RBS rolled out its fifth ETN this week, debuting a product that offers exposure to the world’s largest pharmaceutical firms. The new Global Big Pharma ETN (DRGS) will seek to replicate the NYSE Arca Equal Weighted Pharmaceutical Total Return Index, a benchmark that consists of equal allocations to about 16 different companies involved in various phases of development, production and marketing of pharmaceuticals. [click to continue…]
So far, this year has been tough for markets around the globe. Since the downgrade of U.S. credit quality in August, equity markets have become plagued with rampant volatility, discouraging capital inflows and prompting many investors to pull out of the markets entirely. Just when the debt-ceiling drama at home came to an end, euro [...]
Pharmaceutical companies have long been popular investments as they offer relatively inelastic products as well as strong dividend yields that give both growth and value investors something to buy into. As far as the ETF world is concerned, there are four products that allow investors to gain access to this investment class. But with the [...]
Just as there are various “celebrity stock tickers” that every investor recognizes instantly (GOOG, MSFT, F, JNJ), there are some ETFs that everyone knows. Generally, these ETFs, such as SPY, GLD, and QQQQ, reflect the most widely-known investment strategies and asset classes. And while the 25 largest funds that account for more than half of [...]
It’s been an interesting week the world of ETFs: ETFs trended upwards at the beginning of the week but fell back in trading late Thursday and Friday. Here are the ETF Database staff picks of the week’s most important and interesting stories from around the Web:
It’s baaaaaaaaack. Or maybe more accurately, swine flu never left. The H1N1 virus, which has caused widespread concern on at least two occasions over the last year, is back in the headlines as many parts of the world begin to gear up for the traditional flu season. In recent days and weeks, we’ve seen a [...]
Healthcare reform has been in the news a lot lately, with constant finger-pointing, debate, and competing versions of comprehensive bills. Although the passage of comprehensive reform appears to be less certain that it was only weeks ago, it remains likely that major changes are coming before the end of the year. While many specifics are [...]
With a rocky six months behind us, we turn towards the second half of 2009, a period long since filled with predictions over returns to growth and the end of a global recession. In many regards, the next two quarters will be a “make-it-or-break-it” session for the U.S. economy. If encouraging signs continue to appear, the [...]
With swine flu news coming and going from the headlines in recent months, many investors have kept a close eye on pharmaceutical ETFs, anticipating that a global health scare could have a significant impact on the performance of funds holding various domestic and international health companies. This week president Obama, who has dedicated the first five [...]
