IndexIQ Launches Second Hedge Fund Replication ETF: MCRO
The second hedge fund replication ETF from IndexIQ began trading on Tuesday (6/09/09). According to the press release, the IQ Hedge Macro Tracker ETF (MCRO) seeks to deliver risk-adjusted return characteristics similar to macro and emerging-market style hedge funds. IndexIQ maintains indexes representing...
Go with China Unicom (CHU)
Are those happy days back? The China SPDR ETF (GXC) outperformed the S&P 500 by 26% in the past three months. Last week we told you about international real estate – China is one of the big drivers in that play. This week, we have another idea in the Middle Kingdom. With the world’s...
Ten Banks Escape From TARP: Reason To Celebrate?
Today ten of the large banks that received money last year from Hank Paulson’s horribly-misnamed Troubled Asset Relief Program repaid the government a total of $68 billion. Combined with repayments by smaller banks and dividends paid to the Treasury, taxpayers will have recovered almost $75 billion...
Energy Service ETFs
Despite the fact that crude oil inventories are high and Americans are driving less, crude oil has been on a tear in recent months. Just four months ago, NYMEX-traded crude oil went for around $30 barrel. Now $70 appears likely, perhaps as soon as this week. Start bracing for a little more pain...
ETF Billion Dollar Club – June 2009
The number of members in the ETF Billion Dollar Club held steady this month at 15, but there are changes in the roster. SPDR Select Sector Energy (XLE) is back in the club after a one-month absence, and iShares MSCI Brazil (EWZ) makes its first appearance of the year. The two funds losing their membership...
Waking A Sleeping Giant
The news flow this week has been breathtaking. We’re finally getting real dialogue about deficits, monetary policy, and interest rates. Unfortunately, it is playing out mostly overseas rather than in our own country. Choice words from German Chancellor Angela Merkel regarding central bank...
Leverage Galore: ProShares Launches Four New International ETFs
For those who want to trade international equity indexes but wish they were more volatile, your wish is coming true. Today ProShares expanded its line-up with four new 2X leveraged ETFs covering developed markets, emerging markets, Japan and China. ProShares already offered leveraged inverse ETFs on...
Double Shale Play in Energy Approaches: ECA & CLR
No sector has escaped the economic calamity since the stock market peaked twenty months ago. The Bush-Obama stimulus plans are now reflating stocks. Commodity-related sectors typically thrive in these conditions. Could energy once again be in the spotlight? Estimates suggest 90% of our energy consumption...
ETF Deathwatch – June 2009
The number of exchange-traded products on Deathwatch decreased for the third month in a row. This month’s list contains 150 names, down from 155 last month and down from the record high of 171 in March. The current list consists of 111 ETFs and 39 ETNs that are at least six months old and failed...
PIMCO Enters ETF Arena With TUZ
Mutual fund behemoth PIMCO has been conspicuously absent from the ETF market. Today that changed with the launch of PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund (TUZ). Combine this with reports that Vanguard is bidding to buy the iShares ETF label from parent company Barclays, and it looks like we may...
