ETF/No Load Fund Tracker Newsletter For Friday, January 25, 2013

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ETF/No Load Fund Tracker StatSheet

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

https://theetfbully.com/2013/01/weekly-statsheet-for-the-etfno-load-fund-tracker-newsletter-updated-through-01242013/

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Market Commentary

Friday, January 25, 2013

US EQUITY ETFs FINISH WEEK ON A HIGH; EUROPE RISES ON GERMAN CONFIDENCE

US equities rose Friday, lifting the S&P 500 index above the 1,500 mark for the first time since late 2007, as investors welcomed a batch of better-than-expected corporate results and German business confidence topped estimates.

Stocks edged higher today as German business confidence took an unexpected strong jump in January. The Munich-based Ifo Institute’s business climate index rose to 104.2 from 102.4, adding to signs that Europe’s largest economy may be recovering from a widely-suspected fourth-quarter contraction.

Investors also tracked comments from ECB President Mario Draghi as the European Central Bank boss spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Draghi said a recovery is possible in the second half of the year as economic activity in the region was stabilizing.

Separately, the ECB said banks will repay EUR 137.2 billion of the more than EUR 1 trillion of its emergency three-year loans, known as long-term refinance operations or LTRO, in another sign the euro region’s debt crisis is allegedly abating.

Shares moved off intra-day highs briefly Friday after the Commerce Department reported sales of new US homes fell 7.3 percent to an annual clip of 369,000 in December.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rose 71 points to 13,896, up 1.8 percent for the week. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) rose 8 points to 1503 with consumer discretionary and energy companies advancing the most. All the 10 business groups within the index gained as the benchmark closed over 1,500 for the first time since December 2007. The index has gained for eight consecutive days, the longest string of advances since the nine-day run in early 2004.

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Weekly StatSheet For The ETF/No Load Fund Tracker Newsletter – Updated Through 01/24/2013

Ulli ETF StatSheet Contact

ETF/Mutual Fund Data updated through Thursday, January 24, 2013

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 +3.20% 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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Tech Shares Decline As Apple Slumps; S&P 500 Touches 1,500 Level; Europe Rises On Upbeat PMI Data

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

The major market indexes mostly rose Thursday, with the Dow Jones gaining for a fifth day and the S&P 500 briefly topping the 1,500 mark as an unexpected drop in unemployment claims and upbeat corporate results offset the worst decline for Apple Inc in four years.

Apple Inc slumped 12 percent to $450.50 after reporting the weakest sales growth in 14 quarters even though earnings in the latest quarter climbed to a record $13.1 billion. The shares have shed 15 percent this year for the worst performance in the S&P 500, and have lost 36 percent since hitting an all-time high in September. The smartphone maker forecast sales of $41 to $43 billion in the fiscal second quarter underway now, compared with $45.5 billion in sales predicted by analysts.

Equities surged earlier today as a Labor Department report showed claims for unemployment benefits fell by 5,000 last week to 330,000, although the fact was ignored that data was incomplete due to 3 states not having reported yet, and their numbers were estimated. But nowadays, that does not matter as long as the market indexes have a reason, any reason, to close in the green.

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Tech Stocks Push US Equity ETFs Higher; Europe Rises Ahead Of US Debt Vote

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

US stocks closed higher Wednesday as technology stocks rallied amid upbeat earnings result and lawmakers voted to temporarily suspend the federal debt limit, helping the S&P 500 post its sixth straight day of gains that saw the benchmark index hitting a new five-year high.

Equities received support earlier after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to suspend the $16.4 trillion debt limit until May 19. The vote averts a possible US default by at least four months and sets up the stage for another round of allegedly intense negotiations over cuts in federal programs.

A January 17 survey of Bloomberg showed global investors perceived the state of US finances the greatest threat to the world economy with nearly half holding back their investment decisions in response to budget battles. 36 percent respondents said US fiscal woes was the greatest risk compared with 29 percent who chose Europe’s sovereign debt crisis.

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7 ETF Model Portfolios You Can Use – Updated through 1/22/2013

Ulli Model ETF Portfolios Contact

The theme remained the same in that the indexes continued their relentless march into higher territory with the S&P 500 adding another 1.4% since last week’s ETF Model Portfolio report.

It’s almost impossible to find a pullback in the indexes intraday in order to establish new positions. On a couple of occasions, I had maybe 15 minutes to place some trades as the S&P 500 was slipping by a meager 4 points before the late day “lift-a-thon” kicked in and pushed the benchmark back to green, since in this centrally planned environment, a red close must be avoided at all costs.

Such is the world we’re living in and, while this bull market will not last forever, it could go on for a while. There is simply no way of knowing, but if you do participate in this rampage, let me be the voice of reason and suggest that you work with a trailing sell stop on all of your positions as any unforeseen event could derail this current trend in no time.

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

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The Relentless Equity March Continues; Europe Slips

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

US stocks gained Tuesday with the S&P 500 and the Dow finishing at fresh five-year highs amid better-than-expected quarterly results from corporations including insurer and Dow component Travelers Cos Inc.

Equity averages were briefly dented earlier, offering the only buying opportunity of the day, after a report from the National Association of Realtors showed US existing-home sales dipped one percent to a 4.94 million annual clip in December. The trade-group report followed a release from real-estate provider Zillow Inc., which showed US home prices rose 5.9 percent last year.

Meanwhile, House Republicans are set to vote Wednesday on raising the US debt limit through mid-May, a move the White House has welcomed ahead of the budget debate.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) zoomed 62 points to its highest level since December 10. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) rose 7 points to 1493 with materials and financial fronting the gains and consumer staples the sole laggard among its 10 business groups.

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