As the use of ETFs has become more and more widespread, investors have become increasingly curious about exactly how these products work. In recent months, one of the most frequently analyzed aspects of ETF investing has been the efficiency of the trading markets for certain ETFs. Many investors have become concerned with their ability to execute trades for a certain ETF at or near the net asset value of the underlying assets. As a result, more and more advisors and individual investors are utilizing “liquidity screens” when analyzing potential investments. [click to continue…]
With the end of the first quarter coming to a close, many equity markets continued their slow but steady climb higher last week, with some even touching new 18 month highs. The week ahead will bring a slew of data releases and earnings reports that should test the strength of the current rally. Below, we [...]
A week that saw many equity benchmarks hit 18-month highs closed on a relatively quiet note, as investors became less worried about Greece’s financial woes and shrugged off a downward revision to fourth quarter GDP growth. Elsewhere, the South Korea ETF closed lower after an explosion an a navy vessel near the North Korean maritime [...]
Drama on the high seas sent the iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund (EWY) tumbling on Friday, as reports of an explosion on a South Korean naval ship sparked concerns over a clash with North Korea. The blast occurred near a disputed maritime border between North and South Korea, causing the South Korean vessl to [...]
Financial shares were among the hardest hit during the “Great Recession” that began in late 2008 when many institutions crumbled under the weight of massive debts. The crisis caused many casualties and lead to significant restructuring in the industry, as former foes became partners in a variety of financial niches. Although many financial companies lagged [...]
The first quarter of 2010 is quickly drawing to a close. While these three months have seen far less excitement than the same period last year, there have been plenty of interesting developments on Wall Street and in equity markets around the globe. Greece continues to be a pesky threat to stability that won’t go [...]
One recurring investment theme in 2010 has been the recovery of industries that were slammed during the most recent downturn. Financials and homebuilders are among the top performers of 2010, continuing to claw back ground lost in recent years. Another sector experiencing a similar “bounceback” is the media industry. Many analysts predicted a slow and [...]
With interest rates near record lows and expected to remain there for the foreseeable future, many investors have begun searching for alternatives to Treasuries that offer more attractive yields (see Five Bond ETFs For Yield-Hungry Investors). Junk bonds and closed-end funds have been popular choices, but some investors in higher tax brackets have embraced municipal [...]
Equity markets finished the day flat as continued worries about the euro zone weighed on the global economy despite good news out of the technology sector. Several prominent names in the technology and technology retail segments posted encouraging outlooks for the second quarter, including chip maker Qualcomm and retailer Best Buy. “Today is all about [...]
With the passage of the sweeping health care reform late Sunday night, many investors are scrambling to determine which sectors are likely to benefit from the new legislation. Although the timing and impact of changes remains to be seen, generic pharmaceutical firms will likely emerge as one of the big winners. Many big name drugs [...]
After struggling for much of 2009, the U.S. dollar is back on the upswing thanks not to overwhelming strength in the domestic economy, but sovereign debt issues in Europe and a subsequent “flight to quality” from international investors. Although the mounting debt of the U.S. government presents potential debt problems down the road, the dollar [...]
