Why Gold is Up – BRIC Countries Are Buying
Gold is used in jewelry, decoration, and manufacturing, but investors watch gold because it is a store of value – the world’s oldest circulating “currency”, though not as commonly held as it once was. Spot gold prices have jumped around 45% this year as of Friday’s close. In the past 5...
Claymore Closing Four of Its 17 ETFs on Deathwatch
December 11, 2009 will be the last day of trading for Claymore/Morningstar Manufacturing Super Sector Index ETF (MZG), Claymore/Morningstar Information Super Sector Index ETF (MZN), Claymore/Morningstar Services Super Sector Index ETF (MZO), and Claymore U.S.-1 – The Capital Markets Index ETF (UEM). My...
ETF Trivia Answers
Yesterday, I posted my ETF Trivia questions. Today, I provide the answers. 1. What was the second ETF (exchange-traded fund) launched? Correct answer is b) SPDR S&P Midcap (MDY), which was launched in May 1995, about 27 months after the first ETF. Dow Diamonds did not arrive until January 1998, and...
ETF Trivia
It’s a holiday. Why on earth are you looking at an investment website? As long as you are here, you might as well test your knowledge of ETFs and perhaps win a prize. The first two people to submit the correct answers using our contact form will receive 12 months free access to our paid subscription...
Buying Homemade Italian (AIPC)
U.S. consumers love spending money – or at least they used to. Saving money? Not so much. Think back to the three most recent economic growth periods: The Reagan Boom of the mid-1980s, the Clinton Boom of the mid-1990s and the last easy money, easy credit boom from 2003-2007. All three shared one...
US Investors Now Have Direct Access to Poland
Van Eck, a leading company for providing ETF investors with access to new investment categories, has done it again. Today’s launch of Market Vectors Poland ETF (PLND) is the first pure-play single-country ETF focusing on Poland for US investors. PLND trades on the NYSE and expenses are capped at...
Vanguard Launches New Bond ETFs
Mutual fund behemoth Vanguard rolled out seven new bond ETFs this week. Collectively called “Vanguard Sector Bond Index Funds,” the new funds increase the number of Vanguard bond ETFs to 12 and the total Vanguard ETF count to 47. There wasn’t much fanfare about the launch and...
Nifty New India Nifty 50 ETF Launched
Many of you are probably familiar with the “Nifty Fifty” U.S. stocks of the 1960s and 1970s that were often touted as the only stocks you will ever need. While that terminology is nearly extinct here in the U.S., it is considered “modern day” in India. The S&P CRISIL NSE Index 50, or...
Black Friday Investing: Should You Buy or Sell?
The biggest annual test of the American consumer is upon us. Both online and offline stores are about to enter their busiest time of year. Starting with Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving – stores will clamor for the attention of shoppers while shoppers clamor for the best deals. Yes,...
Smart Grid ETF Launched by First Trust Advisors
Amid the flurry of new ETFs coming to market this week, it appears I missed the launch of First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (GRID) on Tuesday (11/17/09). This ETF focuses on stocks in the electric energy infrastructure and distribution grid subsector. The fund will...
