Few companies can generate buzz comparable to the euphoria radiating from beloved consumer electronics giant Apple. This industry bellwether stole the headlines in the first few month of 2012, and for good reasons to. Shares of Apple rallied 55% from the start of the year up to their most recent peak at $644 a share on 4/10/2012 as investors have been impressed, to say the least, with the company’s stellar earnings results and optimistic outlook. However, this tech giant has been losing steam recently as resurfacing Euro zone debt woes have paved the way for profit taking pressures across equity markets. The recent correction in Apple has lead many to wonder if the top has been set, or if the stock is merely taking a breather before its next leg-up [see also 3 ETFs For A Euro Zone Double-Dip].
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The year-end periods provides the ETF industry with a couple of opportunities to flex its collective muscle; performance comparisons generally tend to favor those products with lower expense ratios–a defining feature of exchange-traded funds. But early January also puts another benefit of exchange-traded products into focus: enhanced tax efficiency relative to traditional mutual funds. The [...]
The curtain is about to drop on 2011, a year that will go down as a record-breaking period for the rapidly-expanding ETF industry. More than 300 exchange-traded products began trading this year, with dozens of issuers rolling out new products. While some of the new additions bear a striking resemblance to more established products on [...]
After a quiet stretch during the second half of December, January continued the wave of product innovation that has become common in the ETF industry. Various issuers introduced first-to-market products and continued the impressive expansion of the exchange-traded product pipeline. The month saw steady releases from various issuers to add to the 1,100+ exchange traded [...]
Continuing a very active month for the ETF industry, State Street rolled out three new sector-specific funds on Thursday. Each of the new products will provide more targeted exposure than the ultra-popular sector SPDRs that focus on the nine major industries of the U.S. economy. The new ETFs include:
