PowerShares Small Cap Sector ETFs Hit the Tape
PowerShares launched a suite of small-cap sector ETFs based on the S&P SmallCap 600 Index yesterday (4/7/10). These nine new ETFs are the first to provide sector-specific exposure within the U.S. small-cap stock market. I have long been a fan of sector and industry-focused funds, and I warmly welcome...
Financials Slowing Down
Over the past month, two sectors have slowed the market more than any area: Financials and Energy. Of those sectors, Financials is the larger sector by market cap. Banks backed off this year’s gains after finishing a hot streak that almost no one predicted. That rise followed a punishing period that...
Why Materials May Be Worth Buying
Last week’s breakout was encouraging to investors. After averting another sudden downtrend in mid-July, the larger uptrend appears to be in place for now. Bloomberg reported recently, though US economy shrank in the first three months of 2009, the recession may be bottoming. According to the...
Growth In Technology: Cloud Computing
Scanning the headlines, it’s easy to get discouraged. With stocks approaching 12-year lows, unemployment at 25-year highs, and a President warning of an impending Second Great Depression, it’s not hard to feel a little down. And yet, all is not lost. CNN/Money posted an encouraging article...
Market Momentum for 2-19-09
Market momentum is strong – strongly negative. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a new 52-week (and six-year) low today. Sectors Health Care is atop our sector rankings but is having trouble getting past resistance formed by highs of the last four months. Technology is holding onto...
ETF Deathwatch January 2009
The number of ETFs on Deathwatch continues to grow as we enter 2009. My current list contains 139 names: 97 ETFs and 42 ETNs. The list includes any ETF/ETN that is at least six months old and had an Average Daily Value Traded of less than $100,000 in December. Exchange Trade Notes are suffering from...
Is It Over Now?
Today brought a fitting end to one of the wildest weeks in stock market history. The Dow whipsawed up and down within a 1,000 point range, twice recovering from drops of 500 points or more and ending with a last-hour rally that made the 128 point closing loss look like a victory. The CBOE Volatility...
Something Brewing Upstream
The stream of bad economic news quickened last week, leading many to believe a flood is building somewhere upriver. On Sunday, the flood seemed to be confirmed as it was announced the Feds would buyout the virtually-defunct government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. We are...
Consumers Paying More for Gas Than Cars?
What happens when unexpected expenses hit your budget? Unless you want to go in debt, you have to cut back somewhere else. Case in point: Rising gas prices have forced debt-burdened consumers into a corner. The weekly fill-up at the pump has jumped substantially in the past couple of years. According...
Crude Tumbles on Bullish News in Energy
For the past year, energy has been on a tear. Breaking through hallowed resistance, crude oil passed $100/barrel, $120, $140, before reaching a peak around $150. Then it fell back to earth. Right now, it doesn’t seem like anything will help it reach that high in the near future. Whatever the news,...
