PIIGS

Perhaps due to the struggles of the iShares MSCI Italy Index (ETF) (NYSE: EWI), the Global X MSCI Greece ETF (Global X Funds (NYSE: GREK)) is not the most notorious member of the quintet of single-country exchange-traded funds dedicated to PIIGS economies. Nor is GREK the worst performing member of...

Relatively speaking, the iShares MSCI Spain Capped ETF (NYSE: EWP) has not been that bad compared to other single-country exchange-traded funds tracking PIIGS economies. Year-to-date, EWP is down 3.8 percent, a loss that is only half as bad as the equivalent Ireland ETF and far superior to the...

As recently as last year, the iShares MSCI Ireland Capped ETF (iShares MSCI Irld Cp Invstb Mrkt Indx Fd (NYSE: EIRL)) was a leader among single-country Europe exchange-traded funds, posting a 2015 gain of nearly 23 percent. That was by far the best showing among the ETFs tracking PIIGS economies. A...

Over the past year, none of the exchange-traded funds tracking the PIIGS economies have traded higher. In some cases, the losses incurred by these single-country ETFs are severe, but none are as bad as the Global X MSCI Greece ET (Global X Funds (NYSE: GREK)). GREK, the first and only ETF dedicated...

The iShares MSCI Spain Capped ETF (NYSE: EWP), the largest exchange-traded fund tracking stocks in the eurozone's fourth-largest economy, is down 8.2 percent this year. Financials As is the case with other members of the PIIGS group, there have been lingering concerns about the health of...

On a year-to-date basis, the Global X MSCI Greece ETF (Global X Funds (NYSE: GREK)) is the only single-country exchange-traded fund tracking a PIIGS economy that is trending upward. Then again, none of those ETFs have been nearly has bad as the iShares MSCI Italy Index (ETF) (NYSE: EWI). The...

The iShares MSCI Spain Capped ETF (NYSE: EWP), the largest U.S.-listed exchange-traded fund tracking Spanish equities, is down about 2.6 percent year-to-date. Among developed Europe single-country ETFs, investors could find better-performing options, but they can also find plenty of funds lagging...

Investing in European equities and exchange-traded funds has been tricky this year. The European Central Bank (ECB) has yet to give demanding investors something to really cheer about, and with the Federal Reserve still sounding dovish tones, the dollar's upside against the euro is seen as...

Among the five single-country exchange-traded funds tracking PIIGS nations, the iShares MSCI Spain Capped ETF (NYSE: EWP) has not been all that bad this year. What that means is EWP is down 4.6 percent, making it the best of the PIIGS ETFs on a year-to-date basis. So EWP has really been less bad, a...

None of the U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds tracking stocks in the PIIGS countries are doing much to make investors excited this year, but the iShares MSCI Italy Index (ETF) (NYSE: EWI) is a particularly egregious offender. EWI, the largest ETF trading in New York tracking stocks in the euorzone...

Neither the Italian economy, the eurozone's third largest, nor the country's equity market have had the pizzazz of the country's famous automakers and fashion in recent years, but there are signs that Italy could be awakening from a long slumber. That could be enough to bring...

There are still pockets of weakness among the PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain), the countries previously and some still known as Europe's problem children, but investors should not outright shun opportunity with the PIIGS. These Little PIIGS Went To Market Entering Tuesday,...

It is mid-March and that means two things: March Madness and St. Patrick's Day. The latter is a reason to dress up in green, drink beer and eat some bangers and mash. Ireland: Regaining There wasn't much celebrating in Ireland a few years ago as the country was dealing with major...

According to a recent report by Goodbody Stockbrokers, Ireland will be the fastest-growing eurozone economy in 2015 for the second consecutive year. After a 5 percent jump in GDP in 2014, Goodbody analysts predict 4 percent growth in 2015. A Major Turnaround Only five years ago, Ireland was...

The PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain) have been out of the headlines for a few years as the economy in Europe was able to stage off a collapse of the European Union. This week's flashbacks to the financial crisis started to occur when Greek stocks fell by over 12 percent on...