Obama: King Of The Stimulus
Last week, researchers unveiled findings about a giant snake from South America. This prehistoric reptile is thought to be the largest terrestrial vertebrate ever discovered. Measuring over 40-foot long, this snake probably ate full-grown alligators for breakfast. To appreciate its size, any snake you’ve...
New Colombia ETF Launched Today: GXG
Global X/InterBolsa FTSE Colombia 20 ETF (GXG) is the first ETF to focus on Colombia and the first offering from Global X Management Company. As the name implies, this ETF will consist of stocks from the 20 companies in the FTSE Colombia 20 Index. Today’s press release has a headline of “First...
ETF Stats for January 2009
January 2009 brought nine new ETFs and two new ETNs. There were no closures during the month. However, Northern Trust announced plans to close all 17 of the NETS brand ETFs in February. With a net increase of 11, the overall count of U.S. listed ETFs and ETNs climbed to a new high of 856 at the end of...
New High-Yield Muni ETF: HYD
The Market Vectors High-Yield Municipal Index ETF (HYD) began trading today. This marks the second time this week that Van Eck Global provided access to an asset class previously unavailable to ETF investors. On Tuesday, they introduced Market Vectors Pre-Refunded Municipal Index Fund (PRB). The high-yield...
Where Risk Management is More Than a Buzzword
The stock market is like a giant pendulum. One year it swings in the direction of unrealistic hope. The market rises on the dreams of double-digit returns. Portfolio managers rejoice, Wall Street pays huge bonuses, and the bankers buy plush apartments for cash. In short, greed rules the market. The...
As January Goes, So Goes The Year
Traders like rules. Sometimes those rules even mirror reality – hence a maxim develops. Some of my favorite rules-turned-maxims are “the trend is your friend” and “when in doubt, stay out.” More recently, Jim Cramer emphasized a famous adage: “Bulls make money. Bears...
New ETF Provides Tax-Free Income and Treasury Backing: PRB
Have you considered investing in pre-refunded munis? If you are asking yourself what the heck is a pre-refunded muni, then you are not alone. Although “pre-res” have been around for years, their availability has generally been limited to institutional investors. Now they are accessible...
MacroShares Undergo Ridiculous 4:1 Split
MacroShares $100 Oil Up (UOY) and MacroShares $100 Oil Down (DOY) began trading at their new 4:1 split-adjusted prices on Friday. UOY closed on Friday at $3.50 instead of a pre-split price of $14.00, and DOY closed at $8.40 versus a pre-split price of $33.80. There was absolutely no reason to split...
ETF Deathwatch – February 2009
The number of exchange-traded products on Deathwatch surged to 153 this month, not including the 17 closures already announced for February. The current list consists of 120 ETFs and 33 ETNs that are at least six months old and failed to have an Average Daily Value Traded (ADVT) of at least $100,000...
