Homebuilders were among the hardest hit sectors during the recent recession, as steep declines in demand for new properties brought this once-booming industry to a standstill. However, the combination of legislative initiatives (such as the home buyer tax credit) and record low interest rates have breathed life into a sector that was recently left for dead. This optimism is visible in the performance of two homebuilder ETFs that are currently available to U.S. investors; the SPDR Homebuilders ETF (XHB) and iShares Dow Jones U.S. Home Construction Index Fund (ITB). Both of these funds have gained at least 10% so far this year, outpacing broad markets by a wide margin. While these two funds are similar in many ways, they are far from identical; below, we take a look at how XHB and ITB stack up side-by-side. [click to continue…]
Despite a relative paucity in major earnings reports and regular statistical releases, the upcoming week could be a busy one for domestic and international equity markets. After conflicting reports on the health of the economy last week–retail sales figures were up but consumer confidence trended lower–all eyes will be on the Fed this week as the market searches for guidance in order to give direction to stocks in the near future.
Below is a look at three ETFs that could be on the move this week amidst central bank meetings, data releases, and political developments that could impact the economy: [click to continue…]
ETFs trended higher this week but finished flat on Friday as the markets digested conflicting data reports. This came after retail sales rose by 0.3% but the consumer sentiment index headed lower, leaving investors to wonder which direction the American consumer will take the economy. In other news, Obama is set to nominate Janet Yellen, [...]
Agribusiness ETFs got a boost in Friday trading as good news from Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (POT) helped to lift the sector higher as the week came to a close. The Canadian producer of fertilizer and feed significantly raised its earnings guidance range to $1.30 to $1.50 a share, up from an earlier forecast of [...]
More than one year after the market bottom, most equity ETFs have seen a big rebound, but few have been able to match the meteoric rise of the Market Vectors Indonesia ETF (IDX), which is up more than 200% since last March. In fact, only two non-leveraged ETFs have outperformed IDX over the time period: [...]
Airline stocks have been flying high in 2010 thanks to renewed hopes over an economic recovery, an uptick in business travel, and a stronger dollar. The Claymore/NYSE Arca Airline ETF (FAA) has shot higher on the news, gaining nearly 5% on the week and 15% so far on the year. A slight pullback in oil [...]
Many commodities have surged in recent weeks–especially base metals such as copper–on hopes of a continued economic recovery and increased demand from both emerging and developed markets. But not all resources have participated in the recent surge; many of the “soft” commodities, including sugar and cocoa, have slumped. After soaring to finish 2009, the iPath [...]
Major indexes barely stayed in the green on Wednesday, as conflicting economic reports kept the market in a seesaw pattern for most of the day. The S&P 500 finished ahead by five points while oil closed just under $82/ bbl. The Commerce Department said that wholesale inventories fell 0.2% in January after dropping 1% in [...]
Despite a sluggish economy, the Market Vectors Gaming ETF (BJK) has been on winning streak since the start of February, posting a gain of nearly 6% over the last week and a half. While some of the rebound is likely due to a slight increase in the confidence of an economic recovery, many gaming investors [...]
This year has not been kind to telecommunication ETFs, as increased competition for existing users has begun to weigh heavily on the sector. In addition, growth opportunities, which long have been a hallmark of the telecom industry, appear to be drying up. According to a new report, two-thirds of all people on earth now use [...]
On the one year anniversary of the market bottom, most major markets finished the day flat. Financial stocks were mostly higher after rumors surfaced out of D.C. that the government would ban short-sales on companies in which the government owned a stake. This rumor helped to send financial firms such as AIG and Fannie Mae [...]
While most mutual fund firms shied away from ETFs initially, many have now seen the light, and are actively planning to finally enter into the ETF space. While the forays of Schwab, T. Rowe Price, and Goldman Sachs have received a great deal of media coverage, the ETF adventures of institutions best known for their [...]
