Posts related to ‘ETF’

Rig Count Growth Mostly Positive (BHI, OIH, DIG, USO, OIL)

Baker Hughes, Inc. (NYSE: BHI) has released its data on the weekly rig counts and most are up. We are watching the key ETF products react via the Oil Services HOLDRs (NYSE: OIH), the Ultra Oil & Gas ProShares (NYSE: DIG), the United States Oil (NYSE: USO) ETF and the iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (NYSE: OIL) react to this news.  It will be interesting to see if this continues after the recent pause in oil.

Posted on: November 20, 2009 – 1:11 pm in Commodities, ETF, Oil & Gas, , , , ,

Reviewing the New Smart Grid ETF (GRID, PBD, PZD, PBW, QCLN)

If you thought you might not see another green energy or less-dirty energy exchange traded-fund, there is a new ETF for you.  First Trust Advisors is launching the First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund of the First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (NASDAQ: GRID) today.  So far we are seeing a gain in the ETF by 0.8% to $30.39, but on fairly thin trading volume of about 134,000 shares as of 11:20 AM EST.  We have seen many other green ETFs, but this is actually the first designated ETF or ETN that is geared solely toward the smart-grid rather than just to green energy.  There will be some overlaps in this ETF with others, but that is often the case.

This ETF aims to track equity index called the NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index, which is designed to act as a “transparent and liquid benchmark” for the grid and energy infrastructure sector.  The most interesting aspect of this is that it may highlight which individual companies are making leaps and bounds here in the smart grid.  As you might expect, there are many overlaps in here with the other clean or green ETF products via the PowerShares Global Clean Energy (NYSE: PBD), PowerShares Cleantech (NYSE: PZD), PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy (NYSE: PBW), and the First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy (NASDAQ: QCLN).
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Posted on: November 18, 2009 – 11:40 am in ADR, Alternative Energy, ETF, Editor's Picks, Green Biz, Infrastructure, Utilities, , , , ,

Oil Inventories Heading Wrong Way (OIH, DIG, USO, OIL)

The Department of Energy has just released its weekly oil inventories data and those wanting stable prices from oil data may be disappointed.  We are watching the key ETFs around the news via the Oil Services HOLDRs (NYSE: OIH), the Ultra Oil & Gas ProShares (NYSE: DIG), the United States Oil (NYSE: USO) ETF and the iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (NYSE: OIL) reactions based upon the supply data.  NYMEX WTI Crude is up $0.89 per barrel at $80.03 at 10:38 AM EST after the news.

Crude stockpiles fell by 887,000 barrels (to 336.789 million barrels) versus a Dow Jones target of -600,000.  Frankly, anything negative was going to be a disappointment for us.  And it only gets worse from there…
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Posted on: November 18, 2009 – 10:42 am in Commodities, ETF, Oil & Gas, , , ,

Russian ADRs Take Off (MTL)(LUKOY)

Tickerspy’s Russian Stock and ADR Index is up close to 5% as the market goes into its close.  Among the biggest movers was LUKOIL (OTC: LUKOY), an oil and gas company that was up over 6.5% today.  Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), a mining company, was also up over 6.5%.

Russian oil and mining stocks were up today largely due to the effects of this weekend’s G-20 meetings, where world leaders agreed to continue their fiscal and monetary stimulus until global economic recovery.  This news gave investors confidence that there will be demand for industrial commodities in the coming quarters.  This has had the effect of pushing up the value of Russia’s ruble again the dollar, along with Russia MICEX index, as oil and metals mining represent a significant portion of that country’s economy.  

Garrett W. McIntyre

Posted on: November 9, 2009 – 3:25 pm in ETF, Emerging Markets, International Markets, Metals, , , , , , , , , ,

Yet Higher Gold Prices Cometh (GLD, GDX, ABX, GG)

Gold ImageYesterday’s surprise move from India that sent gold through the roof to almost $1,085.00 per ounce was a game changing event in gold.  Many technical analysts and chartists were looking for, or at least hoping for, a further consolidation in the price of the shiny yellow stuff.  Yet now that appears to not be the case.  This has broad ramifications for the SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD) and for Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDX); and it also of course will help push top-line and bottom line improvements to the likes of two of the huge players of Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE: ABX) and for Goldcorp Inc. (NYSE: GG).  This morning we received an audio-visual slide show technical analysis presentation from one of our affiliates INO.  This was by Adam Hewison, who we have noted was making a big gold call for a move to $1,100 and then $1,200 or even higher back when gold prices were consolidating and well under the $1,000 mark.
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Posted on: November 4, 2009 – 11:09 am in Charts, Commodities, ETF, Emerging Markets, Metals, Technical Analysis, , , ,

Oil Inventories Head Wrong Way, Again (OIH, DIG, USO, OIL)

Refinery ImageThe latest weekly inventories data from Department of Energy in crude and oil products is adding more support and adding fuel to a fire in the commodity rally today. It looks like we are back to larger draw-downs that expected. We are watching the Oil Services HOLDRs (NYSE: OIH), the Ultra Oil & Gas ProShares (NYSE: DIG), the United States Oil (NYSE: USO) ETF and the iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (NYSE: OIL) reactions based upon the supply data.  NYMEX WTI Crude is now up $1.13 at $80.73 as of 10:36 AM EST.
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Posted on: November 4, 2009 – 10:47 am in Commodities, ETF, Oil & Gas, , , ,

Rig Counts Inching Back Up (BHI, OIH, DIG, USO, OIL)

oil-well-image11This week’s data from Baker Hughes, Inc. (NYSE: BHI) on the weekly rig counts looks better and less mixed than in other weeks despite the notion that all projects should be financially sound at current levels.  On the news, we are watching the key ETF products of the Oil Services HOLDRs (NYSE: OIH), the Ultra Oil & Gas ProShares (NYSE: DIG), the United States Oil (NYSE: USO) ETF and the iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (NYSE: OIL) react to this news.  The overall figure is up, but barely.  Commodities players are mostly lower today, but more on the consumer data than on anything about rig counts.
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Posted on: October 30, 2009 – 2:06 pm in Commodities, ETF, Oil & Gas, , , , ,

Are Inflation ETFs For You? (CPI, GRES)

Money ImageThis week marks the launch of two new exchange traded funds, both of which intend to offer investors a direct hedge against inflation.  IndexIQ introduced the IQ CPI Inflation Hedged ETF (NYSE: CPI) and also introduced the IQ ARB Global Resources ETF (NYSE: GRES).

Investors generally need to seek investment returns that outpace inflation if they want to be up net-net throughout their lives.  That being said, it will be interesting to see how these measure through time.  In theory, these could offer Joe Public more hedging instruments for or against other investments used to beat the eroding factor of inflation down the road.  One of these ETF products, the CPI trade, is very easy to factor in the moves. The other, the GRES trade, is likely to be more complex than what many retail investors may care about; and what many institutions may aim to achieve on their own.
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Posted on: October 28, 2009 – 12:48 pm in Commodities, ETF, Index, ,

DOE Oil Inventories Back Up (OIH, DIG, USO, OIL)

Refinery ImageWe have just seen this week’s latest Department of Energy weekly oil inventory data.  The new report is on the heels of a sudden rise in oil prices followed by an almost just as sudden drop in oil prices this week.  Fortunately for the consumer, there was a rise in the key inventory data we follow.  The question is if it is enough of a gain to keep oil as a commodity from attracting too much in new investment dollars.  We are watching the Oil Services HOLDRs (NYSE: OIH), the Ultra Oil & Gas ProShares (NYSE: DIG), the United States Oil (NYSE: USO) ETF and the iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (NYSE: OIL) reactions based upon the supply data.  At 10:41 AM EST we have NYMEX WTI Crude down by $1.35 at $78.20 (down from the $79.75 level after inventory a week ago).

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Posted on: October 28, 2009 – 10:44 am in Commodities, ETF, Oil & Gas, , , ,

Has the S&P 500 Index Peaked? (SPY)

The SPDRs (NYSE: SPY) is perhaps the most liquid of all ETF products in the world as it tracks the benchmark S&P 500 Index.  One of our affiliates has just posed the very important and developing question… Has the S&P 500 peaked? There is even a detailed audio/video presentation here showing this, and his take is that the S&P is nearing a very critical apex, or what we would call a flag or pennant.  What we see as the biggest risk to the S&P and stock market overall is that the dollar just cannot fall indefinitely, even if it can still go lower through time.
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Posted on: October 27, 2009 – 12:16 pm in Charts, ETF, Editor's Picks, Index, Technical Analysis,

When Special Dividends Don’t Deliver (MOS, MOO)

Mosaic LogoSometimes special dividends make sense, and sometimes they do not.  Mosaic Co. (NYSE: MOS) traded lower most of the trading day after the fertilizer and potash giant declared a special cash dividend of $1.30 per share.  The company also reaffirmed its 2010 capital spending guidance, but the special dividend failed to excite many investors.  With a prior close of $51.79, that is a 2.5% special return.  Generally speaking, special dividends have a higher return than this.  They also tend to come when an entity feels that it has no better use of its capital.  Yet the reaction today was an unfavorable one, and there are reasons why.
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Posted on: October 26, 2009 – 4:27 pm in Agriculture, Dividend, ETF, ,

DOE Mixed Inventory Driving Oil Prices (OIH, DIG, USO, OIL)

Refinery ImageThe Department of Energy’s weekly energy inventories data is giving another mixed picture similar to last week.  The difference is that this was more in-line with expectations that what we saw last week.  We are watching the Oil Services HOLDRs (NYSE: OIH), the Ultra Oil & Gas ProShares (NYSE: DIG), the United States Oil (NYSE: USO) ETF and the iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (NYSE: OIL) reactions based upon the supply data.  At 10:44 AM EST we have NYMEX WTI Crude up $0.63 per barrel at $79.75 0.5% (up from the $76.43 after the last week’s inventory data).
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Posted on: October 21, 2009 – 10:50 am in Commodities, ETF, Oil & Gas, , , ,

Is Buffett Becoming A Lagging Indicator? (BRK-A)

BuffettImage gates foundationWarren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A) was out yesterday talking up “enormous progress” that has been made since a year ago.  His comments came from an interview and an opening address at the 4th annual closed-door Lydian Roundtable on the Payments Industry, a gathering of senior executives in the payments space.  Buffett noted the resiliency of the American system, yet he also cautioned that we are not 100% there just yet when it comes to a return of consumer confidence and spending.  Where this gets interesting is that Buffett has been far more timid in 2009 and it is getting hard to not wonder if Buffett is starting to become a lagging economic indicator.  His Berkshire Hathaway stock may or may not confirm this notion, but it has underperformed the market since at least the market recovery began.
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Posted on: October 21, 2009 – 10:18 am in Buffett, ETF, Economy, Value Investing, , ,

The VIX Becomes Worthless (VXX, VXZ)

The CBOE Volatility Index, or the VIX, has become almost a useless barometer in the current environment.  With the VIX’s nickname being called “The Fear Index,” this is probably no huge surprise based on 50% and 60% index gains from the March 9 closing bell levels.  The VIX shows the expectation of volatility for the month ahead and is constructed using the implied volatility of a range of S&P 500 index options from both call and put contracts.
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Posted on: October 19, 2009 – 2:31 pm in ETF, Index, Options, ,

Home Builders Already Cautious, Get More Cautious (XHB, ITB)

Burning House ImageThe prior data out of the National Association of Home Builders had been improving for three consecutive months.  New data for October came out today showing that the index slipped.  The problem with already seeing a slip is that the home builder confidence was never really back in the first place.  This response was from some 493 builders around the nation.  We are watching the SPDR S&P Homebuilders (NYSE: XHB) and the iShares Dow Jones US Home Construction (NYSE: ITB) ETFs fall in response.
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Posted on: October 19, 2009 – 1:55 pm in ETF, Economy, Housing, ,

Claymore Brings New China Stock ETF (YAO, HAO, TAO)

china mapClaymore Securities is launching a new exchange-traded fund for investors to get one more method exposure to the Chinese stock market.  The new ETF is the Claymore/AlphaShares China All-Cap ETF (NYSE: YAO), and is Claymore’s third effort in a China-focused ETF.  The other two ETFs are the Claymore/AlphaShares China Small Cap Index ETF (NYSE: HAO), built on Chinese small-cap companies; and then there is the Claymore/AlphaShares China Real Estate ETF (NYSE: TAO), focused on real estate companies in China.
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Posted on: October 19, 2009 – 9:54 am in ADR, China, ETF, , ,

Refineries Throw Wrench in Oil Inventory Data (OIH, DIG, USO, OIL)

refinery-imageRefinery ImageAs usual, the weekly energy inventories data is giving a picture that can be construed as bullish or bearish for the price of oil and gas, yet there is a wrench in the machine from refineries that has energy prices higher.  We are watching the Oil Services HOLDRs (NYSE: OIH), the Ultra Oil & Gas ProShares (NYSE: DIG), the United States Oil (NYSE: USO) ETF and the iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (NYSE: OIL) reactions based upon the supply data.  At 11:21 AM EST we have oil up +$0.83 at $76.43, for a gain of +1.09%.
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Posted on: October 15, 2009 – 11:34 am in Commodities, ETF, Oil & Gas, , , ,

The Financial Leader Theme: Profit Taking (GS, C, SCHW, JPM, FAS)

Burning Money PicGoldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS), Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE: C), and The Charles Schwab Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHW) have all reported earnings.  All came in above or in-line with estimates and there is not really anything wrong with the numbers when you compare them to expectations, yet there is some disappointment on the trading floors.  We noted yesterday how JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) set the bar extremely high for the rest of the financial leaders.  As a result, the common theme here is profit taking in all of the majors.  There is even enough profit taking that the highly volatile triple-leverage Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (NYSE: FAS) ETF is selling off as well.
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Posted on: October 15, 2009 – 9:13 am in Banking, Brokerage Firms, ETF, Earnings, Financial Stocks, Trading Alert, , , , ,

Technician Call: Oil to $90+, But Questions Seasonality (USO, GLD, OIL, OIH)

Oil Well ImageNow that Gold has busted $1,000.00 and headed up almost every day since, the next target commodity is oil and the question is if black gold can mirror the performance of yellow gold.  One of our affiliates has a quick detailed technical analysis audio/video presentation that shows the possibility of much higher oil prices.  The United States Oil (NYSE: USO) is harder to use as a measure to directly track oil tick for tick, because unlike the SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD) directly investing in gold bullion, as the USO tries to track oil prices by rolling futures contracts.  The iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (NYSE: OIL) also uses crude oil futures contract (plus the T-Bill rate of interest that could be earned) to track oil prices.

While using the price of oil as a tracking measure is hard to do outside of directly trading oil, the Oil Services HOLDRs (NYSE: OIH) is one of the best way to play the big oil services companies and it often tracks broader oil prices more than the large integrated oil players.
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Posted on: October 14, 2009 – 10:15 am in Charts, Commodities, ETF, Oil & Gas, Technical Analysis, , , ,

JPMorgan Sets Very High Bar For Financial Peers (JPM, FAS)

JPM LogoJ.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) has just posted very impressive earnings.  The cleanest bank in America reported earnings of $0.82 EPS and revenues were $26.62 billion versus $0.52 EPS and almost $25 billion in revenues.  To compare these earnings, this translates to $3.6 billion in net income versus $527 million a year ago.  The results are strong enough that it has set a very high bar for its peers and the Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (NYSE: FAS) is soaring on the news.
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Posted on: October 14, 2009 – 7:14 am in Banking, ETF, Earnings, Financial Stocks, ,