Under The Hood

The technology sector, the largest sector weight in the S&P 500, has been a decent though not spectacular performer in 2013. Including Thursday's gains, the Technology Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLK) is up more than 10 percent this year, but investors could have more than twice as well with...

Some ETFs hold stocks. Others focus on bonds. Still others hold real estate investment trusts or master limited partnerships. Then there is the breed of ETF that offers exposure to all those asset class. Not surprisingly, those funds are called multi-asset ETFs. The dominant name in the multi-...

This week has been kind to income investors looking for new ETFs to consider as Northern Trust's (NASDAQ: NTRS) FlexShares unit has rolled out three new global dividend funds. The FlexShares International Quality Dividend Dynamic Index Fund (NYSE: IQDY) is part of that trio and represents the...

Another day, another set of fresh all-time highs for the major biotechnology ETFs. Biotech investors were treated to the same feat in late March, but as health care has continued to be a market-leading sector, faster-moving biotech funds have flourished. Heading into the start of trading...

Well, there is finally an ETF for most of the countries ending in "-stan." And for Mongolia, too. On the same day Global X introduced the first Nigeria ETF, the firm also unveiled the Global X Central Asia & Mongolia Index ETF (NYSE: AZIA). With Wednesday's debut, the Global X Central...

Finally. That might be the reaction of those traders and investors that like riskier fare as the Global X Nigeria Index ETF (NYSE: NGE) finally debuted Wednesday, nearly two years after the firm initially filed plans for the fund. Interestingly, Global X was not the first ETF sponsor to file...

One of the most prominent themes in the exchange-traded products business last year was the rapid proliferation of and generally enthusiastic reception of new dividend ETFs. On the year, dividend ETFs raked in $9 billion in fresh assets and those inflows benefited both established and rookie funds...

Last week, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) reminded investors that although it is the largest technology company, it is far from being the perfect stock in that sector. Apple's recent woes have also reminded investors that it is possible to profit with select tech ETFs that skimp on Apple. The First Trust...

Typically prized for high GDP growth rates and diversification away from developed markets equities, emerging markets stocks and ETFs are making their presence felt on the income front as well. In 2012, the 300 largest non-financial firms in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index were expected to have...

Given that the financial services sector is the second-largest sector weight in the S&P 500 and often the industry group most ensconced in controversy, it can be hard to imagine an ETF that tracks bank stocks leading an anonymous existence. In a year when Financial Services Select Sector SPDR...

It is often said that one of the primary advantages of dividend stocks is that many members of this asset class have lower betas than their non-dividend paying counterparts. Of course, since beta is a measure of stock's volatility relative to the broader market, it stands to reason that low-beta...

Simply put, dividend funds are among the most popular ETF styles available to investors today. Inflow data proves the point. In a research note published by Morningstar earlier this month, the firm notes "total assets in the group are about $45 billion, up from just $8 billion three years ago."...

This certainly is the time of year to talk about consumer discretionary and retail ETFs. The U.S. consumer, the driving force behind 70 percent of this country's GDP, appears poised to flex his (and her) muscles this holiday shopping season. While this is the "most wonderful time of the year" and...

If you build it, they will come. That could be the sentiment of ETF issuers when it comes to emerging markets ETFs because despite slowing growth and rising volatility in the developing world, issuers keep churning out emerging markets funds. Emerging Global Advisors, parent company of EGShares,...

There is no shortage of emerging markets ETFs on the market today. In particular, investors have a plethora of funds offering exposure to multiple countries from which to choose. That does not stop ETF issuers from bringing more of these funds to market. Take the example of the FlexShares...