Each day ETFtrends.com publishes news, strategy and commentary on ETFs in the realms of Commodities, Currency, Equities and Smart-Beta to name a few.
Here’s a look at the Top 15 Most Viewed Articles of the Week on ETF Trends, May 16-20, 2016.
Click the headline to read the full article – enjoy!
1. A Very Positive Forecast for Gold ETFs
Gold prices closed slightly lower Wednesday after meeting minutes from the Federal Reserve revealed the central bank could raise interest rates following its June meeting. For now, one rate hike might not be enough to derail exchange traded funds such as the SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEArca: GLD), iShares Gold Trust (NYSEArca: IAU)and ETFS Physical Swiss Gold Shares (NYSEArca: SGOL). Click to read more!
2. Muni Bond ETFs to Pad Fixed-Income Portfolios
Fixed-income investors who follow the benchmark Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index may be missing out on the stability and yield opportunity found in municipal debt securities. For example, the iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (NYSEArca: MUB), the largest muni-related ETF, has a 1.32% 30-day SEC yield but that comes out to a 2.33% taxable equivalent 30-day SEC yield for those in the highest income bracket. For instance, MUB and Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond Index Fund (NYSEArca: VTEB) both track the same benchmark S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index, which is comprised of investment-grade muni debt. A long-term muni fund like the VanEck Vectors AMT-Free Long Municipal Index ETF (NYSEArca: MLN) comes with a more attractive 2.46% 30-day SEC yield. Investors interested in tapping into the muni bond market can also look to the Deutsche X-Trackers Municipal Infrastructure Revenue Bond Fund (NYSEArca: RVNU). Lastly, muni investors can also squeeze out greater returns through high-yield options, like the VanEck Vectors High Yield Municipal Index ETF (NYSEArca: HYD) and SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF (NYSEArca: HYMB). Click to read more!
3. Soaring Gold, Silver, Platinum ETFs Power Up
Somewhat lost in the well-deserved fervor surrounding the SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEArca: GLD), the iShares Silver Trust (NYSEArca: SLV) and other gold and silver exchange traded products this year are the impressive performances being notched by platinum and palladium equivalents. The ETFS Physical Platinum Shares (NYSEArca: PPLT) has been particularly impressive. Click to read more!
4. Resisting the Temptation of Biotech ETFs
After rallying late in the first quarter and to start the current quarter, it looked liked as though biotechnology stocks and exchange traded funds were shaking the doldrums that have plagued the group dating back to last year. It appears as though investors will have to wait some more for ETFs such as the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NasdaqGS: IBB) to legitimately enter new bull markets. In recent weeks, IBB, the largest biotech ETF, has been scuffling. The same can be said of rivals, such as the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEArca: XBI) and the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (NYSEArca: FBT). Click to read more!
5. 31 ETFs for Maximized Fixed-Income Investing
Investors seeking an easy way to fill out a fixed-income portfolio may start off with an aggregate or total bond market exchange traded fund that provides diversified exposure to U.S. government and corporate debt securities. Investors seeking a core fixed-income portfolio position may take a look at a number of broad aggregate bond or total bond market ETFs. Diversified bond ETFs include iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEArca: AGG), Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NYSEarca: BND), Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (NYSEArca: BSV), Vanguard Intermediate-term Bond ETF (NYSEArca: BIV), Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (NYSEArca: BNDX) and Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEArca: SCHZ). Click to read more!
6. MLP ETFs are Showing Signs of Life
Exchange traded products tracking master limited partnerships (MLPs) were thrashed when oil prices tumbled over the past two years, but with crude rebounding in 2016, some income investors are renewing their affinity for products such as the JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN (NYSEArca: AMJ) and the ALPS Alerian MLP ETF (NYSEArca: AMLP). Click to read more!
7. ETF vs. Mutual Fund: The Same, But (Very) Different
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds can accurately be characterized as “sister” investment products because of their many similarities. Both are basically baskets of investments and offer a diverse range of investment types and strategies. Click to read more!