The first quarter was a winner for U.S. stocks. The Dow picked up 4%, the S&P 500 garnered nearly 5% and the Nasdaq scored approx 6%. Things were a bit less rosy for the global investor. The iShares Global 100 (IOO) snagged less than 1%, while Vanguard Emerging Markets (VWO) brought in less than 3%. Credit the euro’s precipitous [...] Continue Reading...
With countries like China trimming their U.S. debt exposure, income investors may need to find other avenues than investment grade treasury bonds. Some argue that strong growth prospects from emerging market nations may be the best option. High Conviction: Emerging Markets Debt Offers Strong Potential - John Middleton, Seeking Alpha Trading Strategies For Commodity ETFs - Larry Connors, Trading Markets SEC Misses [...] Continue Reading...
Brazil gets the World Cup in 2014 and Rio gets the Olympics in 2016. In order to prepare for the showcases, Brazil’s president hopes to get approval for a near-$900 billion infrastructure spending package over 4 years. Believers in Brazil have been fortunate enough to cross paths with the long-standing iShares MSCI Brazil Fund (EWZ). It outperformed U.S. stock ETFs as [...] Continue Reading...
Tom Cruise knew what it was like to be “the best of the best” in the 80s classic, “Top Gun.” But which Defense ETF is the Ace of Aerospace? In a separate sector vein, some folks are giving Utility ETFs a serious look. Is Utility ETF underperformance since the Lehman bankruptcy a good enough reason to rotate over? The Best Of The Best [...] Continue Reading...
Hello, is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone at home? — Pink Floyd, Comfortably Numb Both Goldman Sachs and Citigroup ended their bearish bets on the U.S. dollar last week. Indeed, the last of the Goliaths may have capitulated. At this point, there’s a widely held notion that the debts of [...] Continue Reading...
With the expiration of the Bush tax cuts all but certain, capital gains taxes on dividends would likely go to 20% on 1/1/11. In anticipation of the likelihood, some argue that investors will leave Dividend ETFs for the shores of Muni Bond ETFs. Yet Bespoke points out a counter-argument with stats on High Dividend ETFs outperforming the S&P 500. Should investors be wary of [...] Continue Reading...
As I look at the price of crude oil at $80+ per barrel, I admit to being impressed. After all, the U.S. dollar had gained about 10% in 4 months time, and this commodity that is priced in dollars managed to hang tough. Yet ever since Thursday’s late announcement regarding an EU-IMF solution for Greece, the U.S. dollar has [...] Continue Reading...
Cell phones are not just for emergencies any longer. More people than ever are accessing the web, email and video from their personal device. Will ETFs like the networking fund (IGN) increase substantially in the coming months? Or will other sectors rise faster? ETFs For The Wi-Fi Craze - Kevin Grewal, The Street Dividend ETFs Poised For A Comeback - John Spence, MarketWatch Emerging Market [...] Continue Reading...
A year-long battle over health care reform kept their ETFs in check, though not due to the proposed regulations and possible restrictions. Wall Street simply hated the uncertainty. Once the political cloud lifted, however, many began picking medical device makers, biotech and brand name pharma as market out-performers. So here comes the next wave… financial reform. Considering the systemic [...] Continue Reading...
The euro-dollar has endured intense selling pressure due to sovereign debt problems in EU member nations like Greece, Spain and Italy. Yet there may be more to the story. How else is the U.S. dollar weighing on markets across the pond? Here are 3 top-notch ETF stories to jump start your week on Monday, March 29, 2010: Impact Of Falling Euro On Stocks And Commodities - [...] Continue Reading...
