The first quarter of 2011 is officially in the books, and the last three months have been a stretch marked by instability both domestically and abroad. Significant uncertainty remains, as investors are still divided on the outlook for interest rates, further stimulus measures, and the ability of emerging markets to continue driving global GDP growth. Despite the lingering concerns, the first quarter was a generally strong stretch for most portfolios. The broad-based SPY added a little more than 5% during the last three months, while the most popular emerging markets ETF (VWO) added close to 2%. [click to continue…]
By now, most investors are well aware of certain nuances of futures-based investment strategies that are capable of having a significant impact on the returns of exchange-traded commodity products. A select few of the 70+ commodity ETPs on the market offer exposure to natural resources by physically buying and holding the commodity; these “physically-backed” commodity [...]
Thanks to fears over the health of the dollar and ongoing supply issues, a number of commodities have tested new record highs in the past few weeks. Products ranging from coffee and cotton to corn and wheat have seen prices skyrocket as investors move more of their assets in this space to take advantage of [...]
As the value of the U.S. dollar continues to slide, many investors have embraced commodities as an opportunity for generating solid returns in an uncertain environment. ETNs and ETFs tracking various commodities have performed extremely well over the past few months, as concerns over QE have combined with ongoing supply worries in a variety of [...]
Initially, the response from the markets to Ben Bernanke and Company’s historic attempt to revitalize the markets with a second round of QE was rather muted; U.S. markets stayed relatively flat yesterday after the Fed meeting, and volumes were well within a normal range. But overseas investors apparently had much stronger opinions on the ramifications [...]
Over the past few months, most asset classes have risen on hopes that the global economy would be able to avoid a return to recession thanks to increased growth from emerging markets. Unfortunately, back in the U.S., GDP growth is much harder to come by, as high budget deficits have combined with minimal levels of [...]
Despite the advice of some in the financial media, many investors have continued to embrace exchange-traded commodity products as efficient vehicles for establishing exposure to natural resources. Cash continues to flow into commodity ETFs, which are popular as both diversifying agents within buy-and-hold portfolios and tools for speculating on short-term price movements among more active [...]
Along with any successful product–financial or otherwise–comes a surge in interest and increase in scrutiny. And while the majority of the feedback on success stories is inevitably positive, the enhanced visibility and uptick in usage can serve up a backlash as well. That’s exactly how the impressive development of the commodity ETF space has played [...]
There is no shortage of obstacles facing the food and beverage industry in the current environment. Elevated unemployment levels have caused consumers to pare household budgets, and ongoing jitters over more turmoil in the future have led many to steer clear of high margin items in favor of the basics. Moreover, emerging worries over deflation [...]
With many traders taking time off in August, the month looks to be full of low-volume trading days and minimal action before things pick back up after Labor Day. However, one major event starts next week, Ramadan, which is one of the most important holidays in the Muslim faith. The celebration, which will begin on [...]
When most analysts and investors refer to the ETF industry, they frequently use the term to apply to all exchange-traded products that are traded like stocks. In reality, the landscape is not quite that simple, and the term “ETF” is used a bit too liberally. ETFs must receive an order from the SEC that gives [...]
