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This Week in ETFs: August 14 Edition

by ETFdb Staff on August 14, 2009 | ETFs Mentioned: SIVR • UNG

It’s been an exciting week in the world of ETFs, with new fund launches, an up-and-down ride on Wall Street, and plenty of other happenings. Here are the ETF Database staff picks of the week’s most important and interesting stories from around the Web:

ETF Hall Of Shame: Nine Exchange-Traded Debacles at ETF Database:

Innovation is a quality that is very much admired and cherished in the dynamic financial services industry. That being said, viability and timing of ideas is essential for success – and these qualities were clearly lacking for these nine ETF issues

ETF Securities to Launch 5 Precious Metals ETFs in Japan at Reuters:

ETF Securities is continuing to expand and is rapidly gaining momentum in the ETF world. In addition to launching five new funds, SIVR’s silver bullion holdings have already exceeded $80 million less than a month after inception.

PowerShares Plans To Globalize PSP’s Portfolio at IndexUniverse:

It would be an understatement to say that the private equity industry struggled in 2008, with PSP (an ETF that tracks the industry) losing more than 64% in 2008. But the ETF’s fortunes seem to be changing (up 22% YTD) and expanding the focus of the fund could bring about more opportunities.

Natural Gas ETF Weighs Options at the Wall Street Journal:

Regulators are serious cracking down on speculation in the energy markets, keeping the U.S. Natural Gas Fund (UNG) on its toes. The fund’s total holdings now account for about a whopping 30% of all natural-gas futures contracts outstanding, sparking worries about its influence on prices.

Your ETF Tax Questions Answered at Morningstar:

The article ventures into the tax efficiency trait of ETFs and gives a balanced explanation of some of the tax consequences of ETF transactions. A must read for any ETF investor.

That’s it for This Week in ETFs: happy reading. Have a great weekend everyone!