You’re trying to increase your international exposure. You like the returns coming out of a particular country. And you set your sights on buying an exchange-trade country fund. It’s only natural. After all, we hear…
The market expects it. Jim Cramer demands it. Monday morning quarterbacks explained that they would have done it already. So is the September 18 Fed Funds rate cut a done deal? Manufacturing showed some signs…
Outside of financial stocks, energy has perhaps been hit harder than other U.S. sectors. The Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) managed a 13% drawdown in its price… and that was a bit steeper than the…
Technical analysts can’t get around it…. the S&P 500 needed to support a price of 1448. Today, the S&P 500 actually closed higher at 1468. (Saved by late-n-the-day program trading?!?!) Of course, closing below the…
The media push to start allocating to Asia and Europe is in full swing. You read about diversifying away from domestic concerns like the subprime scandal. You see television spots promising greater gains as you…
Let’s say that you believe that the Oil Producing Exporting Countries (OPEC) have more power today than at any time in its history. And let’s say you felt that several of OPEC’s large Middle Eastern…
Three of the biggest blockbuster ideas that I’ve heard over the last 12 months include: A. Biotechnology represents the fountain of youth for aging baby boomers. B. Nanotechnology is the future of engineering, science and…
A funny thing happened on the way to the record books. Specifically, the S&P 500 that posted record highs on 6/1/2007 is far different from the S&P 500 that investors became obsessed with back on…
I recently read a column where the portfolio prognosticator explained a penchant for natural resources. In the article, he explained that he wanted to cut back on traditional energy exposure (a.k.a. oil) in favor of…
When people think oil, they tend to think of the Middle East. Or perhaps they picture Venezuela. Some may even worry about the safety of the natural resources in Nigeria. Yet how many people are…