As if QE taper considerations were not enough, Syrian war talks joined the party and total uncertainty pulled the major indexes lower with the S&P 500 losing some 1.3% since last week’s model portfolio report. Even improved consumer confidence and rising home prices were not enough to bring out the usually very reliable buy-the-dip crowd, so the markets took the …
Syria Tensions Take Down Stocks
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] Major Index ETFs suffered the worst day since June slumping in a broad decline as geopolitical concerns over a possible US-led military response against Syria worsened, overshadowing data showing an unexpected improvement in Consumer Confidence, a rise in housing prices, and a jump in regional manufacturing activity. The S&P 500 closed below its 100-day moving average, …
Stocks Dive After Kerry Blasts Syria
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] After spending most of the day in positive territory, U.S. equities lost steam in the final hour of trading to end mostly lower, halting two days of gains, after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called Syria’s use of chemical weapons “undeniable.” Once again, a larger-than-expected decline in July’s durable goods orders report did little to …
ETFs/Mutual Funds On The Cutline – Updated Through 8/23/2013
Below are the latest ETF Cutline reports, which show how far above or below their respective long-term trend lines (39 week SMA) my currently tracked ETFs/MFs are positioned. The first report covers the ETF Master List from Thursday’s StatSheet and includes 398 ETFs, of which currently 300 (last week 303) are hovering in bullish territory. The second report includes only …
One Man’s Opinion: Could The Fed Increase Asset Purchases To Bring Down Yields?
Following the release of the Fed’s latest FOMC minutes, the bond markets have witnessed violent movements with prices plummeting and yields shooting up. People have pressed the panic button a little too early and may have jumped too far, feels David Blanchflower, economics professor at the Dartmouth College and a former policy maker at the Bank of England. If the …
New ETFs On The Block: iShares Dow Jones-UBS Roll Select Commodity Index ETF (CMDT)
iShares, the exchange-traded products issuer arm of BlackRock Inc that is best known for its equity and fixed-income products, has unveiled a commodities-focused product after a long hiatus. The iShares Dow Jones-UBS Roll Select Commodity Index Trust (CMDT) is the firm’s first commodity-based fund launch since 2006 and may be suitable for investors who are seeking exposure in the materials …