sector ETFs

Gold prices have been climbing, rallying over 27% year-to-date. And, if history is any guide, investors might be eyeing gold miners as a way to turbocharge their returns. But hold that thought, says Oktay Kavrak, director of communication and strategy at Leverage Shares. "A gold rally can...

The retail sales figures for July are about to hit the scene this week, and the forecast is looking upbeat. The U.S. Census Bureau will release the latest retail sales data on Tuesday, Aug. 15. Economists predict a 0.4% jump in total sales for July, a noticeable acceleration from the 0.2% increase...

March is here, and if the third month of the year holds true to historical form, that is good news for those bullish on U.S. stocks. Over the past 20 years, the S&P 500 posts an average March gain of 1.8 percent, ranking the month third behind April and October in terms of average monthly...

An old school complaint pertaining to exchange traded funds, specifically the equity-based variety, is that ETFs are unlikely to outperform the best-performing stock in their respective lineups over a year or longer holding periods. Naysayers responsible for proliferating that criticism often if...

Up nearly 12 percent year-to-date, the Technology SPDR (ETF) (NYSE: XLK) is the third-best sector SPDR exchange-traded fund this year. That alone implies XLK, the largest technology ETF by assets, merits another look, but there are more reasons to revisit XLK and rival technology ETFs. It's More...

In what is a stunning reversal to a long-standing bullish trend, the Health Care SPDR (ETF) (NYSE: XLV) is the worst performer of the nine established sector SPDR exchange-traded funds this year, with a loss of 4.5 percent. XLV, the largest healthcare ETF by assets, is off 4.5 percent year-to-date...

Happy April Fool's Day, but there will be no chicanery here. Nor should there be, because April is one of the best months of the year for U.S. stocks. In fact, the fourth month of the year ties with October as the best month for the S&P 500 with an average gain of 2.1 percent over the past...

Parse through the top asset-gathering, equity-based exchange-traded funds for a particular year, and it is unlikely that multiple sector funds appear, but that anecdote belies the rising popularity of sector ETFs. Sector ETFs have gained popularity among advisors and investors looking for more...

The market this year has been characterized by leadership in defensive sectors such as utilities that have been boosted by falling interest rates and conservatism in the late stages of this bull market. While the momentum in utilities has continued to prosper, a new sector has taken over the top...

With the market in the midst of one of its most impressive rallies over the last decade, identifying stocks that are outperforming the market is crucial to capitalize on the current market environment. One of the best ways to take advantage of a bull market with such strength is to identify...

Preferred stock ETFs are an intriguing way to diversify as well as increase the overall yield of a portfolio. A preferred stock provides the income aspect of a fixed income security as well as the growth potential of an equity security. The ETFs in the niche asset class have been trading near...

The U.S. homebuilders’ confidence handed the economy positive news this week as sales expectations and buyer traffic improved. The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) Index rose to 58 from 54 in October, beating expectations that called for a slight rise to 55. The current sales...

With just a little more than six weeks left in 2014, investors are gearing up to sprinkle some holiday cheer in their portfolios. So far this year, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY) has gained nearly 11 percent after a successful campaign that has included a marked uptick in volatility...