San Francisco-based iShares, which was acquired by BlackRock from Barclays last year, has more than 180 U.S.-listed ETFs. But the distribution of assets is far from even across these funds. At the end of 2009, the ten largest iShares ETFs–only about five percent of the issuer’s product line–accounted for 50% of total assets. So there’s obviously a lot more to the iShares product line than the handful of mega-tickers–IVV, EFA, TIP, and AGG, just to name a few–that every ETF investor knows. Below, we highlight ten iShares ETFs that may deserve a closer look for inclusion in your portfolio. [click to continue…]
In an unexpected development, the European Central Bank announced Friday that it will tighten the standards under which it accepts asset-backed securities as collateral from banks for refinancing tenders after March 1. While this step seems relatively minor, analysts viewed its as the first step towards unwinding the massive stimulus plans put into effect to save the struggling financial system in the wake of the global credit crisis. [click to continue…]
Thanks to strong economic recoveries in Germany and France, the 16-country euro zone has now officially exited its worst recession in a half century. According to data released on Friday, the euro zone grew by 0.4% in the third quarter, compared with a 0.2% decline in the second quarter. Although the news strengthened hopes of a sustained global recovery, many European economies continue to contract, facing strong headwinds on their recovery track.
Over the weekend in Germany, an alliance between the conservative Christian Democratic Union and the pro-business Free Democratic Party claimed a majority in Germany’s lower house of Parliament that could set the stage for slashes to government spending and income taxes. German Chancellor Angela Merkel now has a partner who supports implementing tax cuts, not massive government spending, to spur economic growth. The FDP also shares Merkel’s desire to ease back on laws protecting workers from dismissal and establish a national minimum wage.
Over the past several months, concerns over the fallout from the massive stimulus plans, rising unemployment, and continued weakness in corporate earnings have left many investors rethinking their allocations to U.S. equities. Once considered an essential element of any portfolio, American stocks have fallen out of favor with some investors who have shifted assets towards emerging markets and other regions (the number of ex-U.S. ETFs available is a testament to this trend). For investors disillusioned with prospects for American markets but unwilling to take on the risk inherent in emerging and frontier market funds, Europe may present an appealing option. Although the region has its share of economic turmoil (Ireland and the UK have been hit particularly hard), many investors believe the region’s economic prospects are much brighter than those of the U.S. And with green shoots now appearing throughout Europe, these ETFs may become more popular among U.S. investors [...]
