The quarterly revision of the MasterDATA Compilation List is now complete and again reflects the top 111 trade volume ETFs.  Subject to our inclusion criteria, this list is revised quarterly to reflect the most highly traded, liquid US equity Exchange Traded Funds.

Vanguard continues to be unresponsive to our repeated requests for accurate, timely constituent lists.  While they admit that it would be a good thing to do, they also say that they are simply not going to do anything about it.  So, a management decision is in order.  I cannot post data on the website that is unreliable, at best.  Thus, Vanguard ETFs will no longer be included in the compilation list.  I haven’t given up on Vanguard and will continue the lobbying effort, but for now I know this is the right thing to do.  Actually, many of their ETFs had dropped out of the top 111 so this is not as big a deal as it could be.  Some day, Vanguard will realize that withholding information from the investing public only hurts themselves.  At the other end of the spectrum is iShares who has my highest praise for their efforts in providing as much up to date data as they can.  The ever growing popularity of their funds speaks for itself.

As I mentioned at the time of the last quarterly revision, there is a problem obtaining constituent lists for some of the Direxion ETFs.  As I mentioned previously, they do publish their current constituent lists every day on their website.  But, their ETFs are leveraged and, as a result, contain things other than stocks such as swaps.  In other words, the actual constituent list is not very useful for compiling composite breadth data.  So for their ETFs based upon things like the Russell 1000 Financial or Russell 1000 Energy indexes ((neither of which are “official” Russell indexes but only a part of their larger indexes) constituent lists are difficult to obtain and not for publication.  Direxion ETFs based on this type of “index” segment therefore will not be included in the compilation list

Enough editorializing.  To review all of the additions / deletions to MasterDATA’s Compilation List since the beginning, click here or on “Compilation List Revisions” in the left column under “Categories”.

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For the current MasterDATA Compilation List, please click here.
______________________________________________________________________

Subscribers may click on the Index or ETF names below to see breadth charts on that issue.  These charts and indicators are available nowhere else on the Internet.

______________________________________________________________________

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New ETF Additions
These new additions ranked in the top 111 trade volume ETFs on July 6, 2009:

• HOLDRS Biotech (BBH)
• iShares Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Index Fund (IYC)
• iShares Dow Jones U.S. Industrial Sector Index Fund (IYJ)
• iShares Dow Jones U.S. Oil Equipment & Services Index Fund (IEZ)
• iShares Dow Jones U.S. Utilities Index Fund (IDU)
• iShares Goldman Sachs Semiconductor Index Fund (IGW)
• iShares Russell Microcap Index Fund (IWC)
• PowerShares BLDRS Emerging Markets 50 ADR Index Fund (ADRE)
• PowerShares Dynamic LargeCap Growth (PWB)
• ProShares UltraShort Semiconductors (SSG)
• SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equip & Service (XES)

Deleted ETFs:
The deleted ETFs below experienced trade volume less than the top 111 ETFs at the end of the quarter.

• iShares Dow Jones U.S. Oil Equipment & Services Index Fund (IEZ)
• Vanguard Viper Div Appreciation (VIG)
• Vanguard Viper Ext Market (VXF)
• Vanguard Viper Financials (VFH)
• Vanguard Viper Growth (VUG)
• Vanguard Viper LargeCap (VV)
• Vanguard Viper MidCap (VO)
• Vanguard Viper MidCap Growth (VOT)
• Vanguard Viper REIT (VNQ)
• Vanguard Viper SmCap (VB)
• Vanguard Viper Tot Stk Mkt (VTI)
• Vanguard Viper Value (VTV)

Our Index / ETF Compilation List is adjusted to, once again, reflect the top 111 trade volume ETFs.  Subject to our inclusion criteria, this list is revised quarterly to reflect the most highly traded, liquid US listed stock Exchange Traded Funds.

Frankly, I am cheating a little bit, because I should be doing this on the first weekend of the new quarter.  But, the Direxion ETFs have captured so much attention, I don’t think anyone will complain too much about updating our list and thereby including four Direxion ETFs two days before the end of the quarter. 

Speaking of Direxion ETFs, there would have been four more of this sponsor’s ETFs except for a problem in obtaining constituent lists.  I do not blame Direxion.  First, they do publish their current constituent lists every day on their website.  But, their ETFs are leveraged and, as a result, contain things other than stocks such as swaps.  In other words, the actual constituent list is not very useful for compiling composite breadth data.  For this type of ETF, we utilize the constituent list of the index upon which the ETF is based.  Both ProShares and some Rydex funds are similar in this respect.  In the case of the Direxion ETFs I so far cannot locate a constituent list for either the Russell 1000 Financial or Russell 1000 Energy indexes.   Both are sponsored by the AMEX and while the AMEX freely provides constituent lists on their other indexes, they do not, as yet, provide lists for these two indexes (at least not in the “normal” location).  If anyone knows where these constituent lists are hiding out, please let me know and we will add four more Direxion ETFs immediately.

That does bring me to a sore point, Indexes and ETFs that do not provide investors with readily available constituent lists.  Currently the worst offender is Vanguard.  Vanguard has been around forever and is pretty arrogant about what you, the individual investor, really need.  My last correspondence with them ended with their comment “Yes, current constituent lists would be a good for investors.  No, we are not going to provide current constituent lists.”  I am paraphrasing a somewhat, but not much.

So with this revision, it gave me a degree of pleasure to drop seven of Vanguard’s ETFs as their trade volume declined sufficiently to knock them out of the top 111 trade volume ETFs.  I would like to think that you investors recognised their less than “user friendly” position.  On the other hand, in all fairness, the MSCI indexes upon which most of their funds are based, provide no current constituent lists electing to sell them instead to institutional resources such as Bloomberg.  In the interest of leveling the playing field, I feel this is just wrong in today’s market environment.  If enough investors voice a complaint, this will probably be resolved one day.  MSCI can be contacted at http://ir.msci.com/contactus.cfm  and Vanguard at https://personal.vanguard.com/us/home?fromPage=portal.  What really disturbs me most about these guys is their incredible “we know better than the individual investor” arrogance.

OK, back to the business at hand.  To review all of the additions / deletions to MasterDATA’s Compilation List since the beginning, click here or on “Compilation List Revisions” in the left column under “Categories”.

______________________________________________________________________
-
For the current MasterDATA Compilation List, please click here.
______________________________________________________________________

Subscribers may click on the Index or ETF names below to see breadth charts on that issue.  These charts and indicators are available nowhere else on the Internet.

______________________________________________________________________

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New ETF Additions
These new additions ranked in the top 111 trade volume ETFs on March 29, 2009:

• Direxion Large Cap Bull 3x Shares (BGU)
• Direxion Small Cap Bull 3x Shares (TNA)
• Direxion Large Cap Bear 3x Shares (BGZ)
• Direxion Small Cap Bear 3x Shares (TZA)
• SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY)

Deleted ETFs:
The deleted ETFs below experienced trade volume less than the top 111 ETFs at the end of the quarter.

• iShares Dow Jones U.S. Oil Equipment & Services Index Fund (IEZ)
• iShares Goldman Sachs Semiconductor Index Fund (IGW)
• iShares Goldman Sachs Software Index Fund (IGV)
• iShares Russell 3000 Growth (IWZ)
• iShares Russell Microcap Index Fund (IWC)
• PowerShares BLDRS Emerging Markets 50 ADR Index Fund (ADRE)
• PowerShares Dynamic LargeCap Growth (PWB)
• PowerShares Dynamic LargeCap Value (PWV)
• PowerShares Dynamic Mid Cap Growth (PWJ)
• PowerShares FTSE RAFI US 1000 Portfolio (PRF)
• Vanguard Consumer Discretion ETF - DNQ (VCR)
• Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE)
• Vanguard Materials ETF - DNQ (VAW)
• Vanguard Mega Cap 300 ETF (MGC)
• Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF - DNQ (VOE)
• Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF - DNQ (VBR)
• Vanguard Utilities ETF - DNQ (VPU)

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Details will be posted here shortly. Subscriber downloader programs willl be updated sutomatically.
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The number of constituents above, equal to and below the 50 day moving average has been added to the historical datafiles (also for weekly, monthly and quarterly data periods).   This addition brings to six statistics for the number of constituents above and below the 4, 9, 18, 30, 50 and 200 day moving averages.

MasterDATACSV Users (download historical .csv format datafiles):

Look for these new statistics in the four datafile columns to the furthest right (formerly called fv2, fv3, fv4, and fv5).

MasterDATA Composite Plug-in Users (use our historical data directly in MetaStock):

In order to use this new statistic with the plug-in, you need to download a new “StatisticTitles.csv” file.  To download this new file now, click here.  Save it to the same directory as the old file.  If you used all the default locations, that directory is “C:\MasterDATA\CSVFiles”.  Rename or overwrite the old file.

This addition should not affect any of your previous work.

Cycling charts.  With just a single mouse click, you can now display all of the stock indexes and ETFs in the MasterDATA Compilation List in sorted order based upon percentage net change.  While this new function will not necessarily give you a final trade decision, I find it extremely useful for quickly cycling through our list to find those that look like they have potential.  Then I take a further, more detailed look at those of potential interest using my normal analysis process.  Here is how its done:

• Start at the masterdata.com home page
• A report displayed toward the top of that page is titled “Index/ETF Net Daily Percentage Change”
• You can click on any index/ETF name listed in this report and go to its charts.  On Friday, January 16, 2009, the Amex Gold Bugs Index ($HUI) was listed number one, up 5.55%.  Click on it.
• The statistical report now appears at the very top of this page with numerous charts available in the body (click on the buttons in the left column to select your indicator)

• There is something new in the left column.  In this case, you see “$HUI Daily Charts” and under it a green up arrow, $HUI’s percentage change for the day, and a red down arrow.  Notice that if you change the data period by clicking on one of the buttons at the very bottom of the left column, you will see the percentage change for that data period.
• With the data period set to daily, click once on the red arrow.  On this particular day, the index with the next highest daily percentage change is the PHLX Gold & Silver Sector ($XAU).  By clicking on the red arrow, that chart report page appears.
• Click on the red down arrow repeatedly and cycle through MasterDATA’s entire compilation list.  Reciprocally, click on the green arrow to go up to the next higher daily percentage change.

For me, I love it.  I have found, the more cumbersome the process for getting from one chart to the next, the less likely it will be done.  I can deal with one click I think.

By the way, those of you with a revenue generating web site, if you are not doing search engine optimization (SEO) you are leaving a lot of business on the table.  Properly done, SEO will get you on page one of the major search engine result page.  To exist profitably on the Internet, you must get on page one.  This is not pay-per-click sponsored advertising (PPC), but the “organic” section that gets clicked on 3 to 4 times more than sponsored ads in the right column of the page.  I am not saying its free, but in the long haul, it is much cheaper than PPC and always much more cost effective than PPC.  SEO is not just putting keywords in your web site.  It involves a lot of skilled, tedious effort over the long term.  But believe me, it does work.  For more information, click here.

Our Index / ETF Compilation List is adjusted to, once again, reflect the top 111 trade volume ETFs.  Subject to our inclusion criteria, this list is revised quarterly to reflect the most highly traded, liquid US listed Exchange Traded Funds.

To review all of the additions / deletions to MasterDATA’s Compilation List since the beginning, click here or on “Compilation List Revisions” in the left column under “Categories”.

ETFs falling out of the top 111 top trade volume ETFs for two consecutive quarters are deleted. This means that an ETF on MasterDATA’s Compilation List will remain on the list for a minimum of six months. This also means that our compilation list will always number in excess of 111 ETFs on a continual basis.

______________________________________________________________________
-
For the current MasterDATA Compilation List, please click here.
______________________________________________________________________

Subscribers may click on the Index or ETF names below to see numerous composite breadth charts on that issue.  These charts and indicators are available nowhere else on the Internet.

______________________________________________________________________

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New ETF Additions
These new additions ranked in the top 111 trade volume ETFs on January 2, 2009 (revisions are done the first weekend of each quarter).:

• iShares Russell 3000 Growth (IWZ)
• PowerShares Dynamic LargeCap Value (PWV)
• ProShares Short QQQ (PSQ)
• ProShares Short Russell2000 (RWM)
• Rydex 2x S&P 500 ETF (RSU)
• Rydex Russell Top 50 ETF (XLG)
• Vanguard Div Appreciation ETF (VIG)

Potential Cut List:
The ETFs listed below previously ranked in the top 111 trade volume ETFs. Two consecutive quarters out of a top 111 ranking will result in the ETF being deleted from MasterDATA’s Compilation List. Charts, reports and datafiles continue to be generated for these ETFs until they fall below the top 111 ETFs for two consecutive quarters.

• iShares Dow Jones U.S. Broker-Dealers Index Fund (IAI)
• iShares Dow Jones U.S. Regional Banks Index Fund (IAT)
• iShares Goldman Sachs Semiconductor Index Fund (IGW)
• iShares Goldman Sachs Software Index Fund (IGV)
• Market Vectors Steel Index ETF Fund (SLX)
• PowerShares Dynamic Mid Cap Growth (PWJ)
• ProShares Ultra Technology (ROM)
• SPDR KBW Capital Markets ETF (KCE)
• SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI)
• Vanguard Consumer Discretion ETF - DNQ (VCR)
• Vanguard Materials ETF - DNQ (VAW)
• Vanguard Mega Cap 300 ETF (MGC)

Deleted ETFs:
The deleted ETFs below experienced trade volume less than the top 111 ETFs for two consecutive quarters.

• HOLDRS Biotech (BBH)
• PowerShares DWA Technical Leaders Portfolio (PDP)

_

Our Index / ETF Compilation List is adjusted to, once again, reflect the top 111 trade volume ETFs.  Subject to our inclusion criteria, this list will now be revised quarterly to reflect the most highly traded, liquid US listed Exchange Traded Funds.

To review all of the additions / deletions to MasterDATA’s Compilation List since the beginning, click here or on “Compilation List Revisions” in the left column under “Categories”.

ETFs falling out of the top 111 top trade volume ETFs for two consecutive quarters are deleted. This means that an ETF on MasterDATA’s Compilation List will remain on the list for a minimum of six months. This also means that our compilation list will always number in excess of 111 ETFs on a continual basis.

______________________________________________________________________
-
For the current MasterDATA Compilation List, please click here.
______________________________________________________________________

Subscribers may click on the Index or ETF names below to see several charts on that issue.  If you are not yet a subscriber, click here for your free, no obligation subscription to our Charts and Reports section.
______________________________________________________________________

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New ETF Additions
These new additions ranked in the top 111 trade volume ETFs on October 3, 2008 (revisions are done the first weekend of each quarter).:

• ProShares Ultra Basic Materials (UYM)
• iShares S&P Small Cap 600 Value Index Fund (IJS)
• Vanguard Mega Cap 300 ETF (MGC)
• Vanguard Energy VIPERs (VDE)

Potential Cut List:
The ETFs listed below previously ranked in the top 111 trade volume ETFs. Two consecutive quarters out of a top 111 ranking will result in the ETF being deleted from MasterDATA’s Compilation List. Charts, reports and datafiles continue to be generated for these ETFs until they fall below the top 111 ETFs for two consecutive quarters.

• PowerShares DWA Technical Leaders Portfolio (PDP)
• iShares Russell Micro Cap Index Fund (IWC)
• Vanguard Utilities VIPERs (VPU)
• Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth VIPERs (VOT)
• Vanguard Small-Cap Value VIPERs (VBR)
• HOLDRS Biotech (BBH)
• PowerShares FTSE RAFI US 1000 Portfolio (PRF)

Deleted ETFs:
The deleted ETFs below experienced trade volume less than the top 111 ETFs for two consecutive quarters.

• Vanguard Industrials VIPERs (VIS)
• Vanguard Telecommunication Services VIPERs (VOX)

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One of the most difficult leaps when digesting composite breadth data is “What do I do with it?”  Most people get the fact that data on the constituents of an index or ETF makes sense and must, somehow, be useful.  But no matter how many times I repeat the mantra “composite data is good, composite data will help you trade better, composite data is the best thing since sliced bread” it is hard to see the next step.  Using it.

Introducing, Trade.MasterDATA.com.  This new site, or actually, new section of the MasterDATA.com site, is dedicated to helping bridge the gap between “I believe the data is of value” and basing a trade on composite breadth data.  As a beginning, it provides an up to date filter of some commonly followed applications of composite breadth data.  But just because I say “commonly” don’t relegate the reports to the scrap heap without looking at them first. 

First, there is the current day’s reports.  This one is a gimme for anyone presenting trade indications.  Several reports list indexes and ETFs matching certain criteria like 50% of constituents in an up trend or composites with more than 70% (or less than 30%) of constituents trading above their 200 day moving average (this one is a long used institutional grade trade indicator).  Current day filters like this are good, but we then go one step beyond.  We go back for the previous 20 trade sessions providing the same reports and updating with current profit/loss, maximum gain and maximum loss.  Go there and explore a bit.  You’ll see what I mean (I hope).

If you have your own ideas for filters, let me know.  If it makes sense, we’ll add them on.  For now, all this is free and no subscription required.  An RSS feed is also in the works.

Once again, here is the new URL:

Trade.MasterDATA.com

Thank for your support.  Enjoy.

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Our Index / ETF Compilation List is adjusted to, once again, reflect the top 111 trade volume ETFs.  Subject to our inclusion criteria, this list is revised monthly to continually contain the most highly traded, liquid US listed Exchange Traded Funds.

To review all of the additions / deletions to MasterDATA’s Compilation List since the beginning, click here or on “Compilation List Revisions” in the left column under “Categories”.

ETFs falling out of the top 111 top trade volume ETFs for two consecutive months are deleted. This means that an ETF on MasterDATA’s Compilation List will remain on the list for a minimum of two months. This also means that our compilation list will always number in excess of 111 ETFs on a continual basis.

______________________________________________________________________
-
For the current MasterDATA Compilation List, please click here.
______________________________________________________________________

Subscribers may click on the Index or ETF names below to see several charts on that issue.  If you are not yet a subscriber, click here for your free, no obligation subscription to our Charts and Reports section.
______________________________________________________________________

-

New ETF Additions
These new additions ranked in the top 111 trade volume ETFs on August 2, 2008 (revisions are done the first weekend of each month).:

• iShares DJ Oil Equipment & Services Index Fund (IEZ)
• iShares Russell Micro Cap Index Fund (IWC)
• Vanguard Utilities VIPERs (VPU)

Potential Cut List:
The ETFs listed below previously ranked in the top 111 trade volume ETFs. Two consecutive months out of a top 111 ranking will result in the ETF being deleted from MasterDATA’s Compilation List. Charts, reports and datafiles continue to be generated for these ETFs until they fall below the top 111 ETFs for two consecutive months.

• iShares S&P Mid Cap 400 Value Index Fund (IJJ)
• PowerShares Dynamic Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (PWJ)
• ProShares Ultra Technology (ROM)
• Vanguard Industrials VIPERs (VIS)
• Vanguard Telecommunication Services VIPERs (VOX)

Deleted ETFs:
The deleted ETFs below experienced trade volume less than the top 111 ETFs for two consecutive months.

• HOLDRS Internet (HHH)
• HOLDRS Merrill Lynch Broadband (BDH)
• iShares Goldman Sachs Networking Index Fund (IGN)
• iShares Goldman Sachs Technology Index Fund (IGM)
• iShares S&P Small Cap 600 Value Index Fund (IJS)
• PowerShares Dynamic Oil & Gas Services Portfolio (PXJ)
• Vanguard Small-Cap Growth VIPERs (VBK)

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Our Index / ETF Compilation List is adjusted to, once again, reflect the top 111 trade volume ETFs.  Subject to our inclusion criteria, this list is revised monthly to continually contain the most highly traded, liquid US listed Exchange Traded Funds.

This month its in with consumer and mid-caps and out with  small cap and network oriented issues.

To review all of the additions / deletions to MasterDATA’s Compilation List since the beginning, click here or on “Monthly List Revisions” in the left column under “Categories”.

ETFs falling out of the top 111 top trade volume ETFs for two consecutive months are deleted. This means that an ETF on MasterDATA’s Compilation List will remain on the list for a minimum of two months. This also means that our compilation list will always number in excess of 111 ETFs on a continual basis.

______________________________________________________________________
-
For the current MasterDATA Compilation List, please click here.
______________________________________________________________________

Subscribers may click on the Index or ETF names below to see several charts on that issue.  If you are not yet a subscriber, click here for your free, no obligation subscription to our Charts and Reports section.
______________________________________________________________________

-

New ETF Additions
These new additions ranked in the top 111 trade volume ETFs on July 3, 2008 (revisions are done the first weekend of each month).:

• iShares DJ Regional Banks Index Fund (IAT)
• iShares S&P Mid Cap 400 Value Index Fund (IJJ)
• PowerShares Dynamic Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (PWJ)
• PowerShares FTSE RAFI US 1000 Portfolio (PRF)
• Vanguard Consumer Discret VIPERs (VCR)
• Vanguard Industrials VIPERs (VIS)
• Vanguard Mid-Cap Value VIPERs (VOE)
• Vanguard Telecommunication Services VIPERs (VOX)

Potential Cut List:
The ETFs listed below previously ranked in the top 111 trade volume ETFs. Two consecutive months out of a top 111 ranking will result in the ETF being deleted from MasterDATA’s Compilation List. Charts, reports and datafiles continue to be generated for these ETFs until they fall below the top 111 ETFs for two consecutive months.

• HOLDRS Internet (HHH)
• HOLDRS Merrill Lynch Broadband (BDH)
• iShares Goldman Sachs Networking Index Fund (IGN)
• iShares Goldman Sachs Technology Index Fund (IGM)
• iShares S&P Small Cap 600 Value Index Fund (IJS)
• PowerShares Dynamic Oil & Gas Services Portfolio (PXJ)
• Vanguard Small-Cap Growth VIPERs (VBK)
• Vanguard Small-Cap Value VIPERs (VBR)
• Vanguard Small-Cap VIPERs (VB)

Deleted ETFs:
The deleted ETFs below experienced trade volume less than the top 111 ETFs for two consecutive months.

• Market Vectors Coal ETF (KOL)
  This ETF was removed because it contains constituents that do not trade on a U.S. exchange.  Measured by trade volume, it remains among the higher volume issues.
• PowerShares Dynamic Banking Portfolio (PJB)
• PowerShares Dynamic Semiconductors Portfolio (PSI)
• Vanguard Information Tech VIPERs (VGT)

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