More often than not, I appreciate the data and info compiled by the folks at Morningstar. With that said, there are times when I need to call their team to the carpet. When might I feel that desire? Whenever the world-renowned publisher serves up generalized advice that is too simplistic. Would you care to wager a guess on how Morningstar [...] Continue Reading...
Barclays recently announced the launch of a new Emerging Market index. IndexUniverse.com explains that the new benchmark sets out to look beyond the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) framework to incorporate greater exposure to countries like Singapore, Israel and South Africa. Should investors wait for a new iShares ETF to track the aforementioned index? Or, might you already have an opportunity in single-country ETFs [...] Continue Reading...
One might have surmised that the $113 billion dollars to bail out country #2 of the European “PIIGS” would have calmed financial markets. Yet the ongoing debt crisis in Europe has been about as harmonious as it was to have my youngest sister dictating the course of conversation at the Thanksgiving Day dinner table. (Note: I’m counting on the fact that the majority of my [...] Continue Reading...
Finding Commodity ETF/ETN holdings that do not move in lock-step with the ups and downs of the U.S. dollar can be a challenge. Since all commodities do not necessarily rise on the old equation (i.e., Declining Dollar + Increasing Global Demand + Uncertain Supply = Commodity Price Gains), investors may need to rethink their path to profits. Here on Monday, November 29th, 2010, see [...] Continue Reading...
ETFs To Buy On Pullbacks, MidCap ETFs, “Safer Haven” Stock ETFs, Muni Bond ETF Troubles Click here to listen to the show: 11-28-2010 Continue Reading...
At the end of August, every imaginable Fixed Income ETF had cracked the top half of the exchange-traded universe in relative strength percentile rank. Here on the eve of a Thanksgiving Thursday, these same investments from the fixed income world have all dropped into the bottom half. In a “risk-on-risk-off” environment, few may find the change in momentum all that surprising. After all, [...] Continue Reading...
The “fear trade” has helped propel Gold ETFs toward double-digit percentage gains in 2010. Meanwhile, the reflation/dollar devaluation trade has often benefited the entire commodity complex. However, the US$ has recovered some ground over the last few weeks… significant ground. Similarly, China tightening has caused waves in the industrial metals arena. It follows that some Commodity ETFs are [...] Continue Reading...
If you asked me on Sunday to define the word “skirmish,” I might have described the bench clearing fight in the Raiders-Steelers football game. Or perhaps I would have relayed a recent conversation my wife and I had about our respective roles around the house. I discovered today, however, that skirmishes more accurately describe minor battles in wars. [...] Continue Reading...
For the most part, frontier markets still haven’t intrigued investors at large. Egypt, Saudia Arabia, Morocco, Qatar — there’s really no shortage of possibilities. As new countries come to the forefront such as the recently introduced iShares Philippines (EPHE), will the emerging growth story give way to a frontier growth boom? Or will BRIC nations and Asia ETFs continue to dominate inflow? Frontier Market [...] Continue Reading...
Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish may have fans singing its football praises for pounding an Army squad 27-3. Yet the third weekend of November brought little cheer for Ireland itself, as the country conceded its need for a financial bailout. Meanwhile, the European Union and the world at large have been desperately trying to avoid the dreaded debt scare from spreading. The problem is… [...] Continue Reading...
