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 »

ETFs Give Investors Choices In Any Climate
November 1, 2008 – Exchange traded fund (ETF) investors can play defense with their fund choices by focusing on areas of the market that hold up better in a downturn than other sectors. Many market analysts believe we are in... 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 »

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 »

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 »

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 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 »

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 »

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 »

Consumers, Real Estate ETFs Looking Up
July 29, 2008 – Home prices are down and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are up. The Case-Shiller index of 20 cities in the United States fell 15.8% in May compared with a year ago, a record decline since its 2000... Continue Reading »

Kraft’s Earnings Could Fuel Consumer Staples ETFs
July 28, 2008 – The fond memories you have for your college diet might deliver an energy boost to consumer staples exchange traded funds (ETFs). Kraft Foods (KFT) reported its second-quarter earnings, which rose 4%, reports Emily Fredrix for the... Continue Reading »

Earnings Around the Markets Boost Energy, Food ETFs
July 23, 2008 – Glug, glug, glug. That’s the sound of Pepsi’s second-quarter profit rising, which has bubbled up the food and beverage exchange traded fund (ETF). PepsiCo (PEP) reported a 9% jump in profits in the most recent quarter,... Continue Reading »

Wal-Mart Supplier ETF Getting Boost From Slow Economy?
July 21, 2008 – One of the areas that has demonstrated strength during this economic downturn is consumer spending on necessities, which might be benefiting the Wal-Mart supplier exchange traded fund (ETF). Any strength shown among consumer spending in recent... Continue Reading »

Retail Sales Lift ETFs In June, But It’s Not Frivolous Spending
July 10, 2008 – If you took that rebate check and went shopping, give yourself a hearty pat on the back, because you just might have helped some retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) in June. Retail sales overall rose 4.3%,... Continue Reading »