The S&P 500 garnered as much as 5.4% in the first 3 months of 2011. What might we expect for the next quarter? Other than Jim Cramer, most would likely concede that the April-June period could be a bit tougher for U.S. stocks. “Almanac traders” would point to 100 years of data on Q2 underperformance. “Inflation fighters” would chronicle the directionality of core [...] Continue Reading...
Oil is trading near $105 per barrel. And there’s little reason to expect that the commodity will experience a significant drop with Middle East tensions and summertime driving demands. Add Japan’s nuclear catastrophe to the conversation and “energy alternatives” have become a hot topic once again. The short-term winners have been Wind ETFs and Solar ETFs. China’s recent [...] Continue Reading...
Mainstream media reports have been weaving a positive spin into most of their features. Japan? The rebuilding process may actually increase worldwide economic growth. Libya? The ousting of Gaddafi may actually reduce geopolitical risk in the Middle East. The problem with these “maybes” is that there is equally compelling evidence for negative outcomes. While I have no doubt [...] Continue Reading...
Earnings season is rapidly approaching. Assuming geopolitical risks move to the background, investors will once again turn to corporate revenues, profits and future guidance. With some Sector ETFs having experienced an admirable rise in share prices already (Energy with 15% and Industrials up 8% in 2011), is the good news already baked into the cake? Should investors [...] Continue Reading...
Window-dressing money managers need to show that they are “long” the energy sector in their quarterly reports. Not surprisingly, there are scores of Energy Services ETFs and Energy Exploration ETFs on the “New Highs” List. You’ll find: 1. Oil Services HOLDRs (OIH) 2. iShares DJ Oil Equipment & Services (IEZ) 3. PowerShares Dynamic Oil Services (PXJ) 4. SPDR S&P Oil &Gas Equip/Services [...] Continue Reading...
Year-over-year, 27%+ gains for the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) looks pretty darn sharp. The 16% garnered by the Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) doesn’t look too shabby either. So why in the world would you be eager to pick up shares of the Utilities Sector SPDR (XLU)… when XLU posted a -1% in the same time frame? Many utility [...] Continue Reading...
In August of 2009, I explained why iShares MSCI Malaysia (EWM) was a veritable bargain in the Emerging Market ETF arena. (Review ”A Different Slice of the EM Pie.”) By November of 2009, EWM became one of my top client holdings. Moreover, during the summertime slump of 2010, I reaffirmed my commitment to buying more/maintaining exposure to this [...] Continue Reading...
Japan’s post-catastrophe concerns, Europe’s debt struggles and emerging market inflation all have the potential to contribute to market volatility. The key for investors will be to pursue ETFs that can stil grow in spite of (or because of) the negative headlines. For instance, SPDR S&P Emerging Europe (GUR) and First Trust Global Engineering/Construction (FLM) are both hitting 52-week highs. DOes this mean that they’ll be winners in the second quarter [...] Continue Reading...
Medical Device ETFs, Environmental ETFs, Copper ETFs, Less Volatile ETFs, China ETFs, China “A Share ETF Click here to listen to the show: 3-27-11 Continue Reading...
There are some things that are very easy to understand. For instance, if Anadarko, Devon and Noble are all hitting 52 week highs on the NYSE, then there’s a pretty good chance that iShares DJ Oil & Gas Exploration/Production (IEO) will appear on the “New High List” for exchange-traded funds. Some things, however, are not as easy to comprehend. For example, [...] Continue Reading...
