Though the entire ETF industry has grown at a blistering pace, certain segments of the market have expanded much more quickly than others over the past few years. Few types of financial products have seen stronger asset growth than commodity ETPs, as investors of all sophistication levels have embraced the exchange-traded structure as the most efficient means of accessing an asset class that has become increasingly popular as a source of both diversification benefits and return enhancement. And one of the most exciting new product introductions in this corner of the market came about a year ago when United States Commodity Funds rolled out USCI, a fund dubbed by many as a “contango killer.” [click to continue…]
As natural resource prices have climbed skyward, interest in exchange-traded products that offer exposure to commodities has accelerated as well. While some investors prefer to achieve targeted access through resource-specific funds–such as those focusing on corn (CORN), sugar (SGG), or copper (JJC)–the most popular commodity ETPs are those that include a variety of types of [...]
Any investor who hasn’t been living under a rock probably has some idea as to why the ETF industry has been expanding so quickly over the last several years. Intra-day liquidity, enhanced tax efficiencies, and a degree of transparency not available in many other structures are all common causes of the explosive growth in both [...]
When running down the benefits of constructing a portfolio with ETFs, most investors will touch on the potential for enhanced tax efficiency, intra-day liquidity, and transparency in holdings. But the biggest benefit, in the minds of those accustomed to using primarily actively-managed mutual funds, are the low expense ratios. Most passively-indexed ETFs charge fees equal [...]
With 2011 just around the corner, tis the season for pledges to better everything from health to wealth to happiness in the coming year. Below, we offer up ten New Years’ Resolutions for ETF investors looking to cut expenses, round out their portfolios, and maximize returns in 2011 [for more ETF insights, sign up for [...]
As ETFs have burst on to the scene in recent years and worked their way into the investing mainstream, the number of products available and complexity of exposure offered has increased significantly. Advisors and investors have taken steps to educate themselves on the ins and outs of ETFs, but many are still scrambling to play [...]
As the ETF world has surged ahead in recent years, perhaps no corner of the industry has generated as much interest as the commodity space. The introduction and proliferation of exchange-traded commodity products has granted many investors access to a section of the investable universe that was previously beyond their reach. The democratization of an [...]
As a long-time subscriber to BusinessWeek, I generally enjoy their content and find their stories both informative and interesting. However, last week’s cover story entitled “Amber Waves of Pain” was unlike anything I had ever read by the company before. On the cover, the weekly magazine stated three times “Do Not Buy Commodity ETFs” and [...]
When referring to the impressive rise of the ETF industry or discussing the benefits of ETF investing, many investors use the term “ETF” incorrectly. While the majority of the 900-plus exchange-traded products listed in the U.S. are true 1940 Act exchange-traded funds, there are dozens of securities structured slightly differently, including exchange-traded commodities and currency [...]
Since its launch in April 2007. the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) has endured a strange existence. After enjoying moderate success during its first 18 months–assets stood at more than $700 million at the end of 2008, UNG exploded as the natural gas craze hit and investors lined up for access to the “fuel [...]
The first quarter of 2010 was one of the most active periods in recent memory for the ETF industry. Approximately 60 new funds hit the market during this three month period, continuing the impressive expansion and innovation that has become standard in a space that has huge potential (see the March ETF Roundup). This trend [...]
