CNBC recently reported that Bear Stearns has told investors in two hedge funds that speculated in subprime mortgages that the funds are now essentially worthless. Hmm, while the final numbers still have to be compiled, essentially that means that the investors have lost their entire investments. Gone! 100% loss! Out the window! Down the drain! This reminded me of an …
Sunday Musings: Living In A Flat World
I am about 70% through reading Thomas Friedman’s book “The Word Is Flat.” It’s a fascinating research project about how the world has become a totally interconnected place where every businessman can utilize the resources and services of anyone else. He specifically hones in to the special relationship the U.S. enjoys with India. I was astonished to learn how many …
No Load Fund/ETF Investing: A ‘Late’ Buy Signal
A few days ago, MarketWatch had a story featuring the editor of the Mutual Fund Strategist Newsletter, Holly Hooper-Fournier, saying that 16 of the firms 17 timing models are “currently issuing a buy signal.” She further noted that, unlike some timing models, the ones used by her firm remain bullish on international and emerging markets investments. Hmm; I find it …
No Load Fund/ETF Tracker updated through 7/19/2007
My latest No Load Fund/ETF Tracker has been posted at:http://www.successful-investment.com/newsletter-archive.phpThe bears got the upper hand this week and pulled the major indexes off their lofty perch. Our Trend Tracking Index (TTI) for domestic funds/ETFs is now positioned +4.58% above its long-term trend line (red) as the chart below shows: The international index has now moved to +7.21% above its own …
The ETF Flood
It’s no secret that new ETFs are being brought to the market as fast as sponsors can obtain regulatory approvals. I have touched on this before that having all these investment choices available does not mean you should jump on the band wagon and buy any new offering. MarketWatch had a piece on the pitfalls and potential problems when investing …
No Load Fund/ETF Investing: What’s Driving This Market?
As I mentioned in my weekly updates, there always seem to be a variety of ever changing factors that have driven this market to its current highs. One, we have not touched on, is the increasing debt big and small investors are using to leverage their investments. The WSJ reported that margin debt, jumped 11% to $353 billion at NYSE …