Archive | April, 2012

April 29, 2012 – ETF Expert Radio Podcast

High Income ETFs, ETF Uptrends, ETF Downtrends, Treasury Bond ETFs, China ETFs Click here to listen to the show: 4-29-2012 Continue Reading...

The Popularity Of Treasury Bond ETFs: Investor Fear Or Federal Reserve Intervention?

The iShares 20+ U.S. Treasury Bond Fund (TLT) has often exhibited wider daily trading swings than the S&P 500 SPDR Trust (SPY). This quirk alone has made it difficult for me to embrace the long end of the treasury bond curve. Instead, I’ve been more apt to stick with intermediate investment grade corporate credit, as well as short-term and long-term high [...] Continue Reading...

What Should Investors Make Of Relative Weakness In The Transportation ETF?

You don’t have to agree with every aspect of “Dow Theory” to appreciate one of its most venerable features. In particular, the Dow Jones Transportation Index should lead the way higher for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Why has this particular axiom maintained a level of popularity for more than a century? In essence, transporters “take” materials to [...] Continue Reading...

Three More ETFs With Momentum That You Probably Haven’t Heard About

Last week, I wrote a piece on ETFs with remarkably positive trends in relative strength. Specifically, I highlighted 3 successful investments that rarely garner media coverage, yet deserved a bit more of the limelight. (See “Three ETFs With Momentum That You Probably Don’t Know Exist.”) I received a great deal of direct feedback on this particular article. [...] Continue Reading...

Insider Sentiment ETF Shows More Promise Than Insider Selling Data

According to Paul La Monica at CNN Money, the level of insider selling is near the highest that it has been in a decade. Specifically, close to 1800 S&P 500 executives cashed in shares over the most recent 3-month period. Does this mean that the “smart money” is leaving equities? Or do perma-bears love to point [...] Continue Reading...

Power Struggle In France Increases The Desirability Of Income ETFs

Last year, world equity markets obsessed over the movement of sovereign debt yields in Portugal and Greece. Here in 2012, Spanish and Italian bond yields have risen enough to scare investors back into the perceived safety of U.S. treasuries. In fact, iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund (IEF) is near 52-week highs. Unfortunately, concerns about the 3rd and 4th [...] Continue Reading...

April 22, 2012 – ETF Expert Radio Podcast

Most Influential ETFs, Energy ETFs, Materials ETFs, Gold ETFs, Muni Bond ETFs Click here to listen to the show: 4-22-2012 Continue Reading...

Three ETFs With Momentum That You Probably Don’t Know Exist

There are a variety of ways to interpret stock market volatility. A rising CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) often typifies greater fear on the part of “options” investors such that they require protection against a monstrous sell-off. A widening of the daily trading range on a popular benchmark may also be indicative of explosive moves to the downside or upside. Moreover, upward revisions to the [...] Continue Reading...

5 Influential ETFs Hold Back U.S. And International Stocks

There are roughly 1400 exchange-traded vehicles on the U.S. exchanges. And yet, only a small fraction of them (about 5%) can lay claim to $1 billion in assets under management. These 70-75 influencers often explain the direction of stock, bond, currency and commodity markets. In fact, there have been times when a single asset defines the entire investing landscape. For example, PowerShares DB [...] Continue Reading...

National Muni ETFs Offer Better Reward For The Risk Than “Cali” Muni ETFs

How does the state of California intend to combat its exorbitant debts? Left-leaning leaders have proposed higher income taxes on the “rich” as well as increasing sales tax rates. Unfortunately, California already sits near the top of the country’s taxation ladder. At present, top marginal bracket payers are shelling out nearly 10%… close to 3x the [...] Continue Reading...

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