Following a year that saw some of the worst performances in recent memory, many asset classes have bounced back in 2009. But some have performed better than others, and as the year draws to a close we take a look at some of the best-performing ETFs. The year’s top gainers include a few of the largest and most-heavily traded funds, but the majority of those that made the list are lesser known ETFs likely off the radar of many ETF investors. [click to continue…]
Perhaps no area in the U.S. (with the possible exception of Michigan) has felt the pinch of the recession worse than the Golden State. California, the most populous state (home to eight of the country’s 50 largest cities) and third-largest by land area, has seen tax revenues plummet and unemployment skyrocket over the past 18 months, pushing the state to the brink of default. As California has fallen on hard times, many investors are taking a close look at ETFs that invest in municipal bonds issued by California agencies, attempting to track down an answer to the the million dollar question: are California Munis now a good value play, or simply a sucker’s bet? [click to continue…]
