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Best ETF Performers Of 2010: Winners For Every ETFdb Category

Michael Johnston — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:00:23 +0000

Last year was a good year for most asset classes, as investor portfolios continued to recover from the recent recession. The difference in performance between many comparable funds was significant, and many of the best performers of 2010 are relatively small funds that maintain considerably smaller asset bases than their more popular competitors. Below, we profiled the top performing ETFs in more than 60 ETFdb Categories covering all major asset classes. ETFs that launched in 2010 were excluded, as were those that stopped trading during the year [for more ETF insights, sign up for our free ETF newsletter]: Equity ETFs Many equity ETFs turned impressive performances in 2010; below, we profile the best of the best: All Cap Equities: The First Trust Multi CG AlphaDex (FAD) added 25.2% last year, besting the more popular VTI (up 17.4%) and IWV (up 16.8%) by a wide margin. Large Cap Blend Equities: The [...]

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Time For A Real Estate ETF?

Michael Johnston — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:41:32 +0000

Historically, no portfolio was complete without a material allocation to real estate. Consistently high real returns and low correlations to stocks and bonds made it easy to overlook the out-of-whack fundamentals that ultimately led to an unprecedented collapse. But when real estate markets got a reality check in late 2008, many investors swore off the asset class for good. Or so they thought. After losing their shirts in real estate investments during the financial crisis, many investors washed their hands (and their portfolios) of REITs, unable to tolerate such extreme volatility and unwilling to accept the downside ramifications of risky assets. But investors who were able to spot the bottom of the real estate market in the U.S. have been handsomely rewarded, and now many are beginning to consider a more significant allocation to this asset class. The ETF boom has presented dozens of options for investors looking to add [...]

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“Super Saturday” Storm Threatens Retail ETFs

Michael Johnston — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:31:35 +0000

Despite strong performances from U.S. equity markets in 2009, many businesses are yet to see a noticeable uptick in activity, as consumers have been slow to loosen the pursestrings and begin spending again. With unemployment rates above 10% and rising (regardless of what the “official” numbers indicate), many retailers have struggled, and many had been hoping for a surge in sales during the holiday season to salvage an otherwise forgettable year. The season got off to a good start on Black Friday, and many retailers had continued to experience strong enough demand to avoid heavy discounting that can be used to increase sales at the expense of profitability. But a massive snowstorm swept across the eastern U.S. over the weekend, causing many malls to close and forcing shoppers to stay indoors as the shopping season draws to a close. “Super Saturday, the last Saturday before Christmas, is typically one of [...]

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The Definitive Guide To Real Estate ETFs: Real Estate ETF Investing 101

Michael Johnston — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:05:06 +0000

Once considered a vital “return enhancer” in almost every portfolio, real estate as an asset class has fallen out of favor with investors following its spectacular collapse during (and role in causing) the recent global economic downturn. Real estate was historically embraced because of its potential for delivering excess returns in bull property markets and low correlation with traditional stock and bond investments. But as default rates skyrocketed, values plummeted, and correlations went to 1.0, asset managers have sold off real property and reallocated investor portfolios to equities and fixed income. Despite its fall from grace, real estate is beginning to creep back into portfolios, as investors regain their appetite for risky assets (we include a small allocation to real estate in several of our All-ETF Model Portfolios). Real estate ETFs have seen cash inflows of more than $3 billion year-to-date, reflecting perhaps a preference for achieving diversified exposure within [...]

Click here to read the original article on ETFdb.com.

Five ETFs To Watch On Black Friday

Eric Dutram — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:00:18 +0000

The day after Thanksgiving traditionally kicks off the holiday shopping season, one of the most important times of the year for consumers and investors alike. While promotional campaigns and receipt tallies from “Black Friday” are always closely monitored, this year the day comes with added importance. As the U.S. economy heads towards the finish line on a year most companies hope to soon forget, many sectors are looking for a boost to their bottom lines. Countless earnings reports, as well as the fate of some major firms, hang in the balance this year. Target CEO Greg Steinhafel recently summed up the importance of this year’s Black Friday, saying that “the fourth quarter will be decided by the two days after Thanksgiving and the two days before Christmas.” Most Americans have a downright dreary view of the overall economy, with consumer confidence at a 26 year low and unemployment over 10%. [...]

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Ten ETFs That Could Catch Swine Flu

Michael Johnston — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:05:09 +0000

Over the last year, swine flu has been the news story that just won’t die. After an early initial scare, H1N1 faded into the background of the minds of many for several months, before returning in full force as flu season approached. Of course, the threat posed by the disease never really diminished, and health authorities continued preparation for a worst case scenario behind the scenes (as did pharmaceutical companies around the world). The ultimate outcome of all this anxiety is still very much in doubt. Flu season could pass with an uneventful whimper or deliver thousands of fatalities and cause yet another global crisis. Now that president Obama has declared swine flu a national emergency and the number of vaccines delivered have been far less than promised in many locations, swine flu in on everyone’s mind. As preparations continue, vaccine distributions commence, and speculation continues to swirl, H1N1 has [...]

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ETF Database » RTL

Best ETF Performers Of 2010: Winners For Every ETFdb Category

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Time For A Real Estate ETF?

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“Super Saturday” Storm Threatens Retail ETFs

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The Definitive Guide To Real Estate ETFs: Real Estate ETF Investing 101

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Five ETFs To Watch On Black Friday

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Ten ETFs That Could Catch Swine Flu

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