Equity markets inched higher last week as news from the Euro zone was sparse, while economic data releases on the home front surprised to the upside. The final trading week of one of the most volatile periods in financial history is sure to abundant with more of the same: excitement, drama, and perhaps even the usual chaos. Domestic equity indexes are flirting with modest gains for 2011, although year end selling pressures may create headwinds as investors lock-in profits in anticipation of more turmoil next year. In this edition of ETF Insider we outline three bullish actionable ideas with conservative stop-loss recommendations; positioning our trades favorably in case the bulls continue their stampede, while also protecting ourselves from a potential sell-off.
European debt woes dominated headlines all of last week yet again as investor worries over the debt burdened currency bloc continue to weigh down on the markets. Euphoria swept over the markets after Berlusconi’s resignation announcement earlier in the week, paving the way higher for European and U.S. equities alike. However, fear quickly returned the [...]
Equity markets rejoiced all of last week as the cloud of uncertainty looming over the Greek debt crisis appeared to be shrinking. Euphoria quickly evaporated this week however, as equity indexes resumed their volatile ways thanks to resurfacing Italian debt woes. News of Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi resigning lifted stocks on Tuesday, although investor confidence [...]
Financial markets saw a whirlwind of activity last week as Euro zone debt woes swayed investor sentiment from euphoric to fearful. Equity markets came under serious selling pressures after news of a Greek referendum reignited default fears. Confidence in the currency bloc quickly returned however as the Greeks rescinded their referendum and bullish investors were [...]
As the ETF world has continued to grow over the past few years, funds have stretched beyond the typical benchmarks such as the S&P 500 or the DJIA and into more exotic or extensive indexes. While this has been welcomed news for investors seeking further diversification, there has also been a downside to this expansion [...]
Over the past few years, many investors have taken a closer look at emerging markets in order to power their portfolios in a sluggish economic environment. A great deal of interest has been seen in the major BRIC economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, while smaller markets in Asia and Latin America have also [...]
Earlier this week, communication and IT industry giant Cisco Systems announced a massive push into the Russian market by investing more than $1 billion in the country over the next decade. The company will also be providing $100 million in venture capital in order to establish a “dedicated physical presence” in a planned technology hub [...]
One of the greatest spectacles in sports kicks off in South Africa over the weekend, with 32 countries gathering to compete in the final stages of the World Cup. Even the economists of the world have taken an interest in the upcoming matches; ABN Amro recently released a note predicting that the world economy would [...]
In recent weeks, the fiscal health of Europe has dominated headlines of the financial presses and moved to the forefront of many investors’ minds. With most expecting the worst in Greece, attention has turned to the handful of other cash-strapped governments across the continent, with investors wondering which will be the next to buckle under [...]
Emerging markets investing has grown in popularity immensely over the past few years, and a host of new ETFs have popped up targeting specific niches in many of the world’s most popular developing economies. Once upon a time, the only options available to investors were broad-based funds, we have seen more granular products targeting specific [...]
One of the major stories in recent weeks has been the resurgence of the U.S. dollar against many of its major rivals, as the greenback has reclaimed much of the ground lost in recent months against the yen, pound, and Australian dollar. But the dollar’s biggest surge has come against the euro, which has been [...]
