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Market Overview

Under The Hood

  • AAPL, ARRS, IBM, Long Ideas, MSCC, News

    Under The Hood: Going Small With a Tech ETF

    Thursday, July 11, 2013 - 2:24pm

    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...

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  • AGNC, APA, BAC, CVY, CYS, DO

    Under The Hood: An Unheralded Multi-Asset ETF

    Friday, April 26, 2013 - 12:42pm

    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-...

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  • AZN, E, IDV, IQDE, IQDF, IQDY

    Under The Hood: An ETF For International Income

    Thursday, April 18, 2013 - 3:33pm

    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...

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  • AMGN, BBH, BIIB, CELG, FBT, GILD

    Under The Hood: An Unheralded Biotech ETF

    Thursday, April 11, 2013 - 1:53pm

    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...

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  • AZIA, Long Ideas, News, NGE, Under The Hood, Short Ideas

    Under The Hood: A Different ETF Way to Asia

    Thursday, April 4, 2013 - 1:02pm

    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...

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  • AFK, EGPT, EZA, FM, Long Ideas, News

    Under The Hood: The New Nigeria ETF

    Wednesday, April 3, 2013 - 1:08pm

    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...

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  • ABT, CTL, HNZ, JNJ, Long Ideas, MO

    Under The Hood: A New Dividend ETF Diva

    Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - 6:33pm

    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...

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  • AAPL, CSCO, FXL, GOOG, INTC, IYW

    Under The Hood: A Better Way to Tech

    Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 2:16pm

    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...

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  • DEM, EDIV, Long Ideas, News, Under The Hood, Short Ideas

    Under The Hood: More EM Dividends

    Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 8:29am

    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...

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  • AXFN, BAC, BNS, C, FXI, HBC

    Under The Hood: An Unheard of Bank ETF

    Friday, December 28, 2012 - 1:26pm

    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...

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  • ACN, FlexShares, Long Ideas, MO, News, NTRS

    Under The Hood: Beta And Dividends Collide

    Monday, December 24, 2012 - 2:10pm

    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...

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  • CVX, FlexShares, Long Ideas, MO, News, NTRS

    Under The Hood: More Defense, More Dividends

    Wednesday, December 19, 2012 - 5:10pm

    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."...

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  • COST, GPS, Long Ideas, News, PMR, RTH

    Under The Hood: Another Retail ETF

    Tuesday, November 27, 2012 - 1:41pm

    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...

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  • BBRC, EMCR, EMDD, News, PBR, Under The Hood

    Under The Hood: Emerging Markets to The Core

    Wednesday, October 17, 2012 - 7:21am

    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,...

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  • FlexShares, GUNR, Long Ideas, News, NTRS, TLTE

    Under The Hood: Tilting Toward Emerging Markets

    Monday, October 1, 2012 - 7:03am

    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...

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