The evolution of the ETF universe has spawned dozens upon dozens of innovative offerings that make it easy and cost-effective to tap into strategies and asset classes that were previously out-of-reach for mainstream investors, including global markets. When picking which countries to invest in, those with high employment rates may be an appealing option, as these economies often exhibit high productivity levels and lower poverty rates. Though some of these countries may not always be the first options that come to mind, their rather impressive track records certainly warrant a closer look by investors [see Free Report: How To Pick The Right ETF Every Time].
When it comes to diversifying a portfolio, many investors turn toward emerging market equities for their lucrative potentials. And while BRIC and other popular Asian nations are usually investors’ top picks to achieve this key exposure, investors may benefit from taking a closer look at an often overlooked opportunity: Africa. Though known for its geopolitical [...]
Even with recent talks by the Fed calling for another round of stimulus for the U.S. economy, domestic investors are looking for a place to invest outside of the United States in the hopes of achieving more lucrative returns. These same investors may wish to consider adding dividend-paying stocks to their foreign assets, as this asset [...]
Emerging markets stocks are a core holding in the portfolios of many investors: developing economies such as China and India account for a growing portion of global GDP, and a significant percentage of all global GDP growth. ETFs have become popular tools for tapping into this asset class; the low cost structures, intraday liquidity, and [...]
One important question that is often overlooked when discussing the price of oil is asking who exactly profits (aside from seasoned futures traders) when fossil fuel prices rise. As you might have expected, the answer to the previous question has more than a handful of correct responses; one of these in particular may offer investors [...]
MSCI, the firm responsible for developing and maintaining some of the most widely-followed indexes in the world, announced on Wednesday that Qatar and the United Arab Emirates would remain classified under frontier status until at least the middle of 2012, ending speculation over whether the two Middle East economies would be upgraded to emerging status. [...]
The proliferation of exchange-traded products offering investors exposure to dividend-focused strategies is a testament to the efficiency of the marriage of this methodology with the inherently appealing exchange-traded structure. The wealth of choices is certainly a luxury, as it allows investors to specifically target the exposure desired. But with dozens of exchange-traded products offering up [...]
[This article is a free preview from the October edition of ETF Edge, the premium newsletter included with a subscription to ETFdb Pro] After a summer slowdown, the product development segment of the ETF industry is back in full swing; close to 40 new ETFs and ETNs began trading in October, pushing the total product [...]
The recent economic crisis has led to a frenzy of activity on Wall Street, as we have seen dramatic swings in both directions on a regular basis. Starting with a debt deal that did little to reassure investors, markets began to drop. Next came the downgrade from S&P, the first ever from a domestic credit [...]
For investors looking to generate current returns from the equity portion of their portfolio, there is no shortage of exchange-traded products offering attractive dividend yields in the current environment. From ETFs linked to dividend-weighted indexes to those that focus on companies with stellar distribution histories to simply sector-specific funds in high yield corners of the [...]
As hundreds of billions of dollars have flowed into exchange-traded products in recent years, international equity ETFs have been a particularly popular destination. As investors have shed their “home country bias” and recognized the importance of meaningful international equity allocations, the low costs and instant diversification offered by the exchange-traded structure have understandably served as [...]
