Market-cap weighted S&P 500 ETF or Equal Weight S&P 500 ETF? The debate may continue to rage. However, if past performance is any guide, equal weighting advocates can make a compelling argument. Across the oceans, one ETF has recently blasted higher. See what the charts have to say about the countries in the BRIC acronym. Beating The S&P500 With An Equal Weight ETF - Everyday Finance China [...] Continue Reading...
Over the last twelve months, the overwhelming majority of major world currencies gained ground against the U.S. dollar. In fact, world currencies didn’t just garner marginal appreciation… they rocketed forward. The CurrencyShares Australian Dollar (FXA) socked away 40%. The Brazilian Real (BZF) hoarded 32%. The CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar (FXC) marched ahead for 25%. Even the much-maligned euro, [...] Continue Reading...
Part of the Obama Administration’s 2009 stimulus package included Build America Bonds, or BABs. These bonds, as well as the corresponding ETF (BAB), has the U.S. government paying a 35% subsidy on interest payments. Should income oriented ETF investors take a serious look? Or do the concerns with U.S. government-backed issues also affect the increasingly popular BAB namesake? The Benefits Of Build [...] Continue Reading...
Concerned about the erosion of your purchasing power a la inflation? Then Gold ETFs may be a ticket to wealth preservation. But what if Gold ETFs aren’t enough to lay fears to rest about your golden years? What if you spend sleepless nights, anxiously dreading another market collapse of 30%, 35%, 40%! Then ETF Risk Alert is precisely what you need. [...] Continue Reading...
Over the last month, the single worst performing S&P Sector ETF was the SPDR Select Health Care (XLV). It picked up a mere 3% whereas the S&P 500 (SPY) picked up 7%. The reasons may be two-fold: (1) Health care is a defensive segment, and typically produces both smaller declines in corrective phases as well as [...] Continue Reading...
Currency ETFs, Canada ETFs, Risky ETFs Click here to listen to the show: 3-17-10 Continue Reading...
According to Bespoke, the 2003 – 2007 bull market witnessed world market’s grow their percentage of market capitalization over the United States. The trend may be changing. U.S. stocks as a percentage of world market cap have been steadily growing since last November. Does such a change signify a changing of the guard for ETF portfolios? Or is now [...] Continue Reading...
Many prognosticators describe the dire jobless recovery, then follows it up with bearish outlooks on the S&P 500. Similarly, you’ll read how increases in business confidence are a precursor to hiring… ergo, the cyclical bull for stocks has further to stampede. When did stock market analysts become so one-dimensional? At one point did jobs… or even the broader economy… receive [...] Continue Reading...
Let me get this out of the way… I am NOT calling the next crash. Let the doomsayers from Whitney to Roubini to Farrell ply their trades as perma-bears… that’s not the way that I roll. Time and again, however, I discuss an investment methodology that is simple to implement and focuses on what you can [...] Continue Reading...
With the major indices pushing new highs, some investors are increasingly looking at put options as a form of downside protection. Do you know which positions are being tagged as most risky? We’re providing fact-filled ETF content here on Tuesday, March 16, 2010: How ETF Options Players Worked Current Rally: Puts, Puts And More Puts - Street One Financial Gold [...] Continue Reading...
