New ETFs On The Block: Flexshares Unveils Three Dividend ETFs

Ulli Dividend ETFs Contact

FlexShares, the Portland, ME-based ETF issuing arm of Northern Trust, has launched three dividend products for investors seeking income-generating options in this low yield environment. The products may come handy for various investors since many companies are planning last minute dividends to reduce their own tax liabilities as going over the fiscal cliff looks almost certain now.

The FlexShares Quality Dividend Index Fund (QDF) replicates the performance of the Northern Trust Quality Dividend Index (the underlying index), the benchmark designed to provide exposure to a high-quality portfolio of long-only US equity securities with a targeted overall beta that is similar to the Northern Trust 1250 Index, or the parent index.

Companies included in the index are selected based on fundamental factors such as profitability, management reputation and cash-flow history, along with other factors such as expected dividend payout amount. The underlying index for this passively-managed fund is reconstituted every quarter.

Read More

ETF/No Load Fund Tracker Newsletter For Friday, December 28, 2012

Ulli ETF Tracker Contact

ETF/No Load Fund Tracker StatSheet

————————————————————-

THE LINK TO OUR CURRENT ETF/MUTUAL FUND STATSHEET IS:

https://theetfbully.com/2012/12/weekly-statsheet-for-the-etfno-load-fund-tracker-newsletter-updated-through-12272012/

————————————————————

Market Commentary

Friday, December 28, 2012

US STOCKS SINK AS BUDGET IMPASSE CONTINUES; EUROPE TRACKS LOWER

US stocks dropped for the fifth straight day, the longest losing streak for the Dow Jones Industrial Average since July, ending the week off nearly two percent after a report suggested President Barack Obama and Republicans failed to strike a deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff Friday afternoon.

There was little reaction to better-than-expected economic news as investors followed the efforts to cut a last-minute budget deal. Pending home sales climbed for a third month in November, the National Association of Realtors announced.

A separate report showed business activity in the US expanded in December for the second straight month. The Chicago purchasing managers index rose to a four month high of 51.6 from 50.4 in November, easing concerns of a manufacturing slump due to the ongoing budget stalemate.

Read More

Weekly StatSheet For The ETF/No Load Fund Tracker Newsletter – Updated Through 12/27/2012

Ulli ETF StatSheet Contact

ETF/Mutual Fund Data updated through Wednesday, December 27, 2012

If you are not familiar with some of the terminology used, please see the Glossary of Terms.

 

1. DOMESTIC EQUITY MUTUAL FUNDS/ETFs: BUY — since 10/25/2011

The domestic TTI broke through its long-term trend line generating a Sell for this area effective 8/9/2011. Over the recent past, we’ve seen the TTI hovering slightly below and above this dividing line between bullish and bearish territory. The clear break to the upside occurred on 10/24/11 and, effective 10/25/11, a new Buy signal for domestic equities went into effect.

As of today, our Trend Tracking Index (TTI—green line in above chart) has bounced off its long term trend line (red) by +1.18% after recently having dipped slightly below it.

To avoid a potential whip-saw, a Sell signal to move out of all domestic equity positions will be generated once we have clearly pierced the line to the downside. Be sure to tune into my blog for the latest updates.

Read More

Last Minute Cliff Rescue Maneuvering Pares Losses

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

Just as the major market indexes were about to violate their psychologically important milestones, that is 13,000 for the Dow and 1,400 for the S&P 500, news broke that there will be another fiscal cliff meeting forthcoming, as the House told their members to show up for work Sunday night at 6:30 pm.

That’s all it took, and one look at the above chart tells the story as to the exact moment the desperately needed assist was thrown. While the S&P 500 still ended up slightly in the red, it could have been a lot worse as the indexes were down by over 1%, but thanks to the last hour lift-a-thon, the inevitable was postponed again.

I for one can’t wait to see if this will be another face saving attempt supported by useless jawboning or if there is some seriousness to this upcoming Sunday night drama. I still believe that it will take a major setback in the markets, say in the range of 20%, which eventually will force the hands of the politicians to reacquaint themselves with the meaning of the word ‘compromise.’

Read More

US Equities Slide Third Day In A Row On Budget Talk Concerns And Weak Retail Numbers

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

It was combination of weak retail numbers, showing that consumers spent less during this holiday season than last year, the ongoing fiscal cliff saga followed by low volume in the markets that provided neither upside ammunition nor any motivation for those left on Wall Street to get involved during the last few trading days of 2012.

It’s no surprise that many shoppers may have stayed away from the stores due to the uncertainty about the fiscal cliff negotiations, which also means that the market indexes will be at best holding on to these levels, but more likely sliding sharply should these issues not be resolved by December 31st.

Wall Street’s anxiety index, the VIX, rose and closed above 19 for the first time since early November, while the S&P 500 slipped a modest 7 points to cling on to the 1,420 level. Of course, hope remains for a ‘Santa Claus rally,’ which usually occurs during the last five trading days of the year and the first two of the New Year.

Read More

7 ETF Model Portfolios You Can Use – Updated through 12/24/2012

Ulli Model ETF Portfolios Contact

It’s no surprise that the fiscal cliff negotiations were still the #1 driver of the stock market. With time running out, the S&P 500 meandered all of last week and gave back 3 points as hope remained that a last minute compromise might still be in the cards.

If that does not materialize, the indexes will have to adjust to that reality as that very hope for a fiscal cliff solution was responsible for most of the rebound after the sharp post election sell off.

The final year end fund/ETF distributions are being processed but have not been included in the model ETF portfolios, which therefore are currently ‘under reported.’

Here’s the latest update:

Read More