Trends I'm Watching

Central Banks Push QE To Fight Deflation and Debt

2012-01-27T09:44:52-05:00

Trend: Central banks are creating money at an unprecendented rate, using "policies" like Quantitative Easing to try to boost economies and neutralize deflation. James Bianco at Bianco Research said: 2011 was so difficult because all stocks seemingly moved together. It was as if every S&P 500 company had the same chairman of the board that knew only one strategy, resulting in a high degree of correlation between seemingly unrelated companies. Massive central bank involvement in the markets risks returning us to a de facto centrally planned economy. Those S&P 500 companies all have the same chairman; it is Ben Bernanke because his policies are affecting everybody. That is what makes money management so difficult. Correlations will ebb and flow; they always do. But what makes them go away? This will only happen when governments and central banks go away. But if they go away, then does that not mean things...

Generac (GNRC) Leads the Market in Power Generators for Residences and Small Businesses

2011-12-10T15:05:56-05:00

Trend: The list of home and office equipment that needs continuous electric power (computers, routers, refrigeration, etc.) continues to grow. Benefiting from this trend, Generac sells more home standby generators than all of their competitors combined. Here's a one year chart for Generac. Generac Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results Strong demand for back-up power drives substantial increase in sales, profit and cash flow during the quarter WAUKESHA, Wis., Nov 01, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GNRC), a leading designer and manufacturer of generators and other engine powered products, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2011. Highlights - Total net sales increased year-over-year by 49.0% to $239.3 million as compared to $160.7 million in the third quarter of 2010. 60.5% year-over-year growth in Residential product sales. Commercial & Industrial (C&I) product sales up 27.4% compared to prior year. Net income increased year-over-year to...

Generac (GNRC) Rides Weather and Power Grid Trends

2011-12-07T10:49:11-05:00

Trend: Generac (GNRC) profits from volatile weather and power outages. Many homes and businesses are buying electric generators to avoid being without electricity. When I was in Highlands, NC, on the Friday after Thanksgiving, I noticed that a bank building had a Generac generator located beside air conditioning units. Highlands, at 4100 feet elevation, often gets winter storms with snow and high winds. In late August 2011, hurricane Irene made landfall in the United States. Irene was also the first hurricane to make landfall anywhere along the U. S. East Coast from Florida to Maine since 2005. It was the first truly significant hurricane threat to the northeastern U.S. in two decades and, despite making final landfall there as a strong tropical storm, it was large in size and its impacts were severe in many highly-populated locations at the coast and inland from North Carolina to New England. High winds...

TrendPilot ETN for Crude Oil Launched

2011-09-27T08:54:04-04:00

Trend: ETFs/ETNs that implement a trend-following strategy of avoiding big losses while capturing upside moves are becoming available for a variety of indexes. Michael Johnson at ETF Database describes the latest entry to the TrendPilot series below. Link: RBS Launches Crude Oil Trendpilot ETN The RBS Oil Trendpilot ETN (TWTI) is linked to the RBS Trendpilot Index, a dynamic benchmark that oscillates between oil futures and cash depending on recent price trends. When the RBS 12-Month Oil Total Return Index is above its 100-business day simple moving average for five consecutive days, the note will track the performance of that benchmark. If the index closes below its moving average for five straight days, the note will pivot its exposure into cash. According to the RBS Web site, TWTI is currently tracking the cash rate. The underlying index is comprised of 12 futures contracts on light sweet crude oil (WTI) traded...

High Dividend Yields Among Telecom And Wireless Communications Stocks

2011-09-02T09:57:11-04:00

Trend: Dividend stocks are becoming more attractive as interest rates on savings stay very low. Extreme Dividends in Telecom and Wireless Communications Ticker Div Yield ROE Country Performance (Year to Date) Beta P/E (ttm) P/B PTNR 17.9% 181.9% Israel -42.5% 0.82 5.8 10.56 CEL 15.7% 338.8% Israel -28.2% 0.75 6.6 26.76 VIV 11.5% 21.6% Brazil 39.6% 0.56 10.7 2.42 PT 11.1% 5.2% Portugal -13.6% 0.7 36.7 1.19 FTE 10.4% 10.8% France -5.0% 0.81 11.4 1.24 FTR 10.0% 6.1% USA -19.5% 0.75 46.8 1.51 TEF 9.6% 48.1% Spain -6.4% 1.01 6.7 3.17 TI.A 9.4% 1.9% Italy 5.2% 0.96 N/A 0.56 NOK 8.9% 9.7% Finland -33.7% 1.51 13.1 1.35 CTL 8.2% 4.9% USA -20.8% 0.74 15.0 0.98 CNSL 8.2% 48.7% USA 4.5% 1.04 18.2 9.3 Source: Seeking Alpha

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 13 Weeks – 5/31/2011

2011-06-02T10:30:45-04:00

Trend: ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Biotechnology (BIB) led the 13-week performance (+37%). VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX ST ETN (XIV) and iPath Inverse Jan 2021 VIX ST Fut ETN (IVO) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best 13 week performance through 5/31/2011 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker NAME TICKER CATEGORY HOLDINGS MORNINGSTAR LAST PRICE* 1-WK 4-WKS 13-WKS YTD 52-WK 3-YRS 5-YRS ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Biotechnology BIB Specialty - Health holdings $81.00 5.54 3.50 36.94 34.64 74.60 N/A N/A VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX ST ETN XIV Growth $188.15 10.20 7.56 33.46 57.40 N/A N/A N/A iPath Inverse Jan 2021 VIX ST Fut ETN IVO Growth $26.95 4.99 4.54 24.60 N/A N/A N/A N/A ProShares Ultra Telecommunications LTL Specialty - Communications holdings $65.93 4.04 9.55 23.03 20.93 74.91 -7.27 N/A ProShares Ultra Health Care RXL Specialty -...

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 4 Weeks – 5/31/2011

2011-06-02T10:21:48-04:00

Trend: PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short ETN (DTO) led the 4-week performance (+20%). ProShares UltraShort Silver (ZSL) and ProShares UltraShort DJ-UBS Crude Oil (SCO) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best four week performance through 5/31/2011 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker NAME TICKER CATEGORY HOLDINGS MORNINGSTAR LAST PRICE* 1-WK 4-WKS 13-WKS YTD 52-WK 3-YRS 5-YRS PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short ETN DTO Specialty - Natural Resources $45.12 -4.33 20.10 -12.99 -15.42 -40.71 N/A N/A ProShares UltraShort Silver ZSL Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $16.09 -10.21 17.96 -47.59 -59.04 -88.33 N/A N/A ProShares UltraShort DJ-UBS Crude Oil SCO Specialty - Natural Resources holdings $42.46 -6.19 17.10 -13.77 -16.50 -44.71 N/A N/A iPath Short Extended Russell 1000 TR ETN ROSA Growth $29.49 -5.36 15.74 -8.10 -28.21 N/A N/A N/A iPath Short Extended Russell...

The ETF Insider All-ETF Portfolio from ETFdb.com

2011-05-26T06:51:53-04:00

The smart people at ETFdb introduce the ETF Insider all-ETF portfolio, a hands-on portfolio that seeks to establish a small handful of tactical positions around a core of ETF holdings covering the major asset classes. Link: ETF Insider: Debuting Our All-ETF Portfolio Total Stock Market ETF (NYSEArca:VTI): This fund is a core holding of our ETF Insider portfolio, delivering broad-based exposure to U.S. equity markets. VTI makes up a relatively small portion of this portfolio, a reflection of our view that international markets, both developed and emerging, offer greater growth potential over the long run. This portfolio starts with a base weighting of approximately 10% for VTI, with the potential to be adjusted depending on shorter-term views on the health of the U.S. economy. Europe Pacific ETF (NYSEArca:VEA) : This ETF is our preferred tool for accessing developed markets outside of the U.S., including those in Europe and Asia. Despite...

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 13 Weeks – 4/30/2011

2011-05-03T23:08:10-04:00

Trend: PowerShares DB Silver (DBS) led the 13-week performance (+72%). UBS E-TRACS CMCI Silver TR ETN (USV) and iShares Silver Trust (SLV) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best 13 week performance through 4/30/2011 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker NAME TICKER CATEGORY HOLDINGS MORNINGSTAR LAST PRICE* 1-WK 4-WKS 13-WKS YTD 52-WK 3-YRS 5-YRS PowerShares DB Silver DBS Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $84.39 2.95 27.57 71.73 54.82 154.88 40.08 N/A UBS E-TRACS CMCI Silver TR ETN USV Specialty - Precious Metals $68.07 2.76 26.67 71.29 54.53 160.70 39.79 N/A iShares Silver Trust SLV Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $46.88 2.95 27.50 71.14 55.33 156.74 41.01 27.69 ETFS Physical Silver Shares SIVR Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $47.76 2.84 27.33 71.00 55.42 156.64 N/A N/A ETFS Physical White Metals Basket Shares WITE Specialty -...

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 4 Weeks – 4/30/2011

2011-05-02T09:20:57-04:00

Trend: PowerShares DB Silver (DBS) led the 4-week performance (+28%). iShares Silver Trust (SLV) and ETFS Physical Silver Shares (SIVR) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best four week performance through 4/30/2011 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker NAME TICKER CATEGORY HOLDINGS MORNINGSTAR LAST PRICE* 1-WK 4-WKS 13-WKS YTD 52-WK 3-YRS 5-YRS PowerShares DB Silver DBS Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $84.39 2.95 27.57 71.73 54.82 154.88 40.08 N/A iShares Silver Trust SLV Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $46.88 2.95 27.50 71.14 55.33 156.74 41.01 27.69 ETFS Physical Silver Shares SIVR Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $47.76 2.84 27.33 71.00 55.42 156.64 N/A N/A UBS E-TRACS CMCI Silver TR ETN USV Specialty - Precious Metals $68.07 2.76 26.67 71.29 54.53 160.70 39.79 N/A ETFS Physical White Metals Basket Shares WITE Specialty - Precious Metals...

Where Are We in the Business Cycle?

2011-04-04T09:29:56-04:00

Trend: Looking at a graph of the Standard Business Cycle, it appears we are at the "Commodity prices rise" point in the progression, approaching the "Inflation rises" segment at the top of the market cycle. Link: Wall Street Window

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 13 Weeks – 4/1/2011

2011-04-03T21:29:09-04:00

Trend: Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares (ERX) led the 13-week performance (+50%). ProShares Ultra Silver (AGQ) and iPath DJ-UBS Cotton TR Sub-Idx ETN (BAL) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best 13 week performance through 4/1/2011 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker NAME TICKER CATEGORY HOLDINGS MORNINGSTAR LAST PRICE* 1-WK 4-WKS 13-WKS YTD 52-WK 3-YRS 5-YRS Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares ERX Specialty - Natural Resources holdings $91.80 3.14 -1.54 50.34 45.81 134.66 N/A N/A ProShares Ultra Silver AGQ Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $219.47 4.93 17.04 43.14 37.46 301.03 N/A N/A iPath DJ-UBS Cotton TR Sub-Idx ETN BAL Specialty - Natural Resources $101.82 -3.08 -2.35 37.09 37.67 161.22 N/A N/A ELEMENTS CS Global Warming ETN GWO Specialty - Natural Resources $10.42 11.43 8.96 36.64 20.25 39.20 N/A N/A B2B Internet HOLDRs...

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 4 Weeks – 4/1/2011

2011-04-03T21:18:23-04:00

Trend: ProShares UltraShort MSCI Japan (EWV) led the 4-week performance (+20%). iPath DJ-UBS Natural Gas TR Sub-Idx ETN (GAZ) and ProShares Ultra Silver (AGQ) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best four week performance through 4/1/2011 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker NAME TICKER CATEGORY HOLDINGS MORNINGSTAR LAST PRICE* 1-WK 4-WKS 13-WKS YTD 52-WK 3-YRS 5-YRS ProShares UltraShort MSCI Japan EWV Pacific Stock holdings $36.17 6.85 20.42 5.27 6.85 -14.42 -19.43 N/A iPath DJ-UBS Natural Gas TR Sub-Idx ETN GAZ Specialty - Natural Resources $8.87 10.04 17.77 10.04 6.21 -11.31 -48.21 N/A ProShares Ultra Silver AGQ Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $225.80 4.93 17.04 43.14 37.46 301.03 N/A N/A Direxion Daily Real Estate Bear 3X Shrs DRV Specialty - Real Estate holdings $14.25 1.97 11.75 -15.02 -13.94 -64.00 N/A N/A PowerShares Global Wind Energy...

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 13 Weeks – 3/5/2011

2011-03-06T09:41:07-05:00

Trend: Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares (ERX) led the 13-week performance (+65%). UBS Cotton TR Sub-Idx ETN (BAL) and B2B Internet HOLDRs (BHH) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best 13 week performance through 3/4/2011 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker NAME TICKER CATEGORY HOLDINGS MORNINGSTAR LAST PRICE* 1-WK 4-WKS 13-WKS YTD 52-WK 3-YRS 5-YRS Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares ERX Specialty - Natural Resources holdings $85.56 0.66 15.05 65.14 46.38 128.11 N/A N/A iPath DJ-UBS Cotton TR Sub-Idx ETN BAL Specialty - Natural Resources $110.81 14.73 31.84 63.86 51.69 180.18 N/A N/A B2B Internet HOLDRs BHH Specialty - Technology holdings $1.22 7.02 7.02 46.99 31.18 177.27 51.65 15.68 ProShares Ultra Oil & Gas DIG Specialty - Natural Resources holdings $59.94 0.23 10.47 41.30 30.84 80.24 -13.10 N/A ProShares Ultra Silver AGQ...

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 4 Weeks – 3/5/2011

2011-03-05T10:04:00-05:00

Trend: ProShares Ultra Silver (AGO) led the 4-week performance (+48%). iPath DJ-UBS Cotton TR Sub-Idx ETN (BAL) and ProShares Ultra DJ-UBS Crude Oil (UCO) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best four week performance through 3/4/2011 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker NAME TICKER CATEGORY HOLDINGS MORNINGSTAR LAST PRICE* 1-WK 4-WKS 13-WKS YTD 52-WK 3-YRS 5-YRS ProShares Ultra Silver AGQ Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $204.19 13.55 47.75 41.24 28.75 264.43 N/A N/A iPath DJ-UBS Cotton TR Sub-Idx ETN BAL Specialty - Natural Resources $110.81 14.73 31.84 63.86 51.69 180.18 N/A N/A ProShares Ultra DJ-UBS Crude Oil UCO Specialty - Natural Resources holdings $56.46 12.73 22.42 17.62 12.97 14.11 N/A N/A ETFS Physical Silver Shares SIVR Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $35.38 6.60 22.21 21.33 15.13 106.90 N/A N/A PowerShares DB Silver DBS Specialty...

New ETF Tracks Smartphone Industry - Ticker FONE

2011-02-19T12:51:49-05:00

Trend: Smartphones and related technology continue a global rise in popularity, outselling computers and creating a new industry led by Apple. Link: ETF FONE Home: First Trust Introduces Smart Phone ETF by Ron Rowland First Trust introduced a new ETF on February 17, 2011, targeting the rapidly growing global smart phone industry. The First Trust NASDAQ CEA Smart phone Index Fund (FONE) includes stocks of companies primarily involved in design, fabrication and distribution of handsets, along with hardware, software and mobile networks associated with the development, sale, and usage of the devices. The NASDAQ OMX CEA Smart phone Index is a modified equal dollar weighted index with 45% allocated to handsets, 45% allocated to software applications and hardware components, and 10% allocated to network providers. Stocks within each business segment are equal-weighted, so the fund’s largest holdings at any time will typically be from the 45% business segment with the...

Invest In Commodities That Are In Demand

2011-02-09T09:22:18-05:00

Trend: The supply of some commodities, like copper, has not been meeting demand, resulting in price increases and big profits for suppliers - and investors. MSN Money columnist Jim Jubak provides some guidelines for investing in commodities. Link: Bet long-term for commodity profits - Jim Jubak, MSN Money Jim Jubak's 3 principles for commodity investing: 1. Find a commodity that is in a multiyear boom. Or, rephrased, find one that is currently behaving like copper and not like natural gas. I don't mean the obvious profits you'd see this year as copper climbs to a record high, while natural gas mopes along the bottom. I want you to think about the longer-term benefit of investing in a commodity that's riding the boom end of a cycle. If you buy and hold, you may suffer a painful 15% loss in a few days, but as long as the commodity cycle that...

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 4 Weeks – 1/31/2011

2011-02-01T17:33:54-05:00

Trend: Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bear 2X Shrs (DUST) led the 4-week performance (+27%). Direxion Daily India Bear 2X Shares (INDZ) and Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares (ERX) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best four week performance through 1/31/2011 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker NAME TICKER CATEGORY HOLDINGS MORNINGSTAR LAST PRICE* 1-WK 4-WKS 13-WKS YTD 52-WK 3-YRS 5-YRS Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bear 2X Shrs DUST Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $48.35 -2.60 27.02 N/A 27.02 N/A N/A N/A Direxion Daily India Bear 2X Shares INDZ Foreign Stock holdings $30.88 10.00 26.96 19.30 26.96 N/A N/A N/A Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares ERX Specialty - Natural Resources holdings $74.85 11.06 21.76 85.92 21.76 110.83 N/A N/A Direxion Daily Semicondct Bull 3X Shares SOXL Specialty - Technology holdings $64.74 -1.31 20.76...

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 13 Weeks – 1/31/2011

2011-02-01T09:38:00-05:00

Trend: Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares (ERX) led the 13-week performance (+86%). Direxion Daily Semicondct Bull 3X Shares (SOXL) and ProShares Ultra Oil & Gas (DIG) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best 13-week performance through 1/31/2011 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker NAME TICKER CATEGORY HOLDINGS MORNINGSTAR LAST PRICE* 1-WK 4-WKS 13-WKS YTD 52-WK 3-YRS 5-YRS Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares ERX Specialty - Natural Resources holdings $74.85 11.06 21.76 85.92 21.76 110.83 N/A N/A Direxion Daily Semicondct Bull 3X Shares SOXL Specialty - Technology holdings $64.74 -1.31 20.76 60.94 20.76 N/A N/A N/A ProShares Ultra Oil & Gas DIG Specialty - Natural Resources holdings $54.48 7.55 15.04 51.48 15.04 68.96 -13.03 N/A B2B Internet HOLDRs BHH Specialty - Technology holdings $1.06 16.90 15.05 44.56 15.05 128.14 41.21 12.69 Direxion Daily...

Active Bear, Short-Only ETF (NYSEArca: HDGE) Starts Trading

2011-01-28T11:49:36-05:00

Trend: The first short-only ETF (ticker HDGE) started trading on January 27, 2010. Link: AdvisorShares Unveils Short-Only ETF by Cinthia Murphy AdvisorShares, the Bethesda, Md.-based ETF sponsor known for its actively managed strategies, today launched a short-only U.S. equities ETF that’s designed to capture alpha in “any market environment” by short-selling the market’s underperformers. The Active Bear ETF (NYSEArca: HDGE), AdvisorShares’ first short-only fund, is meant as a hedging tool in a long/short strategy, according to company’s website. The ETF is designed to generate “positive relative risk-adjusted returns” by shorting companies in the U.S. large-cap equities universe that have low-quality earnings, or that use aggressive accounting to boost earnings in the short term. “Investors told us that they are searching for a true hedging solution, with an experienced short manager,” AdvisorShares Chief Executive Officer Noah Hamman said in a press release. “Current products either blindly short every security, or use...

Agricultural Commodities ETFs

2011-01-12T17:11:06-05:00

Here's a list of Agricultural Commodities ETFs from January 12, 2011 from ETFdb (http://etfdb.com/etfdb-category/agricultural-commodities/) This is a list of all US-traded ETFs that are currently included in the Agricultural Commodities ETFdb Category by the ETF Database staff. Each ETF is placed in a single "best fit" ETFdb Category; if you want to browse ETFs with more flexible selection criteria, visit our screener. Please note that the list may not contain newly issued ETFs. Agricultural Commodities ETFs are listed in order of descending total market capitalization. Symbol Name Close Change Market Cap* Avg Volume YTD 200 EMA DBA PowerShares DB Agriculture $32.18 1.62% $2,786.04 1,865,180 1.08% $27.85 RJA ELEMENTS Rogers Intl Commodity $10.56 1.99% $414.64 526,494 0.47% $8.82 JJG iPath DJ-UBS Grains TR Sub-Idx $51.24 3.45% $200.17 113,464 -0.15% $43.78 JJA iPath DJ-UBS Agriculture TR Su $61.57 2.68% $161.27 39,031 0.24% $50.66 COW iPath DJ-UBS Livestock TR Sub- $30.76 1.95% $66.45...

Best Performing ETFs for 2010

2011-01-07T17:56:40-05:00

Trend: ProShares Ultra Silver (AGQ) led the 2010 performance (+182%). B2B Internet HOLDRs (BHH) and iPath DJ-UBS Cotton TR Sub-Idx ETN (BAL) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best one year performance for 2010 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker Name Ticker Category Holdings Morningstar Last Price* 1-Wk 4-Wks 13-Wks YTD 52-Wks 3-Yrs 5-Yrs ProShares Ultra Silver AGQ Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $159.50 11.03 18.96 90.48 182.44 182.44 N/A N/A B2B Internet HOLDRs BHH Specialty - Technology holdings $0.93 -0.73 20.47 24.70 106.71 106.71 30.34 12.12 iPath DJ-UBS Cotton TR Sub-Idx ETN BAL Specialty - Natural Resources $72.80 -2.81 23.06 46.13 96.22 96.22 N/A N/A iShares Silver Trust SLV Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $30.25 5.49 9.99 41.62 82.48 82.48 27.11 N/A ETFS Physical Silver Shares SIVR Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $30.83...

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 13 Weeks – 12/31/2010

2011-01-04T07:39:54-05:00

Trend: ProShares Ultra Silver (AGQ) led the 13-week performance (+90%). Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares (ERX) and Direxion Daily Small Cap Bull 3X Shares (TNA) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best 13-week performance through 12/31/2010 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker Name Ticker Category Holdings Morningstar Last Price* 1-Wk 4-Wks 13-Wks YTD 52-Wks 3-Yrs 5-Yrs ProShares Ultra Silver AGQ Specialty - Precious Metals holdings $159.40 11.03 18.96 90.48 182.44 182.44 N/A N/A Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares ERX Specialty - Natural Resources holdings $60.32 3.21 29.74 76.88 48.96 48.96 N/A N/A Direxion Daily Small Cap Bull 3X Shares TNA Small Company holdings $77.11 -2.12 25.04 53.92 69.81 69.81 N/A N/A iPath DJ-UBS Cotton TR Sub-Idx ETN BAL Specialty - Natural Resources $72.80 -2.81 23.06 46.13 96.22 96.22 N/A N/A ProShares Ultra...

Best Performing ETFs for the Past 4 Weeks – 12/31/2010

2011-01-03T11:40:27-05:00

Trend: Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) led the 4-week performance (+30%). Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares (ERX) and Direxion Daily Dev Mkts Bull 3X Shrs (DZK) were the second and third best performers, respectively. The 20 ETFs with the best four week performance through 12/31/2010 tracked by Morningstar are shown below. Source: MSN Money Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) Performance Tracker Name Ticker Category Holdings Morningstar Last Price* 1-Wk 4-Wks 13-Wks YTD 52-Wks 3-Yrs 5-Yrs Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares FAS Specialty - Financial holdings $29.43 1.73 30.11 30.48 13.02 13.02 N/A N/A Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares ERX Specialty - Natural Resources holdings $60.37 3.21 29.74 76.88 48.96 48.96 N/A N/A Direxion Daily Dev Mkts Bull 3X Shrs DZK Foreign Stock holdings $68.81 2.76 27.46 21.94 7.20 7.20 N/A N/A PowerShares DB Agriculture Dble Long ETN DAG Specialty - Natural Resources $14.38 2.18 27.10 41.12...

Palladium Is In Demand

2010-12-03T18:48:04-05:00

Trend: The share price of the pallidium ETF (PALL) has increased from $43 on January 8, 2010 to $76 on December 3, 2010. Palladium, at around $760 an ounce, trades at less than half the $1,720 price of platinum. Palladium is interesting because it is attached to Chinese auto demand growth and there was also an [exchange-traded fund] introduced earlier this year that could inject more investment demand into the equation. - Evan Smith, co-manager of the U.S. Global Investors Global Resources Fund Palladium is in big demand for catalytic converters in cars and car sales in China, India and other emerging markets are 'going through the roof. Palladium remains well below its nominal high hit nearly 10 years ago of $1,110.50. - Sean Brodrick, a natural resources analyst for Weiss Research and contributor to Uncommon Wisdom Daily. Demand for palladium in auto catalysts is expected to rise by 27%...