December 22, 2008
Capital Gains Hit Some ETFs
by IAN SALISBURY
Most exchange-traded funds made good on their promise to shield investors from unwanted capital gains in 2008 -- with a few startling exceptions.
November 2, 2008
To cushion tax shock, advisers urged to act
by Jeff Benjamin
As mutual fund investors brace for a likely double whammy of negative performance, coupled with above-average income and capital gains distributions, financial advisers are homing in on all manner of tax management to try to cushion the blow and add some value in a dismal market environment.
September 4, 2008
Global Players Must Watch the Dollar
by IAN SALISBURY
A strong dollar could mean weak returns for investors in overseas stocks.
Main Street investors poured billions into international stock funds during the past several years as the tumbling dollar turbocharged returns. Now that the dollar appears to be on the rebound, those investors face tough choices about whether to sell, hedge their bets or just stick it out.
August 18, 2008
Will Vanguard's Tweaks Lead To New ETF?
by Dan Serra
Vanguard has taken out its wrench and tinkered with its Total International Stock Index Fund (VGTSX) by throwing out the fund-of-funds concept and investing in individual stocks.
April 21, 2008
Rest Of XTF Global Sold To Marco Polo
by Murrry Coleman
Marco Polo Network Inc., an electronic exchange which bills itself as the biggest platform for emerging markets stocks in the world, says it has purchased exchange-traded funds researcher and advisor XTF Global Asset Management LLC.
March 4, 2008
Efficient Market Buying XTF SMA Assets
by Murrry Coleman
Efficient Market Advisors, a pioneer in using exchange-traded funds in separately managed accounts, says it has agreed to purchase the accounts of a smaller New York-based money manager.
February 1, 2008
Analysts say financial, builder ETFs signaling buy
by Greg Morcroft and John Spence
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Some financial advisers and analysts specializing in exchange-traded funds say the financials and home-builder sectors are a screaming buy right now.
Despite a barrage of negative headlines last month, the financials sector managed to post a slight gain while the broad market shed 6%, leading some to recommend the Financial Select Sector SPDR /quotes/comstock/13*!xlf/quotes/nls/xlf (XLF 14.53, -0.05, -0.31%) and others.
January 31, 2008
PowerShares Launches Preferred Stock ETF
by Murrry Coleman
Investors interested in owning preferred stocks rather than more common share classes through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have a new option.
The PowerShares Preferred Portfolio (AMEX: PGX) launched on Thursday. It follows last year's debut of the iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund (AMEX: PFF).
August 12, 2007
With Index Funds, Count Your Costs
by MURRAY COLEMAN
Buying a low-priced index fund isn't always as straightforward as it might seem.
At least 221 distinct varieties of index mutual funds are available today with five-year track records. Throw in some 500-plus exchange-traded funds, most of which are considered passive investing vehicles, and how do you sort through the maze of offerings?
Start by being cheap, veteran investing pros advise.
July 13, 2007
Avoiding the damage of a corporate bond meltdown
by Aaron Pressman
Default rates on corporate bonds hit a 25-year low last year. Meanwhile, the extra yield paid by junk bonds over the rates of ultra-safe U.S. Treasury securities, the yield premium, hit an all-time low this year. And now you have some investors pointing to similarities between lax underwriting standards for subprime mortgages and the easy credit terms available to leveraged buyout borrowers. With the economy slowing and long-term interest rates ticking up, companies that borrowed too much will have trouble repaying their debt.
Market & Economic Commentary
presentation narrated
by Herb W. Morgan