Weekly StatSheet For The ETF/No Load Fund Tracker Newsletter – Updated Through 02/14/2013

Ulli ETF StatSheet Contact

ETF/Mutual Fund Data updated through Thursday, February 14, 2013

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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

TTI

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 +3.24% as part of the post election rebound.

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.

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Stocks Barely Move On European Concern; Recession Weighs On Europe

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

Thur pic

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

US stocks barely budged after another day of low volume trading as shrinking economies in Europe and Japan overshadowed better-than-expected jobless claims on a banner day for M&A deals.

The US jobless claims fell by 27,000, the most in a month, to 341,000 in the week ended Feb 9, a Labor Department report showed; that is until it will be revised again to a much higher number.

However, international economic news was far from encouraging. Recession in the euro-area deepened as gross domestic product in the 17-member currency zone shrank 0.6 percent over the third quarter, and fell 0.9 percent over the same period in 2011, the European statistics agency Eurostats revealed today.

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US Stocks Crawl Higher On Data, Speech; Europe Extends Gains For The Second Day

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

Wed pic

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

While blue-chips declined, most US stocks closed marginally higher Wednesday, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to the highest level since Oct 2007 as investors compared slowing retail sales with slightly upbeat earnings report.

Before markets opened, data released by the Census Bureau showed US retail sales rose at a seasonally adjusted pace of 0.1 percent in January, matching the median forecasts of economists but well short of a 0.5 percent rise in the previous month. The data indicated consumer spending has started to get affected following an increase in payroll tax at the beginning of the year.

In Washington, President Barack Obama called for raising the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour from the current $7.25 rate in the State of the Union speech Tuesday evening. The president also pledged to increase trade with Europe and urged lawmakers to come together to end the “manufactured” crisis over the federal deficit. The president reiterated his demand that Republicans accept raising tax revenue along with spending cuts as part of his goal of $1.5 trillion in additional deficit reduction over a decade. A balance could be achieved by getting rid of deductions and tax loopholes for the well-off and the well-connected, he said.

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7 ETF Model Portfolios You Can Use – Updated through 2/12/2013

Ulli Model ETF Portfolios Contact

The major indexes meandered in a tight 8 point trading range (S&P 500) but ended up closing at the high point with the Dow regaining its 14k milestone marker again.

It comes as no surprise to me that momentum seems to be slowing as we’re honing in on multi-year highs for the S&P 500. With economic fundamentals being totally disconnected from market levels, some trigger will eventually instill a sense of reality and pull the indexes back to an area that is commensurate with actual organic economic growth.

Who knows when that event will occur, so we will follow this trend in a balanced fashion being aware and prepared that it could come to an end at anytime.

Here’s the latest update for our Model ETF Portfolios:

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Market Indexes Inch Upward As Dow Hits Five-Year High; Europe Gains on Barclays

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

Tue pic

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

US equities edged up Tuesday sending benchmark indexes to five-year highs, as earnings topped street estimates and investors looked ahead to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address in the evening.

In economic news, the US Treasury reported a budget surplus of $2.9 billion for January, beating estimates of a $2 billion deficit.

Overseas, finance ministers of G7 countries pledged to have market determined exchange rates and committed to focus fiscal and monetary policies on domestic issues, rather than targeting exchange rates.

Tuesday proved to be a busy day for US Fed officials. Voting member E. George, the sole “no” vote at the FOMC meeting last month, said the economy is put at risk when the central bank starts to sell the same securities it is buying.

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Indexes Drift Lower In Lackluster Trading; Novo Nordisk Puts A Drag On Europe

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

Mon pic

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

The major index ETFs finished marginally lower Monday on the lightest volume trading day of 2013 as investors took a breather after the recent rally and reassessed the markets that have pushed the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones near all-time highs.

With no significant economic and corporate-earnings news to chew on, markets took a pause Monday, recording the year’s lowest trading volume. Most Asian markets remained closed on account of Lunar New Year celebrations, eliminating one more possible bullish driver.

Finance ministers from the 17-member euro-area met in Brussels today to discuss aid to Cyprus and Greece as concern over the region’s debt crisis revived following political turmoil in Spain and Italy.

Separately, news reports suggested officials from Group of Seven nations were considering of issuing a statement aimed at averting a so-called currency war. Reuters reported a G-7 statement could be released ahead of the meeting of G-20 finance ministers and central bankers in Moscow this week.

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