 13, 2007 – One of the fastest-growing segments of the financial market now has an exchange traded fund (ETF) entry. According to Matthew Hougan at IndexUniverse, ProShares has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a... Continue Reading »

Dow Theory Flashes A Bear For Diamonds Trust (DIA)
November 13, 2007 – The Dow Theory, one of Wall Street’s oldest tools used to decipher the longer-term direction of stock prices, is flashing a warning sign about stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The Dow Theory is... Continue Reading »

A Few Large-cap ETFs for Your Consideration
October 15, 2007 – We’ve mentioned before that small-cap exchange traded funds (ETFs) have outperformed large caps for the last five years. However, as Gary Gordon for ETF Expert says, this year large-cap stocks have outpaced small-cap competitors.... Continue Reading »

Will Vanguard’s Megacap ETFs Be a “Mega” Hit?
October 10, 2007 – Vanguard’s attempt to capture the exchange traded fund (ETF) market continues with the launch of a trio of mega-cap index funds. The trio includes one for the broad market, one for growth and one for... 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 »

Fueling the Fire: ETF Indexing Debate Gets Hot
September 7, 2007 – People seem to love a good debate, especially when it comes to indexing strategies that exchange traded funds (ETFs) follow. The hot argument lately has been over whether market-cap weightings or fundamentally-based weightings are... Continue Reading »

An ETF Game of “What If?”
September 1, 2007 – If you could make only one investment, which exchange traded fund (ETF) would it be? Shannon Zimmerman for The Motley Fool likes "to cheat" by picking one investment that holds many other investments (such... 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 »

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 »

Possible ETF Safe Havens in Water and Blue Chips
August 14, 2007 – As volatility continues to rule the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs), investors are scattering to seemingly safer securities. As we’ve mentioned previously, bond ETFs, "megacaps," health care, consumer-focused ETFs and global industrial ETFs... 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 »

Is Bigger Better? The Pros and Cons of Mega-cap ETFs
August 7, 2007 – Considering large caps have outperformed small and mid-cap stocks recently, investors might want to look at "mega-cap" stocks for their exchange traded fund (ETF) portfolio. Megacaps generally have a stock-market value of at least... Continue Reading »

Is Consumer Confidence a Jinx on Small-cap ETFs?
August 1, 2007 – Consumer confidence has an interesting relationship with market and exchange traded fund (ETF) performance. We are told consumer confidence is good for stocks and ETFs, says Gary Gordon for ETF Expert. Yet when you... Continue Reading »

Is it Large-Cap ETFs’ Time to Bask in the Spotlight?
July 26, 2007 – Small-cap exchange traded funds (ETFs) have outperformed large-cap ETFs for seven years. That’s quite a run. As we know though, the market is cyclical and obeys the law of gravity: What goes up must... Continue Reading »

Thinking Global, Acting Local with ETFs
July 19, 2007 – Investing in global exchange traded funds (ETFs) has been a hot topic, as the global markets continue to outperform domestic markets. U.S. markets are reaching record highs, the DIAMONDs Trust (DIA) is up 12%... Continue Reading »

Past ETF Performances Can Teach Us Lessons for the Future
July 16, 2007 – While it’s impossible to know what the future performance of an exchange traded fund (ETF) will be, looking at the past can show us important educational trends. Remember though that past performance is not... Continue Reading »

Growth ETFs Show Strength
July 16, 2007 –   When it comes to stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs), which is more pursued, the growth or the value? During the late 1990s, it was all about growth. Leading into the turn of the... Continue Reading »

America Rocks: Blatant Self-Promotion for U.S. ETFs
July 6, 2007 – While it’s true we promote many promising international exchange traded funds (ETFs), we want to take a minute to recognize some of our own country’s outstanding ETFs. Internet Architecture HOLDRs (IAH) - up 45% over... Continue Reading »

Market Cap ETFs For Diversification
June 30, 2007 – Market-cap weighted index fund exchange traded funds (ETFs) arguably can be the base of a well-rounded portfolio. The core building blocks of a well-diversified portfolio include small, mid and large-cap stocks, Seeking Alpha reports.... Continue Reading »

Claymore Cranks Out Another New ETF
June 29, 2007 – It seems Claymore Securities is on a roll this week with yet another new exchange traded fund (ETF) announced today. This is the fifth ETF Claymore has launched this week. The latest ETF is... Continue Reading »

Broad-Based ETF Options
June 25, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) feature low expenses, tax efficiency and fare well when you invest a lump sum into the market. Although many in the media, within the industry and investors are following the... Continue Reading »

Large Caps Moving Up-Proof Is In ETFs
May 24, 2007 – So far this year it looks like small-caps are losing ground while large-caps are making a comeback, as evidenced by the returns on exchange traded funds (ETFs).  In recent years, large-caps trailed small-caps, but... Continue Reading »

Claymore’s Blue Chip ETF
April 12, 2007 – One of the new exchange traded funds (ETFs) brought to market recently by Claymore holds large-cap growth companies with at least five-years of double-digit growth. The Claymore Great Companies Large-Cap Growth Fund (XGC) launched... Continue Reading »

Capitalization-Big or Small For ETFs
March 27, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) that focus on small-cap stocks have done well this year despite warnings that the trend is shifting to big-caps.  Although the big-cap index, S&P 500 outperformed the small-cap index, Russell... Continue Reading »

Basic Materials ETFs Taking Off?
March 18, 2007 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) that focus on large-cap companies with exposure to basic materials have had nice returns for the year. Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) have returned 7.5%... Continue Reading »

U.S. ETFs Assets Rise In January
February 8, 2007 – In January alone, assets of U.S. listed exchange traded funds (ETFs) rose about $5 billion, or 1.1%, to $422 billion.  Reuters reported 28 new ETFs were launched during the month, bringing the new total... Continue Reading »

Morningstar ETFs Are Performing
January 23, 2007 – Up until recently it’s been difficult to mirror Morningstar’s recommendations in your portfolio. But now, Morningstar’s ETFs put their mouth where the money is. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) from Barclays that focus on Morningstar indexes... Continue Reading »

Benchmark ETFs Up Based on Volatility Index
January 18, 2007 – The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index (VIX) closed at its lowest level recently as steady gains in U.S. stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs)seemed to put investor’s minds at ease.  Reuters reports VIX... Continue Reading »

SmartMoney’s ETF Ratings
January 16, 2007 – Rob Wherry of SmartMoney reports  exchange traded funds (ETFs) had a banner year ending with 359 ETFs and holding $417 billion in their coffers. Compared to the year before, with 201 ETFs holding $296... Continue Reading »

What’s Inside An ETF?
January 13, 2007 – Most people don’t have time to research and understand which small-cap tech company they should buy, so an exchange traded fund (ETF) offers an alternative. Donald H. Gold of Investor’s Business Daily points out... Continue Reading »

New Investment Strategy with Patent ETF
December 30, 2006 – There is a new exchange traded fund (ETF) that is testing a new investment strategy.  The Ocean Tomo Patent 300 (OTP) is a Claymore product that is a possible proxy for large-cap growth. Roger... Continue Reading »

Diversification For Your ETF Portfolio
November 27, 2006 – For exchange traded fund (ETF) portfolios there are many factors to take into consideration. For instance, foreign exposure, asset class, reducing volatility or adding some yield. All of these can be answered by big-cap... Continue Reading »

Socially Reponsible ETFs Available
October 31, 2006 – Whether you invest for the returns or for peace of mind, there are socially responsible exchange traded fund (ETF) options available and more coming.  Barclay’s Global Investors has iShares KLD Select Social Index Fund... 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 »

ETF Large Caps Moving Up
October 6, 2006 – The largest of the large caps continue to show strength and momentum.  Not only is there the Diamonds Trust (DIA) but also the Rydex Russell Top 50 (XLG).  XLG invests in the 50 largest... Continue Reading »