Utility Sector ETFs Are Plentiful, But They’re In Need of a Jolt
August 25, 2008 – Utility sector exchange traded funds (ETFs) are often looked to for an element of predictability, but JP Morgan has misjudged this sector with regard to US electric utilities. In recent article, Jonathan Bernstein of ETFZone put... Continue Reading »

Water ETFs: Is Water the Next Oil or an Infrastructure Play?
August 10, 2008 – As water-related investing gets more and more attention, exchange traded funds (ETFs) are looking to get a piece of this $400 billion global industry. With many media reports treating water as a scarce natural resource in... Continue Reading »

Utility ETFs Could Get a Jolt If Positive Earnings Continue
August 6, 2008 – Duke Energy Corp. (DUK) reported profits that have the potential to light up utilities exchange traded funds (ETFs). Second-quarter profits rose 20% after the price in electricity has gone up, in the Southeast and Midwestern United... 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 »

As Power Industry Gets Facelift, Perhaps Utility ETFs Might As Well
July 10, 2008 – The United States has an aging power grid, and efforts to bring it into modern times could benefit utility exchange traded funds (ETFs). The target is for electric power providers to spend $17 billion on upgrades... 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 »

S&P Jumps On The Asian Bandwagon
June 19, 2008 – Asia has been one of the most popular areas for exchange traded fund (ETF) investors to gain some international exposure. So, why not provide indexes that focus on specific portions of the region? Standard &... 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 »

ETFs Are Hoping to Start Blowin’ In the Wind
June 11, 2008 – As an exchange traded fund (ETF) investor, do you need a weather man to know which way the wind blows? PowerShares and First Trust Advisors don’t think so. They have recently filed with the... Continue Reading »

Water ETFs a Way to Capitalize on Shortage of Resource
May 31, 2008 – Talk about the global water shortage mixed with major companies talking of combating a water crisis has exchange traded funds (ETFs) focused on H2O flowing. Recent news of General Electric (GE) and Pentair (PNR) agreeing... 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 »

More Costly Natural Gas and Electricity Could Burn Cash, But Help ETFs
May 13, 2008 – Get ready for a spike in electricity costs - it might hurt wallets more, but it could at least benefit exchange traded funds (ETFs). California State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore says in Red County that if you... Continue Reading »

Talks Between Two European Utilities Might Affect Global ETF
May 12, 2008 – European utilities may be on some investors minds, as the biggest power producer in Europe gets ready to offer a takeover, lighting up related exchange traded funds (ETFs). Electricite de France S.A., the biggest... Continue Reading »

If Investment Remains Solid, Infrastructure ETFs Could Gather Strength
April 15, 2008 – An exchange traded fund (ETF) can be a better proxy for a sector than a single stock. It takes the guesswork right out of investing. Diversification is another element that is added when using... Continue Reading »

Utility ETFs Can Have a Home In Long-Term Portfolios
April 3, 2008 – The utility sector is represented by a few exchange traded funds (ETFs), and in volatile markets, they’ve acted as a good hideout spot. Over the last five years, utility ETFs such as the iShares Dow... Continue Reading »

ETF Tracking Error Is Sometimes a Necessary Evil
March 26, 2008 – Logically, exchange traded funds (ETFs) should have minimal tracking error. That’s because they track an index, and in theory, if the index zigs, so does the ETF - and vice versa. It’s not always... Continue Reading »

Clean Energy ETF Will Bask In Solar Power
February 19, 2008 – Clean energy exchange traded funds (ETFs) may see sunny days as First Solar Inc. (FSLR) got a thumbs up for revenue increases from analysts. Analysts raised their estimates for the solar panel maker, saying... Continue Reading »

Utilities Investing With ETFs
February 6, 2008 – Public utilities offer value, profit and reliability when the market is at its worst, and so can the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track them. However, Del Thiessen for Seeking Alpha cautions that they’re... 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 »

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 »

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 »

Coal ETF Mines the Opportunities
January 24, 2008 – Last week, a new exchange traded fund (ETF) covering a commodity that had many asking, "Wait, wasn’t there one for that already?" began trading on the American Stock Exchange. Market Vectors Coal (KOL), as you... 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 »

Economic News Rattles Nerves and ETFs
January 16, 2008 – The hits just keep on coming for the economy and exchange traded funds (ETFs). The Labor Department announced this morning that the rate of inflation was up by its largest amount in 17 years in... Continue Reading »

Select Sector SPDRs Assets Grow in 2007
January 13, 2008 – A family of exchange traded funds (ETFs) grew larger in 2007, money-wise. Select Sector SPDRs’ assets climbed $8.87 billion, or 51.95%, reports the Centre Daily Times. In terms of sectors, the Select Sector SPDRs Financials... Continue Reading »

Utilities ETFs: The Lights Are On
January 11, 2008 – Historians and investors are about as split as economists as to which way the market will go, but there are exchange traded funds (ETFs) that most can seem to agree on. No matter what 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 »

Energy Bill’s Reach Could Go Beyond Related ETFs
December 20, 2007 – President Bush’s signing of an energy bill will have implications beyond our fuel consumption and oil-related exchange traded funds (ETFs). The law calls for an increase in vehicle fuel efficiency standards, more use of biofuels, such... Continue Reading »

Utility ETFs Prove Utilitarian
December 13, 2007 – Utilities exchange traded funds (ETFs) don’t conjure up images of glamour, but they do have staying power and tend to be more recession-proof than other sectors. They are considered the most stable performers during... Continue Reading »

Hiding Out With Utility ETFs
December 3, 2007 – All investment tools have strengths and weaknesses and exchange traded funds (ETFs) just happen to benefit the utilities sector. While one type of product may perform well for an area, another can be ill-suited. ... Continue Reading »

Market and ETF Facts to Consider
November 30, 2007 – There’s a lot going on in the markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs).  Matt Hougan for Index Universe looks at 10 interesting market facts and we’ve added some ETF related information. The U.S. stock market... Continue Reading »

Global Utilities Give ETF Portfolios A Jolt
November 20, 2007 – Do you feel like your exchange traded fund (ETF) portfolio could use a jolt of energy? Lackluster earnings in other sectors have been zapped by weak earnings growth, the credit crunch and concerns about... 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 »

Why It Can Pay for ETF Investors to Watch the Weather
October 3, 2007 – Although it might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of investment tools, the weather can be a factor in some exchange traded funds’ (ETFs) performance. For example, wheat prices... Continue Reading »

Power Demand and Emerging Market ETFs
September 17, 2007 – Could exchange traded funds (ETFs) be a solution to the problem of power shortages within emerging-market countries? Reinhardt Krause for Investor’s Business Daily says power demand grows quicker than the economies of some emerging-market... Continue Reading »

How Utility ETFs Could Benefit Your Portfolio
September 15, 2007 – Utility exchange traded funds (ETFs) are one option for diversification in an investor’s portfolio. There is also the added benefit of diversification within the sector in areas such as electric utilities, natural gas, and... 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 »

Bridging Your Investments to Infrastructure Through ETFs
August 10, 2007 – No single exchange traded fund (ETF) exists that is a pure play on infrastructure. Last week’s disaster of the Minneapolis bridge collapse brings to mind how much repair and money is needed to alleviate... Continue Reading »

Utility ETFs Get Zapped
August 2, 2007 – It’s no secret that utility exchange traded funds (ETFs) have taken a beating over the last quarter. However, they do have some important benefits. The utilities sector has generally yielded great long-term returns. They... Continue Reading »

Utilitiy ETFs Stands Out
April 2, 2007 – The utilities exchange traded funds (ETFs) were one of the top performing sectors for the first quarter. Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) was up 8.4%.  PowerShares Dynamic Utilities (PUI) gained 6.6% in the quarter... Continue Reading »

ETFs Under Pressure
March 15, 2007 – During the recent market correction, two sectors and the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track them, fared well. Simultaneously, investors were looking for safety and energy prices were rising. Energy ETFs handled the stress... Continue Reading »

Utility ETFs Are An Option
March 7, 2007 – Many investors are seeking exchange traded funds (ETFs) in safety stable sectors such as utilities.  Utilities are often used during corrections because they tend to be less volatile in comparison with the rest of... Continue Reading »

GII ETF A Utility Fund?
February 7, 2007 – State Street recently launched an exchange traded fund (ETF) tracking infrastructure, the SPDR/FTSE Macquarie Global Infrastructure 100 (GII).  Roger Nusbaum in TheStreet.com analyzed the fund and questions whether the ETF is an infrastructure or... Continue Reading »

ETFs And Global Warming
January 27, 2007 – Should exchange traded fund (ETF) investors consider global warming an economic issue? The economic impact of global warming could only be decades away, with increased public awareness and a newly settled Democratic congress in... Continue Reading »

Utility ETFs Moving
October 25, 2006 – Why have utilities been moving and nobody is paying attention?  The utilities have been one of the best performing exchange traded funds.  As this sector tends to be overlooked, "our utilities are unsung but... Continue Reading »

Utility ETF (UTH) Can Electrify Your Portfolio
August 22, 2006 – With the economy slowing down, an increasing number of investors are putting their money into utility stocks due to their stable earnings & high dividend yields. Click here to see the strength in utility... Continue Reading »

Utility ETF (XLU)
July 20, 2006 – The utility stocks are usually viewed as boring and conservative and known for their consistent profit growth.  Lately the industry has been going through consolidation and the stocks have been performing.  Utilities tend to... Continue Reading »

Utilities ETFs Lead the Pack in 2005
September 7, 2005 – Typically known to be boring and conservative, utilities stocks have been on fire this year. Eclectric energy, nuclear energy and natural gas continue to offer logical alternatives to global oil demand. Utility based ETFs offer... Continue Reading »