iShares MSCI Global Agriculture Producers Fund (NYSE: VEGI) targets the front end of the production chain (fertilizers or agricultural materials) while excluding exposure from companies at the end of the production chain (packaging and marketing). This is a bit similar to but nowhere near identical to the Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF (NYSE: MOO).
 
iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers Fund (NYSE: FILL) tracks the MSCI ACWI Select Energy Producers Investable Market Index.  This is similar to the ProShares Ultra Oil & Gas (NYSE: DIG), but without the leverage.

iShares MSCI Global Select Metals & Mining Producers Fund (NYSE: PICK) aims to track the MSCI ACWI Select Metals & Mining Producers Ex Gold & Silver Investable Market Index. This one is not identical to but has overlaps with the SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (NYSE: XME).

iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners Fund (NYSE: RING) aims to track the MSCI ACWI Select Gold Miners Investable Market Index.  We consider this an alternative to the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDX).

iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners Fund (NYSE: SLVP) aims to track the MSCI ACWI Select Silver Miners Investable Market Index.  We would consider its an alternative to the Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSE: SIL).

As far as why these are different from some other ‘production’ ETFs, iShares explains that these include only companies at, or near, the initial phase of production of the commodity. Investors can target the front end of the production chain instead of including the back-end of the production chain to focus on the aspects more sensitive to fluctuations in the underlying commodity price.  Companies further down the production cycle are impacted by a number of factors in addition to commodity prices.

An ETF for just about anything… now competing ETFs for many more strategies.

JON C. OGG

Charles Biderman noted, “The U.S., Europe, and Japan are printing enormous sums to pay their bills and in turn are devaluing their paper currencies. I doubt that’s going to change because it’s much easier for central bankers to print money than it is for politicians to cut spending.”

Biderman went on to note that gold and silver prices are going to skyrocket from retail money chasing a limited supply of the metals. On silver he noted, ““The gains in silver could be particularly strong because the silver market is much smaller than the gold market. Silver ETFs have only one-ninth the assets of gold ETFs.”

The current unemployment data from today is signaling that the Fed Funds rate hikes could come toward the end of 2013 now rather than the end of 2014, but that is one-month data.

TrimTabs goes on to note that monetary easing by the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank has helped push up gold and silver prices much more than stock prices.  He even noted that since QE2 was announced, the gold ETF is up 41% versus the 30% gains for the SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY) gain of 30% after including dividends.

The report even noted that in the past three weeks alone there has been a $1.4 billion inflow into gold ETFs by investors while silver ETFs saw smaller inflows. 

JON C. OGG

The surprise winner so far in 2012 after the first month is USG Corporation (NYSE: USG). then there are stocks like Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC), Ingersoll-Rand plc (NYSE: IR), Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO), Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC), Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC), and American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP).  Yep, the other winners of these seven holdings are mostly tied to finance.

We have evaluated the performance to date (from FinViz.com) and added in some color on each.  We have also shown how the price compares to the 52-week highs or to the consensus price target as well, and included in some cases whether the position is substantial or not.

USG Corporation (NYSE: USG) is up 32.8% year-to-date and is actually Berkshire Hathaway’s top performing stock.  With so much interest in the bottoming out of housing at some point in 2012, it may not be that ridiculous even if the fundamentals have not changed all that much yet.  The concern here is that at $13.50 it now trades above the consensus $13.30 price target.  Buffett holds over 17 million USG shares.

Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) is up 32.4% year-to-date and the new large preferred position is back to where Warren Buffett doesn’t look foolish for dreaming up his investment in BofA while in the bath.  At $7.36 there is still plenty of upside to the $8.90 price target and this remains (and is expected to remain) well under book value.

Ingersoll-Rand plc (NYSE: IR) is up 15.5% year-to-date, not bad for what is usually a slower-moving company with a portfolio of industrial and commercial products.  At $35.18, it does not have much upside left to the consensus price target of $37.94 but it is still way off the 52-week high of $52.33.  Buffett’s position is way down from prior periods and is only 636,600 shares as of the last report.  This position just can’t move the entire Berkshire Hathaway Barometer too much.

Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO) is up 11.6% year-to-date.  The credit rating agency has been a controversial position that Buffett has lightened up on through time.  At $37.60, it is close to the consensus price target of $39.60 and under the 52-week high of $41.93.  Buffett did lighten up a bit on this position but still holds roughly 28.4 million shares.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) is up 9.5% year-to-date and is one of the news 2011 investments that Mr. Buffett hid.  It was also his first technology pick as far as pure hardware is concerned.  At $26.55, Intel is very close to its 52-week high of $27.00 and close to its consensus analyst price target of $27.17.

Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) is up 8.9% year-to-date and is up the least of the big money-center banks.  It is also the only one of the money-center banks trading above book value because the restructuring regulatory climate over future earnings will create the least amount of change at Wells Fargo. Buffett keeps adding here and now holds over 361 million shares as one of his biggest positions ever.

American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) is up 7.7% year-to-date, which is lower than many financials. The recent earnings report showed improvement but perhaps a trend towards peaking of the improving credit metrics of AmEx customers.  Buffett’s position is roughly 151.6 million shares.

Berkshire Hathaway’s most recent holdings in entirety can be found here.

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JON C. OGG

At about 8:45 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is down -1.07% at 6,442.29 and France’s CAC 40 is down -1.30%, at 3,275.61. In London, the FTSE 100 is down -1.04%, at 5,673.78.

In Asia, the Hang Seng index closed down -1.66%, at 20,160.40 and the Nikkei index closed down -0.54%, at 8,793.05. The Shanghai exchange closed down -1.47%, at 2,285.04.

Dow futures are down -0.82%, at 12,510.00. The Nasdaq 100 is down -0.84%, at 2,435.50 and the S&P is down -0.94%, at 1,300.10.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is stronger against the British pound, the euro and the Japanese yen. The US dollar index is up 0.658% at 79.355.

In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are lower this morning, with WTI down -0.68% at $98.88/barrel and Brent is down -0.23% at $111.20/barrel. Gold is down -0.43% this morning, at $1,722.80/ounce.

Paul Ausick

At about 8:15 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 0.20% at 6,552.70 and France’s CAC 40 is down -0.40%, at 3,349.71. In London, the FTSE 100 is down -0.36%, at 5,774.22.

In Asia, the Hang Seng index closed up 0.31%, at 20,501.70 and the Nikkei index closed down -0.09%, at 8,841.22. The Shanghai exchange remains closed for the lunar new year holiday.

Dow futures are up 0.16%, at 12,704.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.29%, at 2,460.25 and the S&P is up 0.11%, at 1,316.80.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is weaker against the British pound, the euro and the Japanese yen. The US dollar index is down -0.270% at 79.183.

In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI up 0.45% at $100.15/barrel and Brent is up 0.36% at $111.19/barrel. Gold is down -0.15% this morning, at $1,727.30/ounce.

Paul Ausick

At about 8:30 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 1.53% at 6,520.14 and France’s CAC 40 is up 1.18%, at 3,351.65. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 1.16%, at 5,789.60.

In Asia, the Hang Seng index closed up 1.63%, at 20,439.10 and the Nikkei index closed down -0.39%, at 8,849.47.

Dow futures are up 0.43%, at 12,743.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.20%, at 2,465.50 and the S&P is up 0.35%, at 1,324.80.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is weaker against the British pound, the euro and the Japanese yen. The US dollar index is down -0.326% at 79.217.

In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI up 1.41% at $100.80/barrel and Brent is up 1.62% at $111.59/barrel. Gold is up 0.87% this morning, at $1,717.90/ounce.

Paul Ausick

At about 8:15 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is down -0.50% at 6,386.92 and France’s CAC 40 is down -0.66%, at 3,300.83. In London, the FTSE 100 is down -0.60%, at 5,717.28.

In Asia, the Hong Kong and Shanghai exchanges remain closed for the lunar new year holiday. The Nikkei index closed up 1.12%, at 8,883.69.

Dow futures are down -0.36%, at 12,581.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.65%, at 2,453.25 and the S&P is down -0.31%, at 1,307.40.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is stronger against the British pound, the euro and the Japanese yen. The US dollar index is up 0.657% at 80.322.

In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are lower this morning, with WTI down -0.87% at $98.09/barrel and Brent is down -0.47% at $109.51/barrel. Gold is down -0.65% this morning, at $1,653.70/ounce.

Paul Ausick

At about 8:30 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is down -1.04% at 6,369.44 and France’s CAC 40 is down -1.10%, at 3,301.61. In London, the FTSE 100 is down -0.84%, at 5,734.20.

In Asia, the Hong Kong and Shanghai exchanges remain closed for the lunar new year holiday. The Nikkei index closed up 0.22%, at 8,785.33.

Dow futures are down -0.33%, at 12,608.00. The Nasdaq 100 is down -0.35%, at 2,426.50 and the S&P is down -0.49%, at 1,304.70.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is weaker against the British pound and stronger versus the euro and the Japanese yen. The US dollar index is up 0.165% at 79.930.

In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are lower this morning, with WTI down -0.34% at $99.24/barrel and Brent is down -0.17% at $110.39/barrel. Gold is down -0.69% this morning, at $1,666.80/ounce.

Paul Ausick

At about 8:30 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is up 0.47% at 6,434.28 and France’s CAC 40 is up 0.53%, at 3,338.99. In London, the FTSE 100 is up 0.78%, at 5,772.99.

In Asia, Hong Kong’s exchange was closed Monday. The Nikkei index closed down -0.01%, at 8,765.90, and the Shanghai exchange was closed Monday.

Dow futures are up 0.14%, at 12,672.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.14%, at 2,438.25 and the S&P is up 0.07%, at 1,311.70.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is weaker against the euro and the Japanese yen, and up slightly against the British pound. The US dollar index is down -0.498% at 79.757.

In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are higher this morning, with WTI up 0.96% at $99.27/barrel and Brent up 1.04% at $111.00/barrel. Gold is up 0.67% this morning, at $1,675.10/ounce.

Paul Ausick

At about 8:30 a.m. ET, Germany’s DAX is down -0.18% at 6,404.82 and France’s CAC 40 is down -0.52%, at 3,311.59. In London, the FTSE 100 is down -0.07%, at 5,737.27.

In Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed up 0.84%, at 20,110.40. The Nikkei index closed up 1.47%, at 8,766.36, and the Shanghai index closed up 1%, at 2,319.12.

Dow futures are down -0.12%, at 12,572.00. The Nasdaq 100 is up 0.05%, at 2,426.5 and the S&P is down -0.26%, at 1,307.00.

In the currency markets, the US dollar is stronger against the euro, the British pound, and the Japanese yen. The US dollar index is up 0.358% at 80.343.

In commodities, WTI and Brent crude are lower this morning, with WTI down -0.49% at $99.90/barrel and Brent down -0.23% at $111.292/barrel. Gold is down -0.47% this morning, at $1,646.80/ounce.

Paul Ausick