Can Retail ETFs Dodge Holiday Carnage?
December 4, 2008 – Retail sales in November hobbled alongside the sector’s related exchange traded funds (ETFs). Only Wal-Mart (WMT) seems to have been spared the carnage. November was the weakest retail month since at least 1969, and contributed to... Continue Reading »

Don’t Get Sucked Into Retail, ETF Rally
December 1, 2008 – If you take the early numbers from this weekend at face value, the makings for decent holiday shopping season for retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) are in the works. But should investors really buy into the idea that... Continue Reading »

We’re In a Recession. Now What?
December 1, 2008 – Exchange traded fund (ETF) and other investors won’t like this: the National Bureau of Economic Research confirmed today that the United States entered a recession one year ago. Most Americans have already believed this about the... Continue Reading »

Black Friday Has Silver Lining For ETFs & Shoppers
November 28, 2008 – Black Friday is just around the corner, and retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) are holding their breath. Penni Crabtree for San Diego Union Tribune reports that distressed retailers are already rapidly discounting prices before the official... Continue Reading »

Three Reasons ETF Investors Could Be Grateful
November 27, 2008 – The financial meltdown may have many feeling bitter, but exchange traded fund (ETF) investors know that there are many things to be thankful for. James B. Stewart for SmartMoney explains a few things that we should... Continue Reading »

Retail ETFs Could Get a Lump Of Coal
November 26, 2008 – Retailers feel like they’ve gotten a lump of coal in their stockings, even before the totals are in and exchange traded funds (ETFs) have had a chance to soak in any possible gains. Christina Cheddar Berk... Continue Reading »

CNBC’s ETF: Read All About It
November 26, 2008 – Northern Trust is adding to their lineup despite the market tumult, with a new member for their NETS exchange traded fund (ETF) family. NYSE Euronext has listed the NETS FTSE CNBC Global 300 Index Fund... Continue Reading »

Country’s Vital Signs Don’t Bode Well for ETFs
November 26, 2008 – The numbers aren’t giving real estate sales and exchange traded funds (ETFs) a break anytime soon, as sales of new homes in October are the lowest in 18 years. Slow sales are just the beginning. Home... Continue Reading »

SAG Strike’s ETF Impact Is Up In the Air
November 25, 2008 – The failure of attempts to negotiate contracts between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Hollywood studios may stir up a strike and be detrimental to entertainment and media related exchange traded funds (ETFs). These feuds seem to be... Continue Reading »

There’s a Ways to Go Before Retail ETFs Trendy Again
November 25, 2008 – November has presented many reasons for rising consumer confidence, as gas prices have been sliding and retail opportunities are abundant, but is it enough to stave off a recession and solidify Wall Street and exchange... Continue Reading »

Tom Lydon Talks Gold, Short Retail ETFs
November 24, 2008 – Tom Lydon appeared on Fox Business Network earlier today to talk about gold and short consumer service exchange traded funds (ETFs). Continue Reading »

Download Savings for Retail ETFs
November 20, 2008 – Online retailers are increasingly becoming the shopping destination of choice, and an all-out price war could help retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) this holiday season. Malls and department stores are empty, and to compete for customers’... Continue Reading »

Can Fundamental Indexes, ETFs Calm a Bear? It Depends
November 20, 2008 – Is there anything an exchange traded fund (ETF) investor can do in a down market such as this besides grin and bear it? Investment strategies such as stock picking and bond investing are all in the... Continue Reading »

ETFs May Benefit from Retailers’ Desperate Measures
November 19, 2008 – In an attempt to gain momentum and show some sign of hope, retailers are offering huge discounts allowing shoppers to get great bargains.  One could only wonder if stocks, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and other securities are mimicking... Continue Reading »

Homebuilders ETFs Can’t Build Up
November 17, 2008 – Slow consumer spending has gotten the best of Lowe’s (LOW) and homebuilder exchange traded funds (ETFs) as third quarter profits fell 24%. Nevertheless these ho-hum figures are better than Wall Street’s expectations. It is obvious many consumers... Continue Reading »

Fast Food Restructure Could Add Value to ETFs
November 14, 2008 – We’re living in lean times in which everyone is scaling back and rethinking their old strategies; food and beverage exchange traded fund (ETF) components are no exception. YUM Brands (YUM), which operates KFC, Taco Bell and... Continue Reading »

Eurozone Recession Undermines Oil’s Slip, ETFs
November 14, 2008 – October was a record month for sagging retail sales, proving further that consumers are tightening up their wallets, and not adding to a domestic economic boost for Wall Street or exchange traded funds(ETFs). The decline in auto... Continue Reading »

Big Banks in ETFs Say Bailout Won’t Go to Salaries
November 13, 2008 – As major components of financial exchange traded funds (ETFs), there was a lot of concern in the investment community and the country at large about how banks would be using their bailout funds. Executives for some... Continue Reading »

Lack of Gift Card Enthusiasm Could Spread to ETFs
November 12, 2008 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be hurting for the holidays, and gift cards might be the victim. As more retailers go bankrupt, many consumers could be left holding the bag in the form of unspent... Continue Reading »

Bad Assets Bum Out ETFs
November 12, 2008 – Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced the government will not buy bank’s toxic mortgage assets after all, sending dismay to investors and Wall Street, which negatively affected exchange traded funds (ETFs). Much of Wall Street was excited about... Continue Reading »

Golden Arches Shine, But Food ETF Still Hungry
November 10, 2008 – McDonald’s (MCD) Dollar Menu must be appealing in tight times, but the food and beverage exchange traded fund (ETF) does seem to be eating it up. The world’s largest purveyor of fast food reported that same-store sales... Continue Reading »

Retailer, ETF Optimism Might Not Shrug Off Holiday Blahs
November 7, 2008 – While retailers in general are anticipating flagging sales reports, online shopping is expected to grow, up to a 15% increase from last year, giving relief to certain retail exchange traded funds (ETFs). However, the number... Continue Reading »

ETFs Reversing Two Bad Days Amid Gloomy Reports
November 7, 2008 – Two days of losses in the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are showing signs of reversal midday as bargain-hunters storm the house. The attraction of low stock prices has investors’ attention. A worse-than-expected unemployment report... Continue Reading »

History Not on Side of Consumer Staples ETFs
November 6, 2008 – Exchange traded fund (ETF) investors have had small fortunes ravaged by the bear, sometimes seemingly overnight. The fear that surfaces in volatile markets usually drives an investor to make an emotionally charged decision, selling stocks... Continue Reading »

Consumer Staples ETFs Outperform, But Still Are Down
November 4, 2008 – Despite a recession, financial pros are touting the consumer staples portfolios and exchange traded funds (ETFs) as good performers during the next few months. This year so far, some of the better performers are those funds... Continue Reading »

American Consumer Slowdown Impedes Retail ETFs
October 31, 2008 – Spender’s remorse has set in and retail-related exchange traded funds (ETFs) are showing the aftermath of a less enthusiastic buyer. The most recent figures show that the American economy has shrunk by an annualized rate 0.3%... Continue Reading »

Consumers, ETFs Hurt While Oil, Gas Companies Win
October 31, 2008 – While the markets have seemed relatively calm in recent days, consumer confidence has taken a wallop. In October, it suffered its sharpest monthly drop on record, reports Chris Reese for Reuters. The reading plunged from 70.3... Continue Reading »

Consumer Spending Shrinks Economy, ETFs In Third Quarter
October 30, 2008 – Consumers are scaling back more than they have in decades, and it’s having a ripple effect on exchange traded funds (ETFs) and the economy’s gross domestic product. GDP shrank in the third quarter by 0.3%, the... Continue Reading »

Consumer Staples ETF Could Be Hit By Slower Food Spending
October 28, 2008 – The consumer staples sector has typically been considered a defensive play in a down economy, but what’s an exchange traded fund (ETF) to do when families start cutting back on food, of all things? According to... Continue Reading »

Retail ETFs Pessimistic After Report, But Wall Street Prevails
October 28, 2008 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) are lower in early trading on reports that consumer confidence is at its lowest point on record this month. The consumer confidence index plunged to 38, down from 61.4 in September... Continue Reading »

Earnings Reports Fire Up ETF Investors’ Nerves
October 22, 2008 – Wall Street and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are feeling woozy this morning after a slew of less-than-stellar earnings reports. Now that credit markets are improving, the focus is turning to the corporate earnings that have... Continue Reading »

Retail ETFs Might Suffer From Inventory Declines
October 20, 2008 – It’s a vicious circle that might have retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) squarely in the center: retailers are scaling back inventory because the shoppers aren’t there, but the shoppers can’t find what they need, so... Continue Reading »

Consumers’ Mood, Homebuilder ETFs Continue to Suffer
October 17, 2008 – Home construction exchange traded funds (ETFs) are down this morning after a report showed the production is at its slowest pace in 17 years. The 6.3% plunge was much larger than expected, reports Martin Crutsinger for... Continue Reading »

Surprise Factory Order Drop Hurts Industrial ETFs
October 16, 2008 – A sharper-than-expected drop in factory activity had markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) sinking lower this morning. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank said business activity unexpectedly fell to -37.5 in October, from 3.8 in September, reports... Continue Reading »

Commodity ETFs Go for a Ride
October 15, 2008 – The commodities market has done a complete 180, and the market for the bare ingredients that make the world turn have fallen, taking related stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) on a downward slide. The commodity... Continue Reading »

Retail Sales Leave ETFs With an Empty Cart
October 15, 2008 – Retail sales in September continued to show that consumers aren’t ready to splurge, and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) aren’t ready to perform. The 1.2% drop in sales was even worse than expected, and was the... Continue Reading »

Restaurants Struggling, ETFs Put Down the Fork
October 15, 2008 – The restaurant malaise that began around two years ago has begun to intensify as the financial turmoil has affected the number of sit-down diners, leaving entertainment and leisure exchange traded funds (ETFs) to starve. Janet Adamy... Continue Reading »

Hollywood, ETFs May Not Be As Bullish As They Seem
October 13, 2008 – Extra! Extra! Read all about Hollywood’s declining recession-proof reputation, threatening to dim the lights on entertainment and media exchange traded funds (ETFs). Despite a global credit crunch, financial institutions going under and jobs being lost, one... Continue Reading »

Bank Ownership Could Help Financials, ETFs
October 9, 2008 – As markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) continue another day of see-sawing, the Bush administration says it’s considering an ownership stake in some U.S. banks as another tool to deal with the global credit crisis. No... Continue Reading »

Retail Sales Point to Slow ETFs and Holiday Sales
October 8, 2008 – The sharp slowdown in retail sales don’t bode well for this holiday season or related exchange traded funds (ETFs). The September numbers are in, and few companies are immune from the slowdown - including bargain retailers.... Continue Reading »

A ‘Poor’ Feeling Hits Retail ETFs
October 7, 2008 – During tough economic times consumers usually pull back on their spending, and this market is no exception, as exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track consumerism have pulled back, leaving room only for necessities. Falling home values,... Continue Reading »

Food Industry’s Value Approach Could Feed ETFs
October 1, 2008 – As food prices soar, food companies are trying to steer consumers toward cheaper, high-margin products, in hopes of raising profits and delivering a nice side effect to related exchange traded funds (ETFs). The latest advertising strategy... Continue Reading »

Consumer, Real Estate News Affects ETFs Differently
September 30, 2008 – Retail and real estate-focused exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be affected by the latest round of good news/bad news from their respective sectors. Consumer confidence in September actually made some slight gains to hit their highest... Continue Reading »

Retail ETFs Rose In August Despite Flat Spending
September 29, 2008 – Consumer spending became even weaker in August as back-to-school shopping failed to deliver a boost to the sector, even though retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) managed small gains for the month. Spending was the weakest it’s... Continue Reading »

Germany, ETFs Feel Punch of Credit Crisis
September 26, 2008 – After a four-month slide, German consumer confidence is picking up again - but it might not be enough to help the country’s related exchange traded funds (ETFs). A forward-looking consumer climate forecast rose to 1.8% for... Continue Reading »

Bargain Hunters Descend on Hard-Hit ETF Sectors
September 25, 2008 – Many investors are holding off for a market turnaround before they get back in to exchange traded funds (ETFs) and assorted other securities. But some Wall Street players are already looking around to be the first... Continue Reading »

Holiday Season May Not Be Merry for Retail ETFs
September 24, 2008 – This holiday season may not have retailers decking the halls, as most consumers are facing a thinning wallet, leaving exchange traded funds (ETFs) to follow. U.S. retailers are expected to post the smallest holiday gains in... Continue Reading »

Consumer ETFs Stalwarts Amid Financial Crisis
September 16, 2008 – Consumer prices fell in August after months of rampant inflation, which in turn benefited retail exchange traded funds (ETFs). The Consumer Price Index fell 0.1% from last month, preceded by two months of increases: 0.8% in... Continue Reading »

Fed Holds Rates Steady - Where Do ETFs Go From Here?
September 16, 2008 – The Federal Reserve kept interest rates the same, leaving many to wonder what the implications are going to be for the broader markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The decision keeps the interbank overnight federal funds... Continue Reading »

Consumer Mood Lifts ETFs, Retail Numbers Take Them Lower
September 12, 2008 – The mood of consumers has risen to an eight-month high this month, and the performance of retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) are reflecting the lighter mood. The jump in the confidence index was unexpected, and it... Continue Reading »

There Are ETFs You Can Use to Hide From the Bear
September 11, 2008 – The markets are ugly, and many exchange traded funds (ETFs) are reflecting that. But as we always say, even as some areas are down, there are other areas that are performing well. You just have... Continue Reading »

SPA ETF Rebalances Higher In Energy, Lower in Financials
September 8, 2008 – The underlying index of the SPA Market Grader 100 (SIH) exchange traded fund (ETF) just got its semi-annual rebalance. The index is going marginally heavier in energy (from 23% to 25%) and lower in its... Continue Reading »

School Not Off to a Peachy Start for Retailers, ETFs
September 4, 2008 – Glum economic news sent the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) lower in trading, especially in the retail sector. It’s the time of year for back-to-school shopping, but retailers’ numbers seemed to show that many kids... Continue Reading »

Tom Lydon Talks Regional Banks, Retail ETFs on Fox Business
September 3, 2008 – Tom Lydon appeared on Fox Business Network today to discuss the automobile industry, regional banks, and retail exchange traded funds (ETFs). Video of Tom’s segment appears below: Continue Reading »

ETFs Could Deck the Halls With Strong Retail Numbers for Discounters
September 3, 2008 – Is the Ghost of Christmas Future trying to tell us that exchange traded funds (ETFs) could benefit from bargain-hunting this holiday season? The economy is not out of the doldrums yet, to be sure. While prices... Continue Reading »

ETF Selecting Doesn’t Have To Be Like A Box Of Chocolates
September 3, 2008 – When it comes to selecting your exchange traded fund (ETF), it doesn’t have to be like a box of chocolates. Unlike Forrest Gump, investors do not have to choose an ETF and never know what they... Continue Reading »

We’re All Cheap In Our Own Ways; ETFs Are Affected the Same
August 31, 2008 – Across the globe, consumers are feeling the financial burden of higher food prices and the growing cost of fuel, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) will be affected. However, as all people are trying to... Continue Reading »

Consumer ETFs Watch Personal Income Data
August 29, 2008 – A drop in personal incomes has investors wondering about consumers and the impact on exchange traded funds (ETFs). Personal incomes fell by 0.7% in July, the largest amount in nearly three years, reports Tim Paradis for the Associated... Continue Reading »

GDP Up, Joblessness Down, But While ETFs Might Rebound, Make Sure It Sticks
August 28, 2008 – Stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) received a breath of fresh air today after it was announced that the U.S. economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter. Economists had called for a 2.7% growth... Continue Reading »

Falling Gas Prices Make Consumers and Retail ETFs Happy
August 26, 2008 – What do you know? Falling gas prices this month lifted the collective mood of consumers and exchange traded funds (ETFs). It’s had quite an effect, too: the increase in confidence is the biggest in two years,... Continue Reading »

Inflation, Housing Numbers Show ETFs, Markets Still In the Thick Of It
August 19, 2008 – Life is getting more expensive these days, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) could reflect it. Wholesale prices are shooting up at their fastest clip since 1981. Inflation surged 1.2% in July, more than twice what had... Continue Reading »

ETFs Higher With Consumers Mood
August 15, 2008 – The slowing of commodity prices eased cost pressures on households, companies and helped the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs).  According to the Reuters/University of Michigan survey, consumers’ sentiment improved slightly in August.  Timothy R.  Homan and... Continue Reading »

Wal-Mart Seeks Expansion In Brazil, Taking ETF Shopping
August 14, 2008 – It could be a win-win situation for both Brazil and exchange traded funds (ETFs) that hold Wal-Mart as a top component. Wal-Mart (WMT) is looking to expand in Brazil, where they are the third-largest retailer, in... Continue Reading »

India and ETFs Are Benefiting From Action in the U.S.
August 14, 2008 – For the month of June, India’s production was up, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) focused on this rising country reaped the rewards of this growth. Before the higher interest rates and consumer spending crimp, factory output... Continue Reading »

Weak Auto Sales Weigh Down Retail Sector and ETFs
August 13, 2008 – The retail sector and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a little down in the dumps today after reports show that consumers are still getting squeezed by high fuel prices. Sales fell in July, and it was... Continue Reading »

Italian ETFs and Economy Stagnate
August 13, 2008 – When Italy comes to mind, images of Missoni and Dolce & Gabbana are conjured, but the economy and exchange traded fund (ETF) may not be doing quite as well as these artisans. During the second quarter,... Continue Reading »

Are Certain ETFs Overlooked for Good Reasons?
August 13, 2008 – As the global economy experiences worldwide economic slowdown, different exchange traded funds (ETFs) do not seem to be drawing to much attention to themselves. Gary Gordon of ETF Expert points out that certain ETFs that are... Continue Reading »

An Olympic-Sized Boost For China’s ETFs Don’t Appear to Be In the Offing
August 11, 2008 – An answer to the question of what the Olympics would mean to China and its exchange traded funds (ETFs) appears to be taking shape, and so far, it’s not a pleasant one. In fact, it... Continue Reading »

Lackluster Start to Back-To-School Season Hits Retail ETFs
August 7, 2008 – Those rebate checks are drying up, and the short-term boost retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) saw in the last month could be nearing its end as retailers report mixed results. The overall outlook for the back-to-school... Continue Reading »

Amid Growth, Australia and ETFs Hit Bumps
August 6, 2008 – Australian exchange traded funds (ETFs) might be rubbed the wrong way to hear that the household debt-to-income ratio there is at 177% - higher than that of the United States. Australians have been tapped out by... Continue Reading »