7 ETF Model Portfolios You Can Use – Updated through 4/17/2012

Ulli Model ETF Portfolios Contact

The major indexes meandered somewhat since last week’s ETF Model Portfolio update, although with an upward bias.

Yesterday’s rebound, despite mediocre economic news but a better than expected bond auction in Spain, calmed some raw nerves, and the indexes shifted into overdrive finishing the day with a strong rally.

Of course, how long this one-day euphoria will last, is anyone’s guess, but at least it will give traders the warm fuzzies until the European debt crisis picks up steam again.

All ETF Model portfolios gained along with the overall market, after the first part of April took the starch out of upward momentum thereby supporting the bearish case.

Here’s the latest ETF Model Portfolio update:

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Major Market ETFs Rally As Worries Over Spain Ease; URA Shines, VXX Sinks

Ulli Market Review Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

All major market ETFs pushed higher Tuesday as robust demand for Spanish debt eased global worries over a European contagion; at least for the time being, and until the next disaster strikes.

The Dow breached the psychologically important 13,000 mark for the first time in more than a week as investors analyzed the quarter’s earnings data. Treasuries dropped for the first time in three days as better risk sentiment diminished US debt’s attractiveness, pushing all three equity indices to their highest levels since March 13.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) leapt 1.5 percent, its biggest gain in more than a month. Tech stocks made a strong come back after losing more than 1 percent Monday while all the 30 components of Dow advanced for the day.

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US Equities End Mixed On Europe Concerns; ICF Crawls Up, VXX Sinks

Ulli Market Review Contact

[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com]

US equities ended mixed Monday despite higher corporate earnings and better-than-estimated retail sales boosting sentiments as investors weighed US economic data with a contagion possibility in Europe.

Heavy selling in the tech area more than offset a rebound in blue-chip stocks, dragging the major US indices down. Yield on benchmark 10-year Treasuries consolidated below the 2-percent mark for the second straight day as risk was off on mounting speculations of a deepening European debt crisis.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) jumped 71.82 points, flirting with the 13K mark but was unable to breach it. The Commerce Department said retail sales rose 0.8 percent in March ahead of the day’s opening bell, beating analysts’ expectation of 0.3 percent.

However, a separate report showed manufacturing activity in the New York region expanded at the slowest pace in five months, spooking investors.

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ETFs/Mutual Funds On The Cutline – Updated Through 4/13/2012

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 316 (last week 326) 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. 60 ETFs (last week 64) 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 785 (last week 794) above the line and 76 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

Last Week In Review: ETF News And Blog Posts To 4/15/2012

Ulli Market Review Contact

In case you missed it, here’s a summary of the ETF topics and market reviews I posted to my blog during the week ending on 4/15/2012.

Disappointment from the jobs report did indeed affect last Monday’s trading, as the spillover effect kicked in and took the starch out of any remaining upward momentum.

Despite the 2-day rally on Wednesday and Thursday, negative sentiment, along with Europe’s debt crisis moving back onto the front burner, were simply too much for the bulls to overcome. Friday’s close of the major indexes at the low levels for the day may not bode well for Monday’s opening.

This week, we covered the following:

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Is The US Economy Heading Towards A Recession? The Bears Certainly Think So

Ulli Market Commentary Contact

The latest US jobs data has brought the bears out in full force. And Gary Shilling, president of A. Gary & Co, is certainly no exception. Gary thinks the US recovery has primarily been driven by consumer spending as there has been a mini spending spree over the last few months.

Though incomes rose slower than expenses, it looked earlier jobs were picking up and that would provide the economy the boost it required. However, the recent employment data throws cold water on the consumer-spending driven recovery theory. The consumers have now more reasons to save than to spend; they need to build their assets since their equity in homes has fallen and people need to save for retirement. So if consumers retrench, there are not too many things that can hold the US economy up.

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