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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

ETFs, Markets Move Up on Federal Reserve’s Decision
August 5, 2008 – As expected, the Federal Reserve once again stood firm on the interest rate, while the markets and exchange traded funds seemed to like the news. The key interest rate remained unchanged at 2%, reports Martin Crutsinger... Continue Reading »

Oil Prices Put Pinch on Consumers, ETFs in June
August 4, 2008 – Rising prices in June smacked down consumer spending and related exchange traded funds (ETFs). Spending, after adjusted for inflation, fell as shoppers were hit by the biggest price increases in nearly three decades. Those prices are... Continue Reading »

Will Back-to-School ETFs Be As Great As Gatsby This Season?
July 25, 2008 – The ads are already infiltrating the newspapers and television commercials, and like Rodney Dangerfield, many U.S. families are gearing up to go back to school. Are retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) ready? Retailers are awaiting a... Continue Reading »

Retail ETFs Might Be About to Rock On Gas, Food Strength
July 15, 2008 – Retail sales and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) took a hit today as the June numbers came in. The 0.1% increase was weaker than analysts had expected, mostly because auto sales have plunged, reports Martin Crutsinger... Continue Reading »

Retail ETFs Affected By Teens “Dropping Out”
July 3, 2008 – American teenagers are the latest consumers that have had to cut back on frivolous spending, as gas prices are affecting parents’ spare change, affecting the retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) to an extent. Up until... Continue Reading »

AC/DC Comes to Wal-Mart With Open Arms, But Will ETFs Be Ready to Rock?
June 18, 2008 – Well, hell’s bells. AC/DC’s decision about where they’re going to sell their new album could wind up helping exchange traded funds (ETFs). That is, if enough people still care about them and enough people... Continue Reading »

That Shopping Spree Was Justified - It Helped Retail ETFs
June 12, 2008 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) are jumping for joy at the news of an unexpected gain. So, if you were feeling a little guilty about that splurge, just tell yourself it was for the greater... Continue Reading »

Retail ETFs Report in on Retail Sales Data
June 5, 2008 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) seem to like the sales reports that came out today. Retail sales data for the month of May came in strong, despite gas prices hitting consumer wallets and a... Continue Reading »

Some ETFs Might Be Up, But Consumers Are Feeling Down
May 30, 2008 – Feeling a little crabby lately, even though your commodity exchange traded funds (ETFs) are putting up decent numbers? You’re not alone: consumer sentiment is at a 28-year low. The reading for May was the lowest... Continue Reading »

Rising Gas, Food Prices Squeeze Consumers and ETFs
May 27, 2008 – If you’re feeling sad about the rising cost of living, you’re not alone - the pinch is being felt everywhere, from the gas pump to exchange traded funds (ETFs). Consumer confidence has sunk to... Continue Reading »

Wholesale Inflation Slows, But Numbers Could Still Affect ETFs
May 20, 2008 – Wholesale inflation slowed down some in April, which may ease a little of the pressure on the wallets and affect retail and consumer exchange traded funds (ETFs). The Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 0.2% in... Continue Reading »

Oil Prices, ETFs Resume Their Flight After Breather
May 16, 2008 – One day, oil prices and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) are down, the next day, they soar again. Today is no exception: oil jumped more than $3 a barrel and set a new record:... Continue Reading »

Home Sales and Retail Numbers Drop, But ETFs Trying to Keep Status Quo
May 13, 2008 – The markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs) appear to be mostly chewing on the news about retail and housing before they make any rash moves. The price of a single-family home dropped 7.7% in the first... Continue Reading »

Will ETFs Remember Mother’s Day When the Numbers Come Out?
May 11, 2008 – All those cards, flowers and assorted other gifts you picked up for your mom might benefit retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) when the numbers come out. You splurged, right? Some of you waited until the last... Continue Reading »

Consumer Spending, Earnings Numbers Drive Up Retail ETFs
May 1, 2008 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) are ringing ka-ching in midday trading after some earnings and consumer-related reports. Consumer spending rose in March, but only because there wasn’t much choice. Soaring prices for gas, food and... Continue Reading »

Your Rebate Check Could Stimulate ETFs
April 28, 2008 – Will exchange traded funds (ETFs) find the stimulus package stimulating? Tax rebates will start going out today, even earlier than reported, in the hopes that they will inject a shot in the arm into our... Continue Reading »

Retail Numbers Rise, ETFs Yawn
April 14, 2008 – Retail numbers were up slightly in March, which gave mixed results to related exchange traded funds (ETFs), but it’s not what you think. The 0.2% gain in sales primarily is the result of the higher... Continue Reading »

Wal-Mart Supplier ETF: A Haven In a Recession?
April 11, 2008 – Wal-Mart (WMT) seems to so far be benefiting from the tough economy, so how is the Wal-Mart supplier exchange traded fund (ETF) doing? Yesterday’s retail report, which delivered the weakest numbers in 13... Continue Reading »

Retail Sales Drop In March; ETFs Up Midday
April 10, 2008 – The retail sales picture didn’t change much last month, but exchange traded fund (ETF) investors don’t appear to be so discouraged. Despite retailers reporting the weakest March sales in 13 years, retail ETFs were up... Continue Reading »

Best Buy Posts Lower Earnings, Retail ETFs Take It Well
April 2, 2008 – Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY) announced that its fourth-quarter earnings fell 3%, but the news so far doesn’t appear to be hurting the retail exchange traded fund (ETF) too much. The company still managed to... Continue Reading »

Retail ETFs Are Shopping For Consumers
March 28, 2008 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) posted some losses this week. Where have all the shoppers gone? Retailer J.C. Penny (JCP) had a lowered outlook, reports Tomi Kilgore for Thomson Financial, with a bitter sentiment toward the... Continue Reading »

Financial and Real Estate Numbers Keep Markets, ETFs Busy
March 25, 2008 – A flurry of activity and reports on Wall Street today sent exchange traded funds (ETFs) moving in every direction. Financials took a hit on the news that Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. (MER) had its... Continue Reading »

Tiffany’s Good News Eases the Mean Reds In Retail ETFs
March 24, 2008 – Jewelry purveyor Tiffany & Co. (TIF) put up strong results on Monday, delivering a dose of positivity to retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) and the overall sector. It’s was sitting at 7-week highs this... Continue Reading »

Retail ETFs Jump As Investors, Like Shoppers, Look for Bargains
March 20, 2008 – Battered and bruised retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) are springing back to life today as investors invade the market, looking for a bargain or two. The sector tends to take a beating when times are... Continue Reading »

Prices Up, Home Construction Down, But ETFs Don’t Get the Memo
March 18, 2008 – If you were just going by the performance of certain exchange traded funds (ETFs) in intraday trading, you wouldn’t think some bad news about the housing and retail sectors had just come out. First, wholesale... Continue Reading »

Consumer Spending Drops In February, Dragging ETFs
March 13, 2008 – Retail sales and exchange traded funds (ETFs) took another hit today. The Commerce Department reported that the numbers were down by 0.6% - much worse than the expected 0.2%. The slow sales affected all corners... Continue Reading »

Retailers Get a Break In February, But ETFs Don’t React
March 6, 2008 – Retailers got a break in February, but retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) so far today don’t appear to have gotten the memo. Overall, sales were sluggish, but the numbers reverse the downward slide sales... Continue Reading »

Housing and Big Ticket Item Sales Drop, Taking ETFs With Them
February 27, 2008 – More housing and consumer numbers came in today, affected real estate and retail exchange traded funds (ETFs). The Commerce Department reported that new home sales fell in January by 2.8%. It’s the slowest pace in... Continue Reading »

Housing and Consumer Reports Are Good News for Investors Who Love Bad News
February 26, 2008 – Bad news about the economy continues to flow in from all corners, but it doesn’t seem to be dragging certain exchange traded funds (ETFs) down with it at the moment. The Consumer Confidence Index fell to... Continue Reading »

Consumer, Housing Numbers Roll In, But Will ETFs Feel It?
February 20, 2008 – Worries continue to plague both the retail and housing sectors and exchange traded funds (ETFs) as more numbers are released today that show signs of creeping inflation. The Labor Department reported today that the consumer price... Continue Reading »

Wal-Mart Profits Up, But Little Effect on Retail ETFs So Far
February 19, 2008 – Wal-Mart (WMT) reported a jump in sales both here and abroad, but the positive numbers are so far showing minimal effect on retail exchange traded funds (ETFs). It’s good news for the retail sector, though,... Continue Reading »

Bernanke Plays Role Of Heartbreaker for Markets and Some ETFs
February 14, 2008 – It’s Valentine’s Day, but the economy and exchange traded funds (ETFs) aren’t feeling much love from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Bernanke told Congress today that the country’s economic outlook has deteriorated. But, perhaps as... Continue Reading »

Retail Sector and Related ETFs Get a Surprise Package
February 13, 2008 – The retail sector finally got some surprise good news, which brought retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) higher along with it. The U.S. Commerce Department reported today that January retail sales rose 0.3%, reports Tomi Kilgore... 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 »

ETFs Prove Women Are Not Shopping ‘Til They Drop
February 5, 2008 – Exchange traded funds (ETFs) and stocks are reflecting that women’s retailers could be nearing an inflection point, with trends at negative-to-flattish for 10 months. Brigid Gaffikin for Thomson Financial reports that women’s specialty comps... Continue Reading »

Consumer Spending Flat In December, Delivering Mixed Results to ETFs
February 1, 2008 – By and large, consumers kept their wallets shut in December and spending was flat, delivering disappointment to retail exchange traded funds (ETFs). Consumer spending rose by only 0.2% after jumping 1% in November. It accounts for... Continue Reading »

Is Love in the Air for Some ETFs?
January 29, 2008 – According to singer/songwriter Jack Johnson, "Cupid only misses sometimes," and according to the analysts and exchange traded fund (ETF) enthusiasts, "Cupid’s costs are expected to rise in 2008." Hmmm. I think the other way was... Continue Reading »

Retail Numbers and ETFs Verify Slowing Economy
January 16, 2008 – Shoppers appear to be penny-pinching, and this drop in consumerism is affecting retail focused exchange traded funds (ETFs) and Wall Street. December presented a 0.4% drop in retail sales, ending the weakest retail sales season... Continue Reading »

Even Though The Holidays Are Over, Retail ETFs Could Still Get a Life
January 6, 2008 – If you were invested in retail exchange traded funds (ETFs), you might be licking your wounds after the slow holiday season. But hold up: it’s not over yet. Joanne Von Alroth for Investor’s Business Daily... Continue Reading »

Christmas Retail ETFs Get In The Spirit
December 24, 2007 – Christmas is upon us, and retail focused stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) have Wall Street feeling giddy. Have you been to the local store, or even just driving on the road lately? People... Continue Reading »

Tiffany Rating Doesn’t Sparkle For Retail/Luxury ETFs
December 5, 2007 – Could there be fewer retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) in little blue boxes this year? The Tiffany & Co. (TIF) rating fell Tuesday, so anticipation of these blue boxes may have a few of... Continue Reading »

Rate Cuts, Retail Sales and Jobs - All Affect ETFs
December 3, 2007 – Last week, stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs) rose on indications of interest rate cuts, but this week’s job market and retail sales readings will be key in determining how the U.S. economy is... Continue Reading »

Consumers Spend on Black Friday - What About Retail ETFs?
November 26, 2007 – Black Friday is an important shopping day and an indicator of how retail stores and their exchange traded funds might be affected by holiday sales.  ShopperTrak, a research group, said sales on Black Friday... Continue Reading »

The Holiday Shopping Season is Nearly Here - Will It Be Merry For Retail ETFs?
November 20, 2007 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) might be feeling more "Little Match Girl" than "Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire" this holiday season. As more of our money goes straight to heating our homes and using... Continue Reading »

Consumers Snapping Their Wallets Shut, and ETFs Are Taking the Hit
November 16, 2007 – Investors of all types, from those who love exchange traded fund (ETF) to the ones who favor individual stocks, are weighing in the current environment with retailers, banks, and energy companies. Wall Street is... Continue Reading »

Boo! Retail ETFs Look Scary Instead of Merry
November 11, 2007 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) are looking more like Halloween fright instead of holiday merriment. Retailers announced disappointing October sales, thanks to consumers’ ongoing fears about housing and the rising cost of energy, according... Continue Reading »

Will Retail ETFs Have a Holly Jolly Holiday?
November 2, 2007 – Will this holiday shopping season be a game of shopper-retailer chicken? And what will this do to the retail-focused exchange traded funds (ETFs)? Many are convinced that the subprime mortgage crisis and credit crunch... Continue Reading »

Some Undervalued ETFs Present Opportunity
November 2, 2007 – Everyone has their way of analyzing exchange traded funds (ETFs) for their portfolio. Morningstar analyst Jeffrey Ptak looks at ETFs in a different light than most. He views them as individual stocks, checking fair... Continue Reading »

Is It an ETF Bargain?
October 14, 2007 – Is there a method to evaluate the valuations and attractiveness of major market indexes and the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that follow them? Morningstar’s 100-plus equity analysts can help give some insight. With more... Continue Reading »

Retail ETFs Drag
September 17, 2007 – Retail sales have disappointed economists’ expectations, fueling doubt concerning the American consumer and retail-focused exchange traded funds (ETFs). The sales numbers are likely to cause worry that consumers are feeling pressure from the credit... Continue Reading »

August Shopping Sprees Could Contribute to Retail ETFs’ Performance
September 6, 2007 – Retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) Retail HOLDRs (RTH) and SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) might benefit from some recent retail earnings reports. Of the 31 retailers that reported their store sales for August today, 20... Continue Reading »

Will Back-to-School Shopping Supply Retail ETFs with a Boost?
August 19, 2007 – As back-to-school shopping season begins, some retail exchange traded funds (ETFs) could get an extra boost. This year, the International Council of Shopping Centers predicts that shoppers will be bargain hunting, and the average... Continue Reading »

Retail ETF Is In Season
December 1, 2006 – If you have a retail exchange traded fund (ETF), then you’ll be interested in the countdown to December 25th. Historically, "Black Friday" or the day after Thanksgiving, officially marks the holiday shopping season. The... Continue Reading »

New ETFs Launched by State Street
June 22, 2006 – Today State Street launched six new exchange traded funds on the American Stock Exchange.  These new ETFs will track industry segments, giving investors more options with targeted industries. The new ETFs are: SPDR Metals &... Continue Reading »