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Emerging Market Bond ETFs May Be Safer Than You Think
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 7:30am
“May you live in interesting times.” That’s an old Chinese curse I think someone must have wished on us today. We live in interesting but... [More »]
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Are JPMorgan Chase ETNs Safe?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 7:30am
I don’t know about you, but here in Texas I can barely drive a mile without passing a JPMorgan Chase (JPM) branch. They’re even inside ... [More »]
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What Constitutes the Industrial Sector?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 7:30am
I’ve been investing in sectors for more than 25 years — first with mutual funds and now ETFs. Following the trends from one industry to ... [More »]
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How to Invest in the World’s Fastest Growing Countries
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 7:30am
I’m always on the lookout for investment opportunities. The last few years, most of the profit potential seems to be outside the U.S. Thankfully, with ETFs I can ... [More »]
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Your Profits to Latin America Are Just a Mouse Click Away
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 7:30am
Where do you look for opportunities? When the subject is international ETFs, people often think first about Europe and Asia. And indeed, you can find profit potential in both those places. But there’s a whole other continent right under your nose! Just look down and you’ll see it — our neighbors to the south in [More »]
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ETFs for Earnings Season
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 7:30am
It happens like clockwork. Every January, April, July, and October, publicly-traded companies issue quarterly financial reports. The numbers are dissected instantly, and can ... [More »]
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Club Med in an ETF? Not Yet.
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 7:30am
ETFs give you a better way to invest in many different assets — and especially international markets. Parts of the world that were “off-limits” to ... [More »]
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ETF Tax Forms and Tax-Free Alternatives
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 7:30am
April is here, which means warmer weather for most of us. Unfortunately, it also brings income tax time.This year you get an extra day to procrastinate since ... [More »]
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Trade Broken Products at Your Peril
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 7:30am
Investors in a VelocityShares exchange-traded note took a huge hit last week — losing more than 50 percent in two trading days. Ouch! The sad part is that ... [More »]
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ETFs Take You around the World
by Ron Rowland | Monday, March 26, 2012 at 7:30am
We’re in a new age of international investing. As recently as a year ago, numerous foreign markets were off-limits to all but big, sophisticated ... [More »]
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How to Ride the Technology Sector with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 7:30am
Today’s stock market is starting to remind me of 1999. Back then, you may recall, the technology sector led the whole market higher. The same thing is ... [More »]
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Limit Volatility or Use It for Profit – ETFs Help You Do Both!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 7:30am
You’ve heard it before: “Stocks are just too volatile right now.” So is volatility really a bad thing? And what the heck is volatility, anyway? We’ll talk about it today ... [More »]
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Solar’s Day in the Sun Not Here Yet
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 7:30am
With Middle East tension driving oil prices higher, investors are again looking at alternative energy sources. ETFs that specialize in this niche have shown extreme volatility this year ... [More »]
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ETFs: Coming to a 401(k) Near You!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 7:30am
Once upon a time, American companies took care of their workers — before retirement and after. Big employers offered generous pension plans guaranteed for life. Those days ... [More »]
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Get Aboard the Natural Gas Wave with These ETFs!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 7:30am
Last week Sean Brodrick used my space to tell you some Inconvenient Truths About Alternative Energy. I think he is right on track about the natural gas ... [More »]
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Defend Yourself from the Fed with These New Inflation ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 7:30am
Inflation can be deadly to your investments. It’s a silent killer, too — one that reduces your “real” asset value even when the “nominal” worth looks higher. As my colleague Mike Larson said just a few weeks ago, the Federal Reserve and other central banks are printing money at a faster and faster rate. A [More »]
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ETFs Are Going BATS … and Why You Should Care!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 7:30am
The ETF marketplace changed last month. You didn’t notice? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Today I’ll tell you all about it. You already know that ... [More »]
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Four Paths to Real Estate Profits with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 7:30am
I’ve spent my investment career following sector momentum, and it’s worked out pretty well. ETFs make it even better. Right now my indicators show ... [More »]
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Which ETFs Could Suffer from Latest Euro-Zone Downgrades?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 7:30am
If you’re a regular reader of Money and Markets, you weren't surprised last Friday when Standard & Poor’s downgraded the sovereign debt of ... [More »]
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Health Care ETFs Poised to Repeat Good 2011
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 7:30am
The final numbers are in, and 2011 was officially a “flat” year for the S&P 500. Without dividends, the large-cap stock index was actually down a fraction. With dividends, it ... [More »]
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Six Reasons to Avoid Japan In 2012
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 7:30am
One of the best ways to make money in ETFs is to not lose money. I know it sounds obvious, but I can assure you that many people don't get this key point. So if I can ... [More »]
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3 ETF Trends of 2011 … and 3 Predictions for 2012
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 7:30am
Happy New Year! I know 2012 isn’t here just yet, but it’s never too early to get started. Today I’ll give you my top three predictions for next year’s ETF ... [More »]
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HOLDRS Closure Marks the End of an Era
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 7:30am
Happy Holidays! I hope everyone has a great time with family and friends. Before the weekend starts, there’s one last business item you may want to settle. So pay ... [More »]
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Put Cash in Your Wallet with ETF Tax-Loss Harvesting!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 7:30am
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are wonderful for many reasons. And as year-end approaches, I want to remind you of a key strategy using ETFs — because it can ... [More »]
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Why Emerging Market ETFs Belong on Your Watchlist
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 7:30am
The year is almost over, and the world’s supposedly “advanced” economies are still falling into chaos. Whether it’s Europe, the U.S., or Japan, the outlook for 2012 looks ... [More »]
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Don’t Keep the ETF Leftovers!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 7:30am
A week ago we celebrated Thanksgiving in the U.S. I hope you had a great time with your loved ones. Now families from coast to coast are dealing with ... [More »]
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Does Another Lehman Have Your Money?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 7:30am
One letter can make a huge difference in your portfolio — especially the letters “F” and “N.” For instance, consider the investments called ETF and ETN. In both cases, ET stands for ... [More »]
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New Fund Gives You Early Warning of Europe’s Crisis
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 7:30am
The fireworks in Europe are just getting started. Leaders and bankers across the Continent are playing the same “extend and pretend” game U.S. bankers have used with ... [More »]
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Sometimes it’s what you DON’T own that boosts your odds of success
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 7:30am
It’s easy to get caught up in recent stock market action. Then there are investment advisors who often go to the other extreme, urging their clients to ... [More »]
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How to Occupy Mall Street with Retailing ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 7:30am
As protesters “occupy” Wall Street, Americans are considering how — or if — they’ll be able to occupy the space under this year’s Christmas tree. Christmas? It’s not ... [More »]
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Is Technology Ready to Move Higher?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 7:30am
Now is a rough time for stock market bulls ... and being a bear isn’t much easier. Record daily volatility makes it tough to go either way. I’ve found that sector rotation offers much more opportunity than ... [More »]
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The Grand Parade of New ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 7:30am
New exchange-traded funds are launching almost every week. By my count, U.S. investors have access to more than 250 new ETFs and ETNs so far this year ... [More »]
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Physically-Backed Gold ETFs Provide Convenience
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 7:30am
The global economic crisis isn’t getting any better. Yes, we see rallies in various markets, but they’re getting weaker and shorter. The smart money is taking the opportunity to ... [More »]
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The Difference between Cheap Price and Good Value
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 7:30am
“Calling the bottom” is one of the hardest tasks most investors ever face. A wrong choice can devastate your portfolio. We all fantasize about “bottom-fishing.” Usually it happens in hindsight. We hear on TV ... [More »]
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Europe’s Safe Havens Are History
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 7:30am
Like I told you last month, European unity was always an illusion. Now the crisis is entering a new and more ominous phase. What about Greece? Whether you call it “default” or something else, the facts ... [More »]
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How to Invest in Private Equity Like a Billionaire!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 7:30am
You’ve heard the story before: The rich get richer while the rest of us try to keep up. In theory, the U.S. is a land of democracy and equal opportunity — but somehow it doesn't ... [More »]
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Ten TIPS to Tip Inflation in Your Favor
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 7:30am
Ben Bernanke keeps saying the Federal Reserve will do “everything it can” to encourage economic growth. But his first two “quantitative easing” programs were no help for average Americans. They were very beneficial for Wall Street, though, so the big banks ... [More »]
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Making $22 Million the Easy Way
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 7:30am
How would you like to make $22 million? No matter how wealthy you may be, that’s a nice amount of money. Better yet ... how about making $22 million with no extra work? Seriously — it’s free cash for labor you’re already doing. Your answer is probably ... [More »]
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Euro Unity Was Always an Illusion
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 7:30am
Last week Mike Larson told you how Europe is an economic basket case. And today I want to talk about that a little more. Why? Because Europe is the epicenter of an earthquake that rocked world markets this month — and the shock is far from over! Yet ... [More »]
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Move to the Front of the Line with Preferred Stock ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 7:30am
Imagine you’re standing in line, waiting to enter a big concert or Las Vegas show. You dutifully wind back and forth between the velvet ropes. You can’t wait to take your seat. Then just as you’re about to go in, the snooty usher brusquely closes the rope right in front ... [More »]
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The Best ETFs For Hurricane Season
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 7:30am
Here in Texas, we expect summer to be hot. Somehow we cope with 100-degree days. This year has been worse than usual. And to make matters worse, we’re in the middle of a severe drought, too. Here in Texas, we expect summer to be hot. Somehow ... [More »]
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How to Invest in the Fountain of Youth
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 7:30am
Like many of you, I’m a Baby Boomer. Now I find myself north of 50 and the prospect of getting “old” isn’t very attractive. [More »]
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Are Any Treasury ETFs Safe?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 7:30am
Your heroes in Washington D.C. are locking horns about the government debt. If they don’t reach a deal very soon, the Treasury may have to stop borrowing money next month. This is, of course, exactly what the Treasury should have done a long time ago, in my opinion. The ... [More »]
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Don’t invest in bond ETFs … without using this FREE tool
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 7:30am
Some people never learn. Officially, the U.S. economy has been out of recession for two years now. Have you noticed any “boom?” Probably not, unless you happen to work in lower Manhattan or Washington D.C. Yet the markets are still ... [More »]
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Boost Your Income This Year with International ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 7:30am
Income-hungry investors are having a rough time right now. Interest rates are at historic lows in the U.S. Worse, Ben Bernanke and his chums at the Fed seem determined to keep rates near zero. Even threats ... [More »]
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Three Often-Overlooked Risks of Inverse ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 7:30am
The ETF revolution allows everyday investors to achieve the impossible. Just a few short years ago, short-selling, leverage, spreads, and commodities were practical only for the Wall Street insiders. Now, with ETFs, anyone can play ... [More »]
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International ETFs … Minus the Currency Risk!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 7:30am
Have you noticed how the best-performing ETFs and mutual funds often specialize in international stocks? Funds focused on emerging markets, Asia/Pacific, China, Brazil and many others dominate the top of ... [More »]
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Can Active Management Be Indexed?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 7:30am
Regular readers know that I love ETFs. This fairly recent invention has revolutionized investing for millions of people. Now I think we’re entering a new era of innovation. Why? Today we’re going to look at some ... [More »]
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Five International Bond ETFs to Look at Now
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 9, 2011 at 7:30am
When you get a chance at two birds with one stone, it’s usually a good idea to take it. Three birds with one stone is even better! Right now we have a shot at combining three of my favorite investing ... [More »]
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Telecom Sector Rides the Internet Wave
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 7:30am
If, like me, you’re old enough to remember a time without the Web and e-mail, the fact that you’re able to read an online publication like Money and Markets is impressive. Even more so if you are reading it on ... [More »]
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Total Europe? There’s No ETF for That.
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 7:30am
For a continent with such magnificent heritage, Europe is a mess. The post-WW2 economic order is unraveling by the day. Look at what we’ve seen just in the last couple of weeks ... Greece is once again ... [More »]
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27 ETF Roads to China!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 7:30am
You hear a lot about China in the financial news, and with good reason. China’s explosive growth is changing the world in unprecedented ways ... and creating once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunities ... [More »]
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What Silver’s Recent Plunge Teaches Us about Leveraged ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 7:30am
Before the electronic ink could dry on last week’s column, Is the Gold/Silver Ratio at a Tipping Point?, silver crashed. So did ETFs that track this niche in the precious metals market. I hope you avoided all the ... [More »]
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Is the Gold/Silver Ratio at a Tipping Point?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 7:30am
Gold and silver are flying higher this year — and so are the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track them. Can the trends continue? More important, how can you best profit from them? Today we’ll explore those ... [More »]
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ETFs Offer Eight Ways to Weight the Same Stocks
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 7:30am
ETFs are a big help in many ways. One of the top benefits is that you are relieved from the task of deciding which individual stocks to buy out of the thousands available. Stock-picking is tough business. What you ... [More »]
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Health Care ETFs Seizing the Lead!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 7:30am
I’m a momentum investor. What does that mean? I just try to identify leading market sectors and then keep my portfolio aligned with them. Sometimes the strength is fairly obvious, and at other times it’s harder ... [More »]
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Your ETFs and the Tax Man
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 7:30am
If you haven’t filed your income tax return yet, “The Day” is almost here! Millions of Americans are sweating right now as they frantically sort out deductions, credits and amortizations. Mutual funds have long been ... [More »]
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Nine New ETFs Rising Above the Noise
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 7:30am
I keep pretty close tabs on the ETF industry. I’m not easily impressed, but I have to say that sponsors are on a roll in 2011. They’re bringing out innovative new products at a record pace. Today I will ... [More »]
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“Mommy, Where Do ETFs Come From?”
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 7:30am
It’s the question every parent dreads: “Where do exchange traded funds come from?” If you haven’t heard it yet, you eventually will. You can just tell the little ones “Ask Ron Rowland,” and let me answer the ... [More »]
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The Rundown on Japan ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 7:30am
We’re less than three full months into 2011, and the year is already chock-full of stunning world events. Yet if you depend on the media to tell you what is happening, you may miss some of the most important news ... [More »]
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Alternative Energy Phoenix Rises from Nuclear Ashes
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 7:30am
The catastrophe in Japan rocked world markets in the last week. On a human and economic scale, this quake’s impact is likely to be much worse than what Hurricane Katrina did to New Orleans. One thing ... [More »]
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Argentina — A New ETF Lets You Get There from Here
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 7:30am
A few weeks ago I told you about opportunities in a huge Asian country overshadowed by an even bigger neighbor. I was talking about India. The bigger neighbor, of course, is China. There’s a similar situation in ... [More »]
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What’s All This Talk about Oil Futures and Contango?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 7:30am
No doubt you’ve seen many headlines about oil prices lately. Often they refer to oil “futures.” What does that mean? I’m not a futures trader. I’m not suggesting you become one, either. But to make wise ... [More »]
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4 Ways to Fight Inflation with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 7:30am
Inflation is creeping up everywhere. Prices for gold, silver, oil, gasoline, food, even soft drinks are all creeping higher. You see it every day. The one area where we aren’t seeing inflation is wages. With the ... [More »]
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India’s New Bear Market
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 7:30am
I’m not a buy-and-forget kind of investor. I like to rotate my portfolio and stay with the intermediate-term relative strength. Emerging market exchange traded funds (ETFs) frequently show up near the top of my ... [More »]
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The ETF Boom: 1124 and Counting!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 7:30am
The selection of exchange-traded funds is exploding, and this is great news for you. Why? Because a bigger selection means more choices as well as more competition. That leads directly to lower fees and trading ... [More »]
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Egyptian Riots … ETFs … and the Opportunities
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 7:30am
If you turned on your TV in the last week or so, you almost certainly saw coverage of the protests in Egypt. Almost overnight, the media narrative moved from Washington to Cairo. Unfortunately, much of ... [More »]
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Two Muni ETFs to Avoid — and One That’s Surprisingly Safe!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 7:30am
Last week I received an e-mail solicitation that was both hilarious and sad. It came from a broker trying to sell municipal bonds from Illinois. He touted them as “investment grade” and was impressed by the ... [More »]
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Gold Isn’t All That Glitters in ETF Land
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 7:30am
When most people think of “precious metals,” they mean gold. Sure, some other metals are valuable too. But gold is where the real action is, right? Maybe. But now thanks to continuing innovation by ETF ... [More »]
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ETFs for the FASTEST Growing Emerging Markets
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 7:30am
Pop quiz time! Name a country that has: More than a billion people ... A massive domestic economy ... A wealthy aristocracy and rising middle class ... Huge and growing exports, and ... Nearly a dozen ETFs ... [More »]
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BRIC Countries Invite South Africa to Join
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 7:30am
Happy New Year! Something very, very important happened in the closing days of 2010, and very few people noticed. The “BRIC” club is expanding to include South Africa. Today I’ll discuss this development ... [More »]
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Six ETFs to Consider Dumping Today
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 7:30am
Happy Holidays! Many people have the last day of the year off, but not stock and ETF traders. Since 2011 New Year’s Day falls on a Saturday, the NYSE and other exchanges are open for a full day. This is good ... [More »]
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Dangers and Opportunities in Muni Bond ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 7:30am
Bonds of all kinds took a beating over the last few months — ever since Ben Bernanke began hinting he would launch another “quantitative easing” money-printing program. Ben was true to his word. And the ... [More »]
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Consumers on a Shopping Spree … Five ETFs to Help You Profit!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 7:30am
If you’re like most Americans, you know December as the “Season of Shopping.” So today I’ll give you some ideas on how you can make money to replace what you’ll spend this month. Consumers lost some of ... [More »]
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Follow the Trend with Small-Cap Growth ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 9, 2010 at 7:30am
With exchange traded funds (ETFs), global stock markets can be sliced and diced in hundreds of different ways. You can invest by country, by geographic region, by industry sector, and by various combinations ... [More »]
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Does Your ETF Own Derivatives?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 7:30am
What’s in your exchange traded fund (ETF)? The obvious answer is “stocks” if it is a stock ETF, and “bonds” if it is a bond ETF. That’s not always the case, though ... [More »]
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Go for Profits with International ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 7:30am
Let me ask you a question. Suppose you have the ability to invest in any stock market in the world. One of the largest markets has lagged badly for many years now. And there are few reasons to think the ... [More »]
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Go for the Gold with Mining ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 7:30am
Do you like to dig? I have to admit, it’s not my favorite thing. But if I knew there was gold in the ground I might think differently. In fact, there is gold in the ground — and plenty of other valuable minerals, ... [More »]
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Sorting Out the Asia ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 7:30am
You shouldn’t be surprised if I tell you I like Asia. I talk about Asia frequently, both in my Money and Markets columns and in International ETF Trader. The reason is simple: Asia is where I see the best ... [More »]
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Get Down Under With Australia ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 7:30am
See if you can guess the country ... Straddles two different oceans, Part of the British Commonwealth, Huge wilderness area, English-speaking, Democracy, Capitalist, Technologically and industrially ... [More »]
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Profit from Rising Food Prices with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 7:30am
Here’s a question for you ... and I’m pretty sure your answer is “Yes.” The question is: Do you eat? Food is a basic necessity of life. We all need to eat. Some of us eat more than others do, of course. Sadly, ... [More »]
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Diversify Out Of U.S. Dollars With ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 7:30am
Do you pay attention to the currency markets? You’d better, if you want to survive and thrive in these crazy times. I have to tell you I am NOT a currency expert. For deeper analysis I refer you to my ... [More »]
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Seven New ETFs Cover New Ground
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 7:30am
The exchange traded fund menu is growing fast. So far this year more than 170 new ETFs and similar exchange-traded products have hit the market in the U.S. Quite a few of the new ETFs were just ... [More »]
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Five Tech ETFs to Look at Now
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 7:30am
You can always count on one thing in the technology sector: Change! The cutting-edge inventions that fascinated us so much back in the 1990s are de rigueur now. Where will we be in ten years? I can only ... [More »]
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For Income and Diversification, Have You Considered International Bond ETFs?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 7:30am
In these turbulent times, plenty of investors just want steady income. Others realize they need to look outside the U.S. as they ride out the storm. Yet in a world where some once-stable economies are ... [More »]
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You’re the Winner in the ETF Price War
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 7:30am
A price war is breaking out in the exchange traded fund (ETF) industry. While it’s not good news for everyone — ETF sponsors, for instance — investors can now get more for their money than ever before! ... [More »]
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Can Green Energy ETFs Put Green In Your Wallet?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 7:30am
Remember a few years ago when “alternative energy” was all the rage? With crude oil trading at $150 and gasoline prices above $4 a gallon in many places, breaking free from our dependence on fossil fuels ... [More »]
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Think Small When Going International
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 7:30am
You won’t be surprised when I say the U.S. markets are lousy right now. Can you find niches that are performing well? Sure — I often highlight these for you when I see them. But most U.S. stocks and ... [More »]
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Play the Yield Curve with New ETNs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 7:30am
Many individual investors spend their time thinking about stocks. Which stocks are going up? How high are they going? Should I buy now? These can be important questions, but stocks aren’t the only ... [More »]
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Three Ways into South America with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 7:30am
In last week’s column we looked at some ETFs focused on the booming countries of Southeast Asia. Today we’re turning our spyglass in a different direction. We’re looking at the southern portion of the western ... [More »]
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Profit from Booming Southeast Asia with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 7:30am
As you know, I’m a fan of emerging markets and a big proponent of exchange trades funds (ETFs). They fit together almost perfectly. Today I want to focus on one fast-growing region that is getting more and ... [More »]
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Power-Up Growth and Income with Utilities ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 7:30am
Years ago, people would categorize themselves as either "growth" or "income" investors. The latter group typically consisted of people who were either retired or independently wealthy. Today the lines are a ... [More »]
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The Number of ETFs Is Exploding
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 7:30am
As I watch the exchange-traded fund (ETF) universe grow, I keep having flashbacks to the huge increase in the number of mutual funds in the 1990s. Back then everyone wanted to own large cap growth funds ... [More »]
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Make the Trend Your Friend with Bond ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 7:30am
Recent economic data is pointing toward a second wave of recession ... and maybe even outright deflation. One key consequence: Long-term interest rates are low and getting lower. Today I’m going to ... [More »]
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Capitalizing on the Rich
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 7:30am
Do you want to be rich — or are you already there? The answer, of course, depends on how you define “rich.” Today we’ll look at this surprisingly difficult question — and then consider a few exchange traded ... [More »]
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What the Tour de France Can Teach You About Investing
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 7:30am
I love the Tour de France. That’s why about this time last year, I gave you Three Investing Lessons from that venerable athletic event. The comparison between bicycle racing and investment success seemed ... [More »]
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Six Ways to Brazil
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 7:30am
Anyone familiar with international investing knows about Brazil. It’s hard to ignore the fifth largest country in the world by geography and population, the South American commodities powerhouse, and the largest ... [More »]
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ETFs for the Gold Bull Market
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 7:30am
A little over a year ago I told you about Four Easy Ways to Trade Gold With ETFs. Since then, gold has shot up from below $1,000 to as high as $1,265.30 this past Monday. Is it going still higher? If so, you ... [More »]
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Get Outside the Style Box with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 7:30am
You’ve likely heard these investment buzzwords on TV or read them in the business section of your newspaper: Buy small-cap value! Look for opportunities in mid-cap growth! Go to large-caps for safety ... [More »]
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Six Beaten Down ETFs in the Southern Hemisphere
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 7:30am
For the past two weeks, I’ve talked about exchange traded fund (ETF) bottom-fishing. First we looked at nine domestic sector ETFs, then last week we reviewed six opportunities in Europe. The financial crisis is ... [More »]
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Beaten-Down ETFs Part II: Europe
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 7:30am
Last week I told you to keep your eyes on nine sector ETFs that have been crushed in the recent market downturn. Today I’m going to continue the same discussion starting with beaten-down ETF #10. This ... [More »]
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Nine Beaten-Down ETF Bargains
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 7:30am
In case you haven’t noticed, most of the world’s stock markets took a hard fall the last few weeks. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) got walloped, too. Is the selling over? Perhaps. But even if we ... [More »]
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All Crude Oil Is Similar, But Crude Oil ETFs Are Not
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 7:30am
You may have noticed that crude oil prices plunged over the last few weeks. On May 3, the June crude oil futures peaked at more than $87. Then on Monday, May 17 the same contract slipped below $70 ... [More »]
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Five Tips for Trading ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 7:30am
Every week I tell you about exchange traded funds (ETFs) that you can use for various investment purposes. You could be wondering, though, what’s the best way to buy them. So in today’s column I’ll ... [More »]
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What ETF Investors Can Learn from the May 6 Flash Crash
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 7:30am
If you had any doubt that today’s markets aren’t what they used to be, it should be gone after last Thursday. U.S. stocks were already having a bad day thanks to riots in Greece, elections in ... [More »]
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Add Energy Income with an MLP ETN
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 7:30am
You’re probably having a tough time these days if you live off the interest from your investment portfolio. For example, according to Bankrate.com, money market accounts are now yielding a paltry 0.76 percent ... [More »]
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Greece, Europe and ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 7:30am
When Americans hear about Greece, the first thought that comes to mind is usually “ancient history.” Now Greece is all over the headlines for its financial woes. But if truth be told ... [More »]
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Goldman Sachs and ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 7:30am
Last week the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission filed a civil lawsuit against Goldman Sachs (GS) alleging fraud. And the news hit Wall Street like a volcano! Of course the SEC sues companies ... [More »]
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Zero in on Small Cap Sectors with New ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 7:30am
The exchange traded fund (ETF) menu is getting bigger all the time. Many of the new ETFs you hear about are just “me-too” clones of existing funds. But every once in a while something truly innovative comes ... [More »]
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Get Aboard the Trend in Consumer Spending with Sector ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 7:30am
I’m a consumer. You’re a consumer. In fact, just about everyone you know is a consumer. But in these tough economic times, we often have to prioritize. On the other hand, not everyone is closely ... [More »]
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Feds Scrutinizing Derivatives in ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 7:30am
Last week I told you about political risk in exchange traded funds (ETFs). Almost as if on cue, later that very day, the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) announced it is conducting a “review” of ... [More »]
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Controlling Political Risk with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 7:30am
Even if you aren’t very interested in politics, you have to admit that political factors can have a huge impact on your investments. These days government policy affects everything — for better or worse ... [More »]
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How to Trade the BRICs with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 7:30am
You’ve heard of the BRIC countries, right? Brazil, Russia, India and China are the four top emerging markets. For various reasons, all have much better long-term prospects than most of the so-called "developed" ... [More »]
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Five Reasons I’m Skeptical About Target-Date ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 7:30am
Are you planning to retire someday? Unless you are already retired the answer is almost certainly “Yes.” It’s the American Dream! Of course, there’s nothing magical about age 65. Some people end their ... [More »]
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Three ETFs for Rising Interest Rates
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 7:30am
Wall Street is obsessed with interest rates. Many consumers are, too, especially anyone who wants to buy a home or car. There’s a good reason for this: Debt — or you might call it “leverage” — is the ... [More »]
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ETFs Beat HOLDRS Hands Down!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 7:30am
If you’ve been reading my Money and Markets columns for any length of time, you know I’m a big proponent of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). And I think they’re one of the most exciting investment innovations ... [More »]
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Five ETF Targets to Consider Selling Now
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7:30am
In my Money and Markets columns I usually tell you about opportunities I see in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and how you can grab them. Today I want to do something a little different: List some ETFs ... [More »]
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Alternative ETFs Offer More Ways to Profit
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 7:30am
Whether you’re investing in stock exchange traded funds (ETFs), bond ETFs, commodity ETFs, currency ETFs, international ETFs, or even inverse ETFs, you’re stuck with one big problem: Any way you look ... [More »]
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Get Energized With Energy ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 7:30am
Energy is big business here in Texas. Just about everyone in the state knows someone in the industry, if they aren’t employed in it themselves. In fact, energy is big business everywhere! Crude oil, ... [More »]
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Why You Should Ignore New ETF Filings
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 7:30am
The old saying says, “Don’t believe everything you read.” While this is good advice, investors today have a bigger problem: News that is accurate but irrelevant. I see this all the time as I track the ... [More »]
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Get Rolling with Transportation ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 7:30am
Today I’d like to tell you about a sector that is deeply intertwined with economic recovery. I’m talking about transportation. We live in a mobile society, even if we are in the internet age. Not only do ... [More »]
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The ETF Industry Is Growing Like Crazy
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 7:30am
You might think the wild markets of the last year would have made ETF sponsors slow down a bit, but they kept on cranking out new products — some great, some not. By my count, a total of 136 ... [More »]
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Who Are the Next 11?
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 7:30am
Everyone is making 2010 forecasts. So today I’ll jump on the bandwagon and share one of mine with you: In 2010 you’ll hear a lot more about the “Next 11.” The Next 11 (N-11) is a list of fast-growing ... [More »]
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Everything You Need to Know About ETF Investing
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 7:30am
As 2009 draws to a close, I’d like to thank you for your loyalty. Readers like you are truly a blessing. [More »]
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Stuff Your ETF Stocking With Micro-Caps
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 7:30am
Do you remember the childhood wonder of looking at all the colorfully wrapped packages under the Christmas tree, trying to guess what ... [More »]
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Mega-Cap ETFs Give You the Bluest Blue Chips
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 7:30am
People often associate “big” with “safe.” They think big ships are safer than small boats. Big banks are safer than small banks. Big stocks are safer than small stocks... [More »]
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Know Your ETF Sponsors
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 7:30am
The ETF business is exploding as the many advantages of exchange-traded funds are drawing investors away from individual stocks and old-fashioned mutual funds. Since you can’t know the players ... [More »]
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ETFs Bring the Middle East to You
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:30am
The Middle East is big news this week with a state-owned company in the tiny emirate of Dubai asking for an extension on debt payments. Markets around the globe are watching intently... [More »]
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Profit from the Falling Dollar With ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 7:30am
The U.S. dollar is falling like a rock! And while we could always see a short-term rally, I’m growing more and more convinced that the dollar is heading much lower against other world currencies ... [More »]
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Schwab Changes the ETF Landscape
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 7:30am
I’ve been talking for years about the way exchange traded funds (ETFs) are changing the investment landscape. Yet sometimes I’m still startled to see the world change in front of my eyes ... [More »]
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Five Tips for Trading ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 7:30am
Every week I tell you about exchange traded funds (ETFs) that you can use for various investment purposes. You could be wondering, though, what’s the best way to buy them. So in today’s ... [More »]
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Playing the Health Care Sector with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 7:30am
We’ve all been waiting on pins and needles to see what kind of health care reform comes out of Washington. Aside from the fact that we’re all patients of one kind or another, health care is a ... [More »]
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Unbundle the Stock Market with Sector ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 7:30am
Investors often think about “the stock market” as if it were some kind of giant creature rumbling through the woods. However, the stock market is more like a whole bunch of little creatures, each of ... [More »]
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How to Target the Rising Financial Sector with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 7:30am
I’ve had great success with sector-based exchange traded funds (ETFs) over the years. And that’s because − despite whatever problems the broader stock market may be having − usually one ... [More »]
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How to Trade China with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 7:30am
Right now, China is celebrating 60 years of Communist party rule. Most of the party-goers aren’t old enough to remember anything else, of course, but that isn’t stopping the nationwide ... [More »]
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Many Flavors of Bond ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 7:30am
Stocks are definitely the most popular asset class covered by exchange-traded funds (ETFs), but you can buy a lot of other things, too. For instance, did you know you can invest in the ... [More »]
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Five Hot New International ETFs To Consider
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 7:30am
Today, much of the world’s economic growth is outside of the U.S. So for now at least, many (and maybe most) of the compelling investment opportunities are outside the U.S., too ... [More »]
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Get Creative With Alternative Weighting ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 7:30am
You probably know that exchange traded funds (ETFs) are usually based on an index. In some cases the indexes are broad, like the S&P 500. Others are narrowly specialized in sectors ... [More »]
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Commodity ETFs Under Fire From Washington!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 7:30am
When it comes to investing in commodities, the people I know have two opposite emotions — either obsessed or terrified. I can see why. The commodity markets — contracts representing ... [More »]
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How to Trade Growth vs. Value with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, September 3, 2009 at 7:30am
Ever been to an investment conference or watched CNBC? If so, you’ve heard people talk about “growth stocks” and “value stocks.” What do they mean by this? How does ... [More »]
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Trade Technology with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 7:30am
For many investors, tech stocks are the only stocks. Everything else is "the old economy." Technology is where it's at. I spent a big part of my early career at IBM — the original tech stock ... [More »]
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ETFs for Inflation — or Deflation
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 7:30am
Which will it be: Inflation or deflation? And what can you do to protect yourself in either scenario? My answer to the first question is BOTH! I think we’ll see waves of inflation as well as periods ... [More »]
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Six ETFs Every Investor Should Know
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 7:30am
Every week in my Money and Markets column, I try to show you how to boost your portfolio by using exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Today I’m giving you an assignment: Know your ETFs ... [More »]
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Accessing the Frontier Markets with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 7:30am
As a Money and Markets reader, you probably know an awful lot about “emerging markets.” They’re the countries that aren’t quite as modernized as the U.S. but are developing fast ... [More »]
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Get On the Biotech Bandwagon with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 7:30am
The stock market isn’t just a big block of stone that moves all at once. So I’m always looking for market leadership. Even in a strong market, a smaller group is almost always breaking ahead ... [More »]
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Recession Investing With Sector ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 7:30am
Right now the U.S. is in a deep recession. None of us know for sure when it will end, and the short-term indicators are inconclusive. Yet there is one thing I’ve learned from years of ... [More »]
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ETFs Bring the World to Your Doorstep
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 7:30am
Once upon a time, Americans who wanted to invest in foreign stock markets faced all kinds of hurdles. For example, brokers often weren't able to process orders on non-U.S. exchanges ... [More »]
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Three Investing Lessons From the Tour de France
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 7:30am
The Tour de France is underway! Here in Austin many of us are fans of local hero Lance Armstrong. His record-breaking seven Tour victories are an inspiration to anyone facing a big ... [More »]
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Understanding Leveraged ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 7:30am
You’ve probably heard about leveraged ETFs: Funds designed to deliver twice or even three times the return of their benchmarks. Just last week, ProShares launched the first triple-leveraged ... [More »]
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Inverse ETFs Let You Profit In a Falling Market
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 7:30am
I don’t have to tell you that the stock market can go down as well as up. And the huge volatility we’re seeing in the markets isn’t going away anytime soon. Why not just stay safely in cash ... [More »]
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Diversify Out of the Dollar with Currency ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 7:30am
You’ve seen the headlines: U.S. Dollar Plunges! U.S. Dollar Surges! Why should you care? More to the point, why won’t the dollar just hold still? Actually, in one sense it does hold still ... [More »]
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Profit from Rising Interest Rates with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 7:30am
Have you looked at interest rates lately? They’re soaring! Back on March 18, the 10-year Treasury bond yield dropped as low as 2.54 percent. This week it went above 3.90 — a huge ... [More »]
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How To Profit From Soaring Food Prices With ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 7:30am
Global food prices are climbing higher along with energy and precious metals. In May, the Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index, which tracks 19 raw materials including corn, crude oil, and ... [More »]
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Four Easy Ways to Trade Gold With ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 7:30am
Have you noticed? Gold is starting another run on the $1,000 mark. From April 17 through May 26, gold bullion jumped from $ 867.90 to $953.90 an ounce — a 10 percent gain in less than six ... [More »]
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Maximum Safety in Treasury ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 7:30am
I’ve just finished reading Martin’s new book, The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide. I highly recommend it. Martin says — and he’s exactly right — that the safest place in the world ... [More »]
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ETFs For Every Investor!
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 7:30am
In last week’s Money and Markets column, I told you about the advantages exchange-traded funds have over mutual funds. Today we’ll go a little deeper and look at the many exciting ... [More »]
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Why ETFs Beat Mutual Funds By A Mile
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 7:30am
I’ve been trading and investing in mutual funds for most of my life, and I’ve had some success. Yet I have to admit that mutual funds have some shortcomings as an investment vehicle ... [More »]
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Why ETNs are Riskier Than They Look
by Ron Rowland | Friday, February 6, 2009 at 7:30am
Mike Larson is off today, so he asked me to fill in for him. And one thing that I think Mike and I both agree on is that ETFs, or exchange traded funds, are one of the best things that ever happened ... [More »]
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How to Buy and Sell Real Estate with ETFs
by Ron Rowland | Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 3:00pm
If you’ve had your eyes open the last two years, you know that real estate is in a brutal bear market. Just in October, new home sales dropped 5.3%. Existing home sales fell 3.1% ... [More »]
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