US Broad Market ETFs Slide For The Second Day; GAZ Inches Up, KWT Sinks

Ulli Market Review Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

US broad stock ETFs closed mixed Wednesday after data on new home sales came in lower unexpectedly, failing to cheer investors. 10-year Treasury notes jumped the most in two weeks even as the Federal Reserve bought $4.03 billion in US debt.

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) slipped or 0.2 percent to close at 1402.89 with the energy sector dropping the most. The sector witnessed a sell-off with Baker Hughes dropping sharply.

S&P’s losses were limited as consumer discretionary and consumer staples stocks moved higher against the general downward movement. The tech-laden NASDAQ Composite (COMP) defied gravity by adding 0.9 percent to close at 3,075.32.

Read More

7 ETF Model Portfolios You Can Use – Updated through 3/20/2012

Ulli Model ETF Portfolios Contact

The milestones of the major indexes, which I talked about last week, are in the rear view mirror now, and the question remains as to how high we can go.

Since last week’s ETF Model Portfolio post, the S&P 500 has added some 0.7% to settle at 1,406, although the fly in the ointment has been low volume. Reaching a 4-year high may have caused some investor hesitancy, as we are hovering at very lofty levels.

Take a look at the latest ETF Model Portfolio update:

Read More

Major Market ETFs Fall On China Growth Worries; XRT Rises, GAZ Drops

Ulli Market Review Contact

US stocks retreated Tuesday as China growth worries overpowered upbeat US housing market data. The pullback wasn’t surprising to me; actually it was long overdue, as the indexes had been inching towards historic highs with consecutive gains in the last few sessions.

Today’s (minor) sell off was triggered by falling commodity prices over Chinese growth worries. Copper prices sank 2 percent while oil dropped 2.3 percent on the day.  Treasuries moved up, snapping a nine-day losing streak and pushing down 10-year yields from near four-month highs.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) shed 0.5 percent while the S&P 500 Index (SPX) dropped 0.3 percent, after jumping to a 52-week high yesterday. Industrial and energy stocks fared the worst while financials advanced the most among the 10-sector index.

Read More

Equity ETF Indexes Advance; GAZ On Fire, VXX Sinks

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

US stocks continued their advancement Monday, as modest homebuilder’s data indicated the sector’s gradual recovery ahead of other housing-related data this week.

The gains were supported by Apple’s hefty dividend announcement and $10 billion share buy-back program over the next three years. Tech stocks advanced the most though some of the heavyweights retreated. US 10-year notes tanked for the ninth consecutive day, as risk sentiments improved and investors dumped Treasuries for more risky assets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) climbed 0.04 percent to 13,238.98. Technology, financials and energy stocks led the day’s gainers. The Dow reversed the day’s early losses after Wells Fargo and National Association of Home Builders said their builders’ sentiment index remained near their five-year high. 18 of the 30-component Dow advanced for the day.

Read More

Traveling

Ulli Uncategorized Contact

Today’s market commentary will appear later than planned, as I am traveling for most of the afternoon and evening. I hope to have it posted by about midnight PST.

ETFs/Mutual Funds On The Cutline – Updated Through 3/16/2012

Ulli ETFs on the Cutline Contact

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 349 (last week 356) of them are hovering in bullish territory.

The second report includes only High Volume ETFs. To clarify, High Volume (HV) ETFs are defined as those with an average daily volume of $10 million or higher.

These ETFs are generated from my selected list of some 93 that I use in my advisor practice. It cuts out the “noise,” which simply means it eliminates those ETFs that I would never buy because of their volume limitations. 76 ETFs (last week 76) have managed to move into in bullish territory after the recent run up.

The third report covers Mutual Funds on the Cutline. There are currently 817 (last week 814) above the line and 44 below it out of the 861 that I follow.

Take a look:

1. ETF Master Cutline Report

2. ETF High Volume Cutline Report

3. MF Cutline Report