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 »

How To Weather The Economic Storms With ETFs
July 24, 2008 – It’s been a challenge in the markets and exchange traded fund (ETF) realm lately, to put it mildly. Things have picked up some in recent days, but as today illustrates: we’re not out of the woods... 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 »

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 »

ETF’s Silver Holdings Dust Off a Record
July 20, 2008 – The largest silver-backed exchange traded fund (ETF) isn’t a cloud, but it sure has a silver lining anyway. Holdings in the iShares COMEX Gold Trust (SLV) rose to a record 6,092.31 tons on July 16, a... Continue Reading »

ETF Securities Goes on Bull Run With Commodities
July 18, 2008 – For an exchange traded fund (ETF) provider that didn’t exist at this time five years ago, the story of ETF Securities is certainly an impressive one. The London-based provider, which deals in exchange traded commodities (ETCs)... Continue Reading »

Building Up With Materials ETFs
July 18, 2008 – When it comes to investing, exchange traded funds (ETFs) make it easy to access specific sectors. While some sectors have become beaten-down in recent months (hello, financials and homebuilders), others have been poster children for success,... Continue Reading »

Some iShares ETFs Are Calling It Splits
July 16, 2008 – Barclays Global Investors has announced they are splitting shares amongst 10% of their exchange traded fund (ETF) line, iShares. There are more than 160 U.S.-based products within this fund family, and they represent $327 billion in... Continue Reading »

Investors Run for Cover Under Gold and ETFs
July 11, 2008 – The price of gold jumped to a four-month high, sending gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) higher. A dash of record oil (now more than $147 a barrel), a heaping teaspoon of mortgage-company concerns and a pinch... Continue Reading »

Jim Rogers Creates Commodities Index for ETF; Sounds Off on Economy
July 10, 2008 – Investing legend Jim Rogers has put together a new index targeting commodity producers, which will soon underly an exchange traded fund (ETF). The Rogers Van Eck Hard Assets Producers Index (RVEI) gives investors a chance to... Continue Reading »

Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium ETFs - Oh, My!
July 9, 2008 – Platinum and palladium exchange traded funds (ETFs) are reflecting the love investors have for metals that do much more than look pretty. Platinum demand is being driven, literally, by its primary use as a catalyst in... Continue Reading »

What’s Going Down In South Africa May Not Help ETF To Go Up
July 2, 2008 – South Africa’s economy and exchange traded fund (ETF) are facing some new hurdles. Africa’s biggest steel maker, ArcelorMittal South Africa Ltd, is fighting a record penalty after antitrust authorities found that the company may be... Continue Reading »

Looking for the ETF Silver Lining Amid the Clouds?
June 30, 2008 – With the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) getting socked by near-daily bad news, you might be wondering how Pollyanna did it. Wasn’t she exhausted? How can you stay optimistic when: Oil keeps hitting new... 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 »

Infrastructure Can Be Approached With Broad or Focused ETFs - Your Call
June 20, 2008 – Infrastructure exchange traded funds (ETFs) may be just what your town or country needs to get a good face lift. Gary Gordon on ETF Expert refers to infrastructure improvement as the need for both developed... Continue Reading »

PowerShares, Deutsche Bank Team Up With Oil, Base Metal ETNs
June 19, 2008 – PowerShares and Deutsche Bank are teaming up again to launch eight base-metal and crude oil-linked exchange traded notes (ETNs). The notes will be linked to the performance of industrial metals and crude oil, through a... Continue Reading »

Weakening Dollar Polishes Up Metals ETFs
June 16, 2008 – Metals exchange traded funds (ETFs) were golden today as the dollar lost ground. Gold futures rose to their highest level in a week as the euro gathered steam, reports Alan Fein for Axcess News. Silver futures... Continue Reading »

Steel Prices Rise and Metals Gain to Solidify Related ETFs
June 9, 2008 – May turned out to be a good month for the metals and mining exchange traded fund (ETF). SPDR S&P Metals and Mining (XME) was the third-best ETF for the month, returning 14.9%,  according to... 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 »

As Israel Grows, and So Do ETF Options
May 29, 2008 – Israel’s economy is surpassing expectations, and if it continues this way, it could deliver solid performance to its exchange traded funds (ETFs). The country saw growth in the first quarter, even though it was... Continue Reading »

Exploration ETFs Helped By Rising Cost of Finding New Oil
May 29, 2008 – You’d think the rising cost of oil and the big returns the related exchange traded funds (ETFs) have been dishing out year-to-date would have led to bigger efforts to look for more of the... Continue Reading »

Steel Is Solid, But Metal’s Volatility Could Impact ETF
May 28, 2008 – Already up 24.6% year-to-date, the steel exchange traded fund (ETF) has been going strong. But analysts see a weakening ahead that’s some investors wondering if they should keep their eye on this material or look... Continue Reading »

Brazil and Its ETF Reaping Rewards of Natural Resources
May 27, 2008 –   Global demand for Brazil’s exports are leading to strong economic growth for the country and its related exchange traded fund (ETF). Commodities such as iron ore, beef, ethanol, soy and copper are trading... Continue Reading »

Gold, Silver ETFs Lose Some Luster As Dollar Firms Up
May 27, 2008 – Gold and silver exchange traded funds (ETFs) were down by as much as 5% in trading today as prices for the metals fell and the dollar showed signs of life. Spot gold fell to $903.50... Continue Reading »

Platinum ETFs In London Squeeze A Tight Market
May 25, 2008 – One commodity in particular seems to be paying the price for the growing popularity of exchange traded funds (ETFs): platinum. There are platinum ETFs listed in both London and Zurich. The two funds together... 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 »

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 »

Global Infrastructure ETFs Could Build Up If Steel Will Level Off
May 19, 2008 – Infrastructure spending around the globe is booming, as developed nations are maintaining what they have while emerging countries are building up, meaning that those related exchange traded funds (ETFs) could rally both now and... Continue Reading »

Investors Gravitating to Water ETFs
May 18, 2008 – One of the larger components of a water exchange traded fund (ETF) is actually better known for its creation of technology for modern warfare. ITT (ITT) also derives 39% of its revenue from the water... Continue Reading »

BRIC ETFs Could Strengthen After Countries Meet
May 16, 2008 – The BRIC countries and exchange traded funds (ETFs) might be seeing even better days as the four countries meet this week to discuss economics and international cooperation. The foreign ministers of the four BRIC countries... Continue Reading »

Steel Prices and ETF Spike Are Matter of Cause and Effect
May 16, 2008 – The steel exchange traded fund (ETF) jumped 3.7% yesterday as steel supply continues to be outpaced by demand. But now steel may have hit a breaking point: it’s become so expensive that major construction projects... Continue Reading »

Investors Might Take a Shine to New Platinum ETNs
May 8, 2008 – Investors have been salivating for an exchange traded product that gives access to platinum, and now UBS is granting it with two new exchange traded notes (ETNs). The E-TRACS UBS Long Platinum (PTM) and the... Continue Reading »

Steel ETF Is Getting Hot to the Touch
May 6, 2008 – Describing something as "steely" is usually a synonym for "coldness," but not when it comes to the steel exchange traded fund (ETF). Market Vectors Steel (SLX), which launched in October 2006, is at record... Continue Reading »

Think You’re Diversified Enough With ETFs?
May 6, 2008 – How diversified is your exchange traded fund (ETF) portfolio? No matter how well you think you have your bases covered, every portfolio is vulnerable to something, cautions Roger Nusbaum for The Street. Many investors who... Continue Reading »

The Commodity ETF Picture Looks Different This Week
May 5, 2008 – Gold futures and exchange traded funds (ETFs) began to stage a turnaround in trading today after the dollar once again fell and oil futures hit new records. Gold today rose to $870.70, reports Bob Ewing... Continue Reading »

New ETN Line Gives Broad Range of Commodity Exposure
May 3, 2008 – UBS rolled into the exchange traded note (ETN) business last month with a line of commodity notes. The UBS E-TRACS CMCI Total Return (UCI) is designed to track the UBS Bloomberg Constant Maturity Commodity Index... Continue Reading »

Inner Workings of the Silver ETF
May 1, 2008 – A recent commenter inquired as to how the silver exchange traded fund (ETF) works: If the ETF iShares Silver Trust (SLV) goes under, do the holders of the ETF shares still have their interest backed by... Continue Reading »

Dollar Up, Gold Down, While ETFs Reflect Activity
April 30, 2008 – The U.S. dollar is toughening up, much to the dismay of gold which hit a three-month low on Tuesday, weakening the focused stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs). Also on the decline were oil prices... Continue Reading »

Can the Rally in Silver ETF Keep It Up?
April 28, 2008 – Silver and its exchange traded fund (ETF) were among the strongest performers in the first quarter of this year, outperforming most other metal-focused ETFs. iShares Silver Trust (SLV) finished up the first quarter 12.3% higher. streetTRACKS... Continue Reading »

Gold ETFs Are the Squeaky Wheels, But Other Metals Might Deserve Some Grease
April 25, 2008 – Gold and its exchange traded funds (ETFs) are real attention hogs. Sure, the metal is pretty to look at. It’s shiny. But it’s also being outperformed by other decidedly less sexy metals. streetTRACKS Gold Trust... 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 »

Silver, Base Metals ETFs Reflecting Strong Demand
April 22, 2008 – Demand for silver is on the rise and it’s reflected in its exchange traded fund (ETF). Gene Arensberg for Resource Investor says the rise in demand is evident because the paper silver market isn’t... Continue Reading »

Commodities, Natural Resources Keep Chile ETF On Fire
April 22, 2008 – In these commodity-crazy times, Chile and its exchange traded fund (ETF) might be something to think about. The iShares MSCI Chile (ECH) launched on Nov. 20, and it’s been up 14.4% since then. Year-to-date, it’s... Continue Reading »

Platinum Demand to Remain High; Could It Lead Investors to ETN?
April 19, 2008 – Platinum is projected to maintain a supply deficit this year, and one way for investors to benefit is with exchange traded notes (ETNs). There is currently a deficit of 360,800 ounces this year, and it’s... Continue Reading »

Steel ETF Keeps Its Momentum Strong
April 16, 2008 – The broader markets have been shifting all over for the first half of 2008, while the steel sector has remained solid, helping to anchor the related exchange traded fund (ETF). Market Vectors Steel (SLX)... Continue Reading »

ETNs Elbowing Their Way Into Competition With ETFs
April 14, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) could have another competitor if things keep going the way they are: exchange traded notes (ETNs). The industry was once small, but has slowly been picking up steam. The first ETNs launched... 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 »

Copper and Other Resources Enrich Chile’s ETF
April 11, 2008 – With a reputation as one of the world’s most economically progressive free market-focused nations in Latin America, the global commodities market could take Chile’s exchange traded fund (ETF) to new levels. The country’s economy has grown... Continue Reading »

Basic Materials ETFs’ Mettle Tested As Alocoa Reports Lower Profits
April 7, 2008 – Materials exchange traded funds (ETFs) fell slightly on the news that Alcoa (AA) reported a 50% profit loss from a year ago. The higher cost of energy and raw materials, coupled with the weak... Continue Reading »

UBS Enters Commodities Arena With ETN Line
April 7, 2008 – UBS is getting into the exchange traded game with commodities exchange traded notes (ETNs). Last week, the firm launched eight ETNs focused on commodities, and the plan is to venture into other asset classes,... Continue Reading »

New ETN Focuses on Platinum, Palladium
April 4, 2008 – Investors who have been looking for access to platinum and palladium via an exchange traded product finally can have it with the ELEMENTS MLCX Precious Metals Index (PMY) exchange traded note (ETN), listed on... Continue Reading »

Canada Is Quiet, But Its ETF Is Showing Strength
April 4, 2008 – Canada has vast natural resources, aside from hockey players, and that’s evident in their exchange traded fund (ETF). iShares MSCI Canada Index (EWC) is up 7.2% over the last two weeks. Although it’s down 2% year-to-date,... Continue Reading »

Metals ETFs Hold Steady As Economy Decides Which Way It Will Swing
April 3, 2008 – Have metals and their exchange traded funds (ETFs) entered a holding pattern? Nell Sloane for FX Street says they very well may have. The U.S. dollar dipped slightly overnight and oil prices have also fallen... Continue Reading »

Speculators and Bargain Hunters Go Fishing For Metals ETFs
April 2, 2008 – The more positive outlook on the dollar led to a selloff of precious metals and their related exchange traded funds (ETFs). Today, the outlook is a little better. streetTRACKS Gold Shares (GLD) and iShares COMEX... Continue Reading »

Commodities and Short ETFs Tell the First-Quarter Tale
April 1, 2008 – The challenging first quarter has come to a close, and by taking a look at the top performing exchange traded funds (ETFs) for the period, one can get a sense of what the story... Continue Reading »

On Tight Supply, Gold Is Forecast to Top Records, ETFs Could Follow
March 26, 2008 – A London investment manager expects that tightness in the gold supply could send prices soaring to new records that could affect exchange traded funds (ETFs), particularly those that hold the precious metal. Gold has taken... Continue Reading »

Commodity ETFs Shine On a Gloomy Day
March 25, 2008 – Metal and agriculture exchange traded funds (ETFs) retained their bounce today, refusing to be brought down in the wake of bad news from other sectors such as financials, consumer and housing. Last week, there was... 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 »

Wait - Financial ETFs Are Up and Commodities Are Down? What’s Wrong With This Picture?
March 19, 2008 – Have we entered a bizarro exchange traded fund (ETF) world? First, financials and internet are staging a turnaround for the better. Now commodities are turning lower after being on a bull run in recent months.... Continue Reading »

Is Canadian ETF & Economy Unstoppable?
March 18, 2008 – Canada is strong enough to weather a U.S. economic slowdown, says one official - does that mean its exchange traded fund (ETF) is, as well? Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney says that while our... Continue Reading »

February Was a Strong Month for Natural Resource ETFs
March 17, 2008 – February turned out to be the month of energy and natural resources exchange traded funds (ETFs), beating out the juggernaut that is precious metals. Richard Widows for The Street says funds that included an... Continue Reading »

Ugly Prices for Gold and the Dollar Are Pretty for ETFs
March 13, 2008 – Gold-related exchange traded funds (ETFs) were higher in intraday trading as gold futures seemed to be trying out for high jumping in the Olympics. April futures reached a record $1,001.50 an ounce, continuing its steady... Continue Reading »

Even In These Markets, You Can Still Find ETF Movers and Shakers
March 12, 2008 – Yesterday, the markets delivered outstanding performance and some exchange traded funds (ETFs) finished up in the double digits. But one good day doesn’t mean we’re out of the slump yet. It’s still time to take... Continue Reading »

Commodities ETFs Could Make for a Delicious Portfolio Recipe
March 11, 2008 – When you think of your exchange traded fund (ETF) portfolio as a recipe that calls for various ingredients, things can take on a new meaning. To give a recipe a twist, sometimes there’s the "secret... 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 »

ETF Investors Dig for Platinum, Gold and Silver
March 5, 2008 – Yes, investors are flocking to gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) as the dollar weakens. Case in point is streetTRACKS Gold Shares (GLD): after gold surged to a record $992 an ounce earlier this week, the... Continue Reading »

Nickel and ETN Are Part of the Commodities Bull
March 4, 2008 – The falling dollar has investors scurrying for cover under exchange traded funds (ETFs) representing gold, silver and…nickel? There’s no nickel ETF, but there is an exchange traded note (ETN): the iPath Dow Jones AIG Nickel TR... Continue Reading »

Metals and Mining ETF Spikes With Gold Prices
March 3, 2008 – Oil isn’t the only commodity giving a helping hand to certain exchange traded funds (ETFs). Gold isn’t looking to shabby these days, either. The Market Vectors Gold Miners (GDX) surged to its highest level since its... Continue Reading »

Construction, Manufacturing Numbers and ETFs Head Lower
March 3, 2008 – Manufacturing and construction numbers came in, giving related exchange traded funds (ETFs) a punch to the gut in intraday trading. U.S. manufacturing activity dropped in February to its lowest point in nearly five years, reports Madlen... Continue Reading »

Silver Benefits from the Commodities and Resources Boom
February 26, 2008 – Silver is making headlines and polishing up exchange traded funds (ETFs) that hold the metal. Both PowerShares DB Silver (DBS) and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) were up more than 2% in midday trading. Year-to-date, they’re... Continue Reading »

Brazil Is Tranquil Amid US Turmoil; ETF Stays Solid
February 26, 2008 – Brazil remains confident and poised, convinced that a U.S. recession will not affect neither the thriving domestic markets nor its related exchange traded fund(ETF). President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva said they are well-prepared to... Continue Reading »

Latin America ETFs Have Stability and Growth to Their Name
February 21, 2008 – We’re only six weeks into the year, and the U.S. markets and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) have gotten off to a slow start. The domestic markets are down anywhere from 7-12%. But emerging... Continue Reading »

Malaysia ETF Looks Like a Port in a Storm
February 20, 2008 – Little Malaysia is full of big surprises, as evidenced by their single country-focused exchange traded fund (ETF). iShares Malaysia ETF (EWM) has shown strong performance to date and the small country is ranked the... Continue Reading »

Metal and Mining ETFs Are So Bright, You Have to Wear Shades
February 20, 2008 – Metal and mining exchange traded funds (ETFs) continue to get a rise from a slowing dollar here and continued power outages in South Africa. Yesterday, the SPDR S&P Metals and Mining (XME) jumped to a... 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 »

Materials ETF Moves to Highest Level in Four Weeks
February 15, 2008 – The materials exchange traded fund (ETF) is starting to materialize after Monsanto (MON) lifted its 2008 profits forecast. Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) rallied to its highest level in four weeks, reports Wangfeng Zhou... Continue Reading »

Commodities ETF Growing Like Wheat
February 11, 2008 – The price of wheat leaped to a record high, taking a commodity exchange traded fund (ETF) to greater heights along with it. On Friday, the Agriculture Department forecast that supplies will drop 40% from last... Continue Reading »

Precious Metals And ETFs Reaching Historic Highs
February 11, 2008 – Precious metals and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) are making all-time records right now. Platinum hit a new record high of $1,850 an ounce Thursday. Investors were drawn to the metal after the concerns... Continue Reading »

South Africa’s Blackouts Dim ETF
February 1, 2008 – The blackouts in South Africa might be good for the price of gold, platinum and diamonds, but it’s wreaking havoc across other sectors and in the country’s exchange traded fund (ETF). Since late last... Continue Reading »

The ETF Gold Rush Of 2008
January 31, 2008 – Yee-haw! There is a new gold rush occurring right now as investors are running to gold-focused exchange traded funds (ETFs) and gold shares. E.S. Browning for The Wall Street Journal reports that since mid-August,... Continue Reading »

Chile ETF Warms Up This Week
January 31, 2008 – One of the top-performing exchange traded funds (ETFs) over the last week might come as a surprise after all the talk about short ETFs amid market turmoil. It’s the iShares MSCI Chile (ECH), launched in... Continue Reading »

Gold Stock, or ETF?
January 30, 2008 – What is an investor to do when he or she wants a gold miner’s exchange traded fund (ETF) without all the attendant risks? That was the dilemma facing Trader Mark at Seeking Alpha. In the wake... Continue Reading »

Silver ETF Takes A New Shine
January 28, 2008 – Silver has long been in the shadow of its golden counterpart, and focused exchange traded funds (ETFs) mirror that from 2006. Last year, gold finished up 28% while silver added 18%. That was after... Continue Reading »

Bear’s Giant Claw Hits Utilities ETFs
January 25, 2008 – Exchange traded fund (ETF) investors, naturally, are looking to shield themselves from the roar of the bear. Most defensive hideouts are not safe, as even utility exchange traded funds (ETFs) are reeling. Joanne Von... Continue Reading »

Amex Lists Commodity Index With ETFs To Follow
January 25, 2008 – The American Stock Exchange announced they have launched trading in the Greenhaven Continuous Commodity Index Fund (GCC), as the company enters into the exchange traded fund (ETF) community. GCC tracks the performance of the Continuous... Continue Reading »

Overseas ETFs Suffer With U.S.
January 24, 2008 – The U.S. recession fears are touching down on all parts of the globe, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) suffered along with world markets. Trang Ho for Investor’s Business Daily  reports that similar to the... 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 »

Materials ETF Sees Shift
January 17, 2008 – A sell-off of shares in Monsanto (MON) caused the Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) exchange traded fund (ETF) to drop to its lowest level in nearly five months. Monsanto is XLB’s largest component at... Continue Reading »

Price of Gold Drops Amid Selling of ETF’s Shares
January 17, 2008 – streetTRACKS might be calling off the hunt for more storage space for all the gold after the redemptions of its exchange traded fund (ETF) this week. streetTRACKS Gold Shares (GLD) had redemptions of 21.51 tons... Continue Reading »

Agriculture ETF Ripe For The Picking
January 10, 2008 – It’s time to get back to your grassroots with commodities exchange traded funds (ETFs). Rob Carrick for the Toronto Globe and Mail explains that energy and metals stocks have produced soaring numbers over the... Continue Reading »

Chilean ETF Gives Copper Exposure
January 8, 2008 – Chile is a quiet and lesser-known emerging market, but its exchange traded fund (ETF) is providing some valuable opportunities. The iShares MSCI Chile Index Fund (ECH) in particular exposes investors to copper, a commodity that... Continue Reading »

Following Trends With ETFs
January 8, 2008 – The exchange traded fund (ETF) winner’s circle for 2008 has been assembled and examined by many. Jonathon Burton for MarketWatch on Fox Business reports that Will Danoff, manager of Fidelity Contrafund, and Bill Gross,... Continue Reading »

2007’s Top ETF Performers
December 31, 2007 – After all of the global expansion we saw throughout 2007, it’s no big surprise that exchange traded funds (ETFs) tapping into those markets remained the strongest performers. (more…) Continue Reading »

ETFs Could Reap Rewards of Global Construction Demand
December 29, 2007 – The need for investment in infrastructure projects abroad could drive growth in construction and engineering related exchange traded funds (ETFs). David Bogoslaw at BusinessWeek points out that the economic growth in China and India has... Continue Reading »

Steel ETF Shows Its Strength
December 12, 2007 – Which exchange traded fund (ETF) is the top performer year to date? Go on…guess. Give up? It’s Van Eck Market Vectors Steel (SLX), which is up 84.5%. After the Federal Reserve’s rate cut on Tuesday,... Continue Reading »

Of Cargo Ships and ETFs
October 25, 2007 – Some exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be affected as the world’s fleet of cargo ships grow old. That’s because as the world’s fleet of cargo ships age, they can’t carry the surging demand for... Continue Reading »

Watch the SPDRs ETFs Grow
October 19, 2007 – The Select Sector SPDRs exchange traded funds (ETFs) cover broad, general sectors of the market. Billions of dollars move into and out of those funds each week. A total of nearly $21.8 billion was... 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 »

Industrial ETF (XLI) Gets a Helping Hand from General Electric
October 11, 2007 – One exchange traded fund (ETF) that has been a strong performer lately is the Industrial Select Sector SPDR (XLI). In fact, it recently hit a new high and is currently up 19.5% year-to-date. General Electric’s... Continue Reading »

Building and Construction ETF Builds Itself Up
September 20, 2007 – Although new home construction is at an all-time low, the same can’t be said for commercial building construction and the exchange traded fund (ETF) that follows the sector. The PowerShares Dynamic Building & Construction... Continue Reading »

Beware of Overlapping ETFs
September 17, 2007 – Investing in international exchange traded funds (ETFs) is an excellent way to diversify a portfolio as well as jump on some countries that are trending upward. (Did someone say China?) Remember: In today’s world,... Continue Reading »

Natural Resources and Commodities ETFs on the Rise
September 4, 2007 – Natural resources and commodities exchange traded funds (ETFs) have been showing strong recoveries since the market low on Aug. 15. Below are a few examples: Market Vectors Steel ETF (SLX)SLX is up the most at... Continue Reading »

Emerging-market and Materials ETFs Recover Faster than the Market
August 24, 2007 – As the markets experienced severe volatility the last few weeks, emerging-market and materials exchange traded funds (ETFs) have suffered worse than most. A couple of examples include the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index (EEM)... 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 »

Back to Basics: Basic Material ETFs Build Up
July 10, 2007 – The latest numbers suggest that the economy, manufacturing sector (basic materials) and exchanged traded funds (ETFs) that track them are on a rebound. Trang Ho for Investor’s Business Daily reports that export growth continued... Continue Reading »