The markets behave differently at night, making the overnight sessions a compelling opportunity for savvy investors looking to enhance their equity returns. In this upcoming LiveCast, NightShares and VettaFi will explore the benefits of tilting to the Night using the NightShares 500 1x/1.5x ETF (NSPL).
The real estate market has been challenging, but specific real estate sectors may present opportunities. Data and infrastructure real estate enables technology that is critical for AI, Bitcoin, cloud networking, 5G and e-commerce. Industrial real estate has become crucial for e-commerce distribution and logistics networks. Join Pacer ETFs and VettaFi as Pacer celebrates the 5th anniversary of two popular REIT strategies.
Topics will include:
In the upcoming webcast, Innovator ETFs and VettaFi will outline a new suite of Barrier ETF products and how they can protect and enhance portfolios.
The artificial intelligence hype that has propelled US technology stocks in the past few weeks is showing signs of fatigue.
This article will examine four real estate ETFs that investors and advisors can consider for their portfolios in 2023. Whether investors are seeking exposure to a specific sector or a diversified portfolio, there is a real estate ETF available to meet their needs.
Andy Rothman provides a first-hand perspective from his first trip to Shanghai and Beijing since the start of COVID in 2019.
For this edition of Bull vs. Bear, Nick Peters-Golden and Karrie Gordon discussed the fundamentals for and against investing in Japan ETFs.
ChatGPT and AI seem to be everywhere these days, but what do they really mean for asset management and financial advisors? Does AI arrive as just a theme, or can it really have an immediate impact on financial advisors’ work?
Investors are piling cash into the largest junk bond exchange-traded fund at the quickest pace in nearly three years amid a broad rebound in risk assets.
Relative rotation entails shifting among stocks, sectors, and stock factors. The strategy adds significant value to portfolio management if done well.
Several key economic indicators are released every week to help provide insight into the overall health of the U.S. economy.
Real estate ETFs have become a popular investment option for investors who want to gain exposure to the real estate market without owning physical properties. However, with some experts predicting a real estate recession, advisors may be wondering if such funds remain a good option.
Earlier this month, WealthManagement.com announced the finalists for its 2023 Industry Awards (the “Wealthies”). VettaFi is one of two firms to be recognized for outstanding achievement in research innovation. The Wealthies was the first award program of its kind to honor companies, organizations, and individuals supporting financial advisor success.
Some investors may not want to go all-in on AI, preferring a more diversified approach to their investments. For those investors, there are stock picker ETFs that have holdings in AI-focused companies but won’t bet the house on AI.
Fixed income indices have helped modernize fixed income markets by providing a method for standardization. Fixed income tradable indices go a step further by underlying tradable instruments like ETFs and swaps and thereby building a bridge to investor implementation and actionable insight. Learn how fixed income indices are playing a key role in the evolution of the credit ecosystem.
Here is a look at real (inflation-adjusted) charts of the S&P 500, Dow 30, and Nasdaq composite since their 2000 highs. We've updated this through the May 31, 2023 close.
As of June 5, the price of regular and premium gas decreased by 3 cents and 2 cents, respectively, from the previous week. According to GasBuddy.com, California has the highest average price for regular at $4.79 and Mississippi has the cheapest at $2.93. The WTIC end-of-day spot price for crude oil closed at $72.15 and up 3.9% from last week.
For the majority of PayPal Holdings Inc. analysts, the only way is up. The trouble is, the stock keeps going down.
Portfolio Manager Alex Zarechnak identifies six key themes from the COVID years—some new, some familiar—to help anchor investors in today’s emerging markets.
Seven of the eight indexes on our world watch list posted gains through June 5, 2023. Nikkei 225 continued to climb, finishing in the top spot with a YTD gain of 23.46%. The U.S.'s S&P 500 finished in second with a YTD gain of 11.76% while Germany's DAXK jumped into third with a YTD gain of 9.09%.
The May US services purchasing managers' index (PMI) conducted by S&P Global came in at 54.9, which was just below the 55.1 forecast. This morning's reading keeps the index in expansion territory for the fourth straight month and is the strongest reading in over a year.
As fast as it went up for value managers, it’s coming down. The culprit is the all-consuming craze for artificial intelligence.
A robust implementation strategy and real-world implementation capabilities are both necessary in order to achieve your portfolio’s preferred position.
The industry group Airlines for America predicts that approximately 257 million people will travel on U.S. commercial airlines this summer, representing a 9.5% increase from last year. That would also set a new record, as volumes are projected to surpass the summer 2019 levels by around 2 million passengers.
The AI Powered Equity ETF (AIEQ) has garnered attention recently, but not for positive reasons. Despite using artificial intelligence to make investment decisions, the ETF has struggled to perform well, with a disappointing one-year return of -13.92%.
The yield on the 10-year note ended June 2, 2023 at 3.69%, the 2-year note ended at 4.50%, and the 30-year at 3.88%.
The moving average for the light vehicle sales per capita series peaked in August 1978. Almost 45 years later, it is down 40.5% from that peak.
The artificial intelligence boom is handing a big win to hedge funds angling for an edge.
Choppiness in the equity market continues as investors look to see a debt limit deal approved.
David Dali, Head of Portfolio Strategy, provides his 12-month outlook for global equity markets.
Because exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer a dynamic product that can serve as a buy-and-hold or buy-and-sell investment, they can offer investors the opportunity to reap long-term or short-term gains. Knowing the difference between the two is crucial, especially when it comes time for taxes.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized how we live and work, and it is now poised to transform the investing world. As technology continues to evolve and mature, investors are increasingly turning to AI-focused ETFs to gain exposure to this dynamic and rapidly growing sector.
As of May 31, 2023, the 10-year note was 312 basis points above its historic closing low of 0.52% reached on August 4, 2020.
The May S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI™ dropped for the first time in five months to 48.4. The latest figure moves the index back into contraction territory after a brief 1-month stint in expansion territory. The May reading is slightly below the forecast of 48.5.
This week, the VettaFi Voices come together for an abbreviated chat about an important topic: the debt ceiling.
Valid until the market close on June 30, 2023
The S&P 500 closed May with a monthly gain of 0.25%, after a gain of 1.46% in April. At this point, after close on the last day of the month, two of five Ivy portfolio ETFs — Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) and Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC) — are signaling "cash", unchanged from last month's final double "cash" signal.
My advice to prepare for the “big” meeting is this…
The concentration of gains up the cap spectrum isn't itself a precursor to weakness; it's the lack of participation from the "average stock" that warrants some caution.
Stock investors who planned for one thing in 2023 are getting something else entirely. Now, with the tech-obsessed market at risk of running away from them, the race is on to catch up.
Several key economic indicators come out every week to help provide insight into the overall health of the U.S. economy. Policymakers and advisors closely monitor these indicators to understand the direction of interest rates, as the data can significantly impact business decisions and financial markets.
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index ® slipped to 102.3 in May from April's upwardly revised reading of 103.7. This month's reading was better than expected, exceeding the 99.0 forecast. The latest figure is the index's lowest reading in the past six months.
Travel on all roads and streets increased in March. The 12-month moving average was up month-over-month by 0.1% and was up 0.3% year-over-year. If we factor in population growth, the 12-month MA of the civilian population-adjusted data (age 16-and-over) was up 0.0% MoM and down 0.8% YoY.
In March, S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index revealed seasonally adjusted home prices for the benchmark 20-city index saw a 0.5% increase month-over-month (MoM) and a 1.2% decrease year-over-year (YoY). After adjusting for inflation, the MoM was reduced to 0.0% and the YoY was reduced to -8.5%.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has released its U.S. house price index (HPI) for March. The index reached a record high last month, coming in at 398.0. U.S. house prices increased by 0.6% from the previous month. Year-over-year the index is up 3.6%. After adjusting for inflation, the real index is up 0.8% in March and up 0.2% year-over-year.
For this edition of Bull vs. Bear, Elle Caruso and Karrie Gordon discussed the pros and cons of investing in fossil fuels.
Like planting seeds, sometimes new investment vehicles take time to take root. David Mann, Franklin Templeton’s Head of Global ETF Product and Capital Markets, draws parallels between gardening and developing and growing new ETFs.
We've described the past several years' stock market as a seesaw in which the "market" was the fulcrum of the seesaw. On one side of the seesaw sit the highly speculative growth sectors and on the other side, sit virtually everything else in the global equity markets.
If you were doubting whether the age of AI has arrived, NVIDIA’s stock performance this week may have given you second thoughts.
Exchange-traded funds tracking companies that are linked to artificial intelligence may see their assets grow three-fold to $35 billion by 2030, a report by Bloomberg Intelligence shows.
Last week the VettaFi Voices gathered to reflect on a year at VettaFi under the firm’s new name. The team celebrated wins, and time spent together, and shared their favorite insights and highlights from a busy twelve months.
With a year-to-date gain of just over 60%, Tesla stock keeps rolling higher, and the company’s recent shareholder meeting could continue to appease the bulls — if the electric automaker manages to hit its goals.
An end-of-week feeding frenzy in options of the world’s biggest companies has emerged as two of the hottest trends on Wall Street collide.
Stocks are having a great year, but gold is doing even better. Year-to-date global equities are up roughly 9% in dollar terms; gold has advanced more than 10%.
The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) released the latest monthly data for its pending home sales index. The latest index remained at 78.9, representing a 0.0% change from last month, lower than the expected 0.5% increase. Pending home sales are down 20.3% compared to one year ago.
The two primary styles of dividend investing are growth and yield. In the latter, investors embrace stocks with what are deemed above-average yields — often from slower-growth sectors, such as utilities and real estate.
Investors should rely on the wisdom of crowds as expressed through bond yields, not credit rating agencies, to judge fixed-income credit risk.
Most of us spent moments of our childhood, crayon in hand, connecting numbered dots that gradually revealed a picture that we couldn’t deduce simply by looking at the separate dots. With experience, we got better at looking at those isolated dots and mentally connecting them into a coherent “gestalt.”
One of the advantages of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) compared to other investment vehicles is their relative liquidity. But what is liquidity for an ETF? How does that liquidity actually give ETF investors the upper hand, compared to other assets?
One metric I look at fairly often for various countries is the relationship between the performance of stocks vs. bonds. The idea is straightforward enough: when stocks are outperforming bonds, it tends to be associated with a growing economy.
Bond-market titans BlackRock Inc., Pacific Investment Management Co. and Vanguard Group Inc. are warning that recent violent swings in US Treasuries are only the beginning of a new era of volatility that’s here to stay until central banks conquer inflation.
Some previously steadfast bears are showing signs of giving in after a seven-month advance put the S&P 500 on the edge of a key chart line.
Diversification is a cornerstone of thoughtful, long-term focused investing. Incorporating assets and asset classes that don’t always move in tandem – that is, their returns aren’t strongly correlated – can help temper stock and bond market risk.
Several key economic indicators are released every week to help provide insight into the overall health of the U.S. economy. Policymakers and advisors closely monitor these indicators to understand the direction of interest rates.
Tax-loss harvesting is one of the direct indexing’s biggest benefits. The automation that direct indexing provides greatly increases the strategy’s potential benefits.
This morning's release of the April new home sales from the Census Bureau came in at 683K, up 4.1% month-over-month from a revised 656K in March. This is above the Investing.com forecast of 663K and the highest level in over a year. The median home price is now at $420,800, down $35K from March on a nominal basis.
Many investors view real estate as an attractive long-term investment opportunity that plays an important role in portfolio diversification. With that in mind, Columbia Threadneedle Investments recently announced the expansion of its exchange-traded fund offerings with the launch of the Columbia Research Enhanced Real Estate ETF (Ticker: CRED). The fund offers investors and allocators an accessible, research-driven way to gain exposure to the real estate asset class. REITS have a history of low correlations and attractive long-term returns and have a strong historical performance record in high inflation. According to a recent Columbia Threadneedle survey, 93% of financial advisors plan to maintain or increase their real estate allocations over the next 12 to 24 months.
The distinction between futures-based ETFs and crypto equity ETFs is clear when you look closely at the two. But even when examining them closely, it may be difficult to distinguish between the different types of blockchain/crypto equity ETFs because of similarities with fintech, metaverse, and Web3 concepts.
We propose a golf-inspired advisor assessment framework with a scorecard, fairway average and handicap as performance measures to quantitatively assess an advisors’ investment performance.
Although attendance was down this year compared to last—mostly because Bitcoin’s price is still off its record high of approximately $69,000, set in November 2021—there was nevertheless an impressive turnout of investors of all ages, industry leaders, policymakers and more.
Factor investing has seen increased popularity in the US. Investors may also want to consider increasing their opportunity set by considering factors abroad.
Investors aren’t likely to see a Bitcoin-spot exchange-traded fund offered in the US anytime soon, according to VanEck Chief Executive Officer Jan Van Eck.
After embarking on a rapid tightening cycle in March 2022, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) appears poised to pause its interest rate hikes in the middle of this year.
Deep in the bowels of Wall Street, there’s a surprisingly successful counterfeiting operation underway: The world’s largest banks have created a booming business churning out imitation quant trades.
For this edition of Bull vs. Bear, James Comtois, and Elle Caruso discussed the pros and cons of using single-stock ETFs to express opinions on stock earnings.
April's ZHVI came in at $339.048, up 0.34% from March and up 3.30% from April 2022. This is the second consecutive monthly increase in home value. After adjusting for inflation, the real figures are -0.21% month-over-month and -4.45% year-over-year.
This morning's release of the April existing home sales showed that sales continued to fall for a second straight month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.28 million units from the previous month's 4.43 million. The latest number represents a 3.4% month-over-month decrease and was well below the forecast of a 0.1% increase in sales. Existing home sales are now down 23.2% compared to one year ago.
Investor indifference to the threat of a prolonged debt-ceiling impasse has left a handful of tail-risk strategies almost too cheap to pass up.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is down about 26% for the year, but investors shouldn’t assume there won’t be market fluctuations ahead, especially with quantitative traders increasing their activity as of late.
BNY Mellon Investment Management recently launched its latest suite of thematic ETFs, including the BNY Mellon Innovators ETF. It is managed by John Porter, who joins us today to discuss the ETF, what it means to invest in innovation, and why thematics.
The BNY Mellon Innovators ETF was created to support innovation across a wide range of industries and sectors, not just technology. It invests in companies that can provide economic benefits, create new jobs, and improve the quality of life for people worldwide. John’s broad definition of innovation is unique and we’re here to discuss more about the strategy with him.
Earlier today, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development published their April findings for new residential housing starts and building permits. Over the long haul, the two series offer a compelling study of trends in residential real estate. Here is an overlay of the two series since the 1959 inception of the starts and permits data, which was tracked beginning a year later.
Month-over-month nominal retail sales in April were up 0.42% and up 1.60% YoY. However, after adjusting for inflation, real retail sales increased by 0.05% and were down 3.20% YoY.
The patent that’s given Vanguard Group an edge over competitors for the past 20 years — and helped its clients pull in more than $100 billion worth of additional investment gains — expired today.
The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have now published their findings for April new residential housing starts. The latest reading of 1.401M was just above Investing.com's forecast of 1.400M and is a 2.2% increase from the March's revised figure of 1.371M. Housing starts are down 22.3% compared to this time last year.
The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have now published their findings for April new residential building permits. The latest reading of 1.416M came in below Investing.com's forecast of 1.437M and is a 1.5% decrease from March’s revised figure of 1.437M. Building permits are down 21.1% compared to one year ago.
When an exchange traded fund (ETF) is associated with high or low beta, what exactly does that entail? It all boils down to risk and how much an investor is willing to accept, which is different for everybody.
Billionaire investing titans Stanley Druckenmiller and David Tepper loaded up on stocks benefiting from the artificial intelligence boom during the first quarter.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index (HMI) is a gauge of builder opinion on the relative level of current and future single-family home sales. The latest reading came in better than expected (45) at 50, up 5 from last month, and is the index's highest reading in the last ten months.
The Census Bureau's Advance Retail Sales Report for April was released this morning. Headline sales were up 0.4% month-over-month, below the expected 0.8% increase. Core sales (ex Autos) were also up 0.4% in April, in-line with expectations.
We think the U.S. debt limit showdown will spark renewed volatility in markets. That risk reinforces why we stay invested and cautious by going up in quality.
The risk of a US debt default is greater than it’s ever been, threatening to tip global markets into a brand-new world of pain. For investors, there are few places to hide other than the oldest hedge in the book: gold.
Exchange-Traded Products
Using NightShares’ NSPL to Tilt to the Night
The markets behave differently at night, making the overnight sessions a compelling opportunity for savvy investors looking to enhance their equity returns. In this upcoming LiveCast, NightShares and VettaFi will explore the benefits of tilting to the Night using the NightShares 500 1x/1.5x ETF (NSPL).
Why Tech and Industrial REITs Stand Out
The real estate market has been challenging, but specific real estate sectors may present opportunities. Data and infrastructure real estate enables technology that is critical for AI, Bitcoin, cloud networking, 5G and e-commerce. Industrial real estate has become crucial for e-commerce distribution and logistics networks. Join Pacer ETFs and VettaFi as Pacer celebrates the 5th anniversary of two popular REIT strategies.
Topics will include:
Barrier Income ETFs: The Latest Innovation in Defined Outcome Investing
In the upcoming webcast, Innovator ETFs and VettaFi will outline a new suite of Barrier ETF products and how they can protect and enhance portfolios.
The US Big Tech Bull Case Is Starting to Show Signs of Fatigue
The artificial intelligence hype that has propelled US technology stocks in the past few weeks is showing signs of fatigue.
4 Top-Performing Real Estate ETFs You Should Consider
This article will examine four real estate ETFs that investors and advisors can consider for their portfolios in 2023. Whether investors are seeking exposure to a specific sector or a diversified portfolio, there is a real estate ETF available to meet their needs.
Sinology On-the-Ground in China
Andy Rothman provides a first-hand perspective from his first trip to Shanghai and Beijing since the start of COVID in 2019.
Bull vs. Bear: Is The Hype for Japan ETFs Justified?
For this edition of Bull vs. Bear, Nick Peters-Golden and Karrie Gordon discussed the fundamentals for and against investing in Japan ETFs.
Getting the Best Out of ChatGPT and AI
ChatGPT and AI seem to be everywhere these days, but what do they really mean for asset management and financial advisors? Does AI arrive as just a theme, or can it really have an immediate impact on financial advisors’ work?
Biggest Junk-Bond ETF Attracts Most Cash Since 2020 as Rally Builds
Investors are piling cash into the largest junk bond exchange-traded fund at the quickest pace in nearly three years amid a broad rebound in risk assets.
Relative Rotation – Unlocking the Hidden Potential (Part 1)
Relative rotation entails shifting among stocks, sectors, and stock factors. The strategy adds significant value to portfolio management if done well.
It’s The Economy That Matters: The Employment Situation
Several key economic indicators are released every week to help provide insight into the overall health of the U.S. economy.
Real Estate ETFs: A Good Investment Amidst Predicted Recession?
Real estate ETFs have become a popular investment option for investors who want to gain exposure to the real estate market without owning physical properties. However, with some experts predicting a real estate recession, advisors may be wondering if such funds remain a good option.
VettaFi Honored As Finalist for 2023 “Wealthie” Award In Research Innovation
Earlier this month, WealthManagement.com announced the finalists for its 2023 Industry Awards (the “Wealthies”). VettaFi is one of two firms to be recognized for outstanding achievement in research innovation. The Wealthies was the first award program of its kind to honor companies, organizations, and individuals supporting financial advisor success.
A Diversified Approach to Investing in the AI Sector
Some investors may not want to go all-in on AI, preferring a more diversified approach to their investments. For those investors, there are stock picker ETFs that have holdings in AI-focused companies but won’t bet the house on AI.
The Evolution of the Fixed Income Tradable Ecosystem
Fixed income indices have helped modernize fixed income markets by providing a method for standardization. Fixed income tradable indices go a step further by underlying tradable instruments like ETFs and swaps and thereby building a bridge to investor implementation and actionable insight. Learn how fixed income indices are playing a key role in the evolution of the credit ecosystem.
The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq Since Their 2000 Highs
Here is a look at real (inflation-adjusted) charts of the S&P 500, Dow 30, and Nasdaq composite since their 2000 highs. We've updated this through the May 31, 2023 close.
Weekly Gasoline Update: Prices Drop for First Time in 4 Weeks
As of June 5, the price of regular and premium gas decreased by 3 cents and 2 cents, respectively, from the previous week. According to GasBuddy.com, California has the highest average price for regular at $4.79 and Mississippi has the cheapest at $2.93. The WTIC end-of-day spot price for crude oil closed at $72.15 and up 3.9% from last week.
PayPal’s 80% Stock Plunge Hasn’t Soured Wall Street
For the majority of PayPal Holdings Inc. analysts, the only way is up. The trouble is, the stock keeps going down.
What Changed with the Pandemic (And What Didn’t)
Portfolio Manager Alex Zarechnak identifies six key themes from the COVID years—some new, some familiar—to help anchor investors in today’s emerging markets.
World Markets Watchlist: June 5, 2023
Seven of the eight indexes on our world watch list posted gains through June 5, 2023. Nikkei 225 continued to climb, finishing in the top spot with a YTD gain of 23.46%. The U.S.'s S&P 500 finished in second with a YTD gain of 11.76% while Germany's DAXK jumped into third with a YTD gain of 9.09%.
S&P Global Services PMI: Strongest Expansion in Over a Year
The May US services purchasing managers' index (PMI) conducted by S&P Global came in at 54.9, which was just below the 55.1 forecast. This morning's reading keeps the index in expansion territory for the fourth straight month and is the strongest reading in over a year.
How the Value Trade Has Been Smoked by the AI Frenzy
As fast as it went up for value managers, it’s coming down. The culprit is the all-consuming craze for artificial intelligence.
Know How To Get There: Three Implementation Capabilities You Should Demand From Your OCIO Provider
A robust implementation strategy and real-world implementation capabilities are both necessary in order to achieve your portfolio’s preferred position.
Airlines Are Bracing For Record Summer Travel. A Golden Opportunity For Investors?
The industry group Airlines for America predicts that approximately 257 million people will travel on U.S. commercial airlines this summer, representing a 9.5% increase from last year. That would also set a new record, as volumes are projected to surpass the summer 2019 levels by around 2 million passengers.
Assessing the AIEQ ETF: Implications for AI Investing
The AI Powered Equity ETF (AIEQ) has garnered attention recently, but not for positive reasons. Despite using artificial intelligence to make investment decisions, the ETF has struggled to perform well, with a disappointing one-year return of -13.92%.
Treasury Yields Snapshot: June 2, 2023
The yield on the 10-year note ended June 2, 2023 at 3.69%, the 2-year note ended at 4.50%, and the 30-year at 3.88%.
Vehicle Sales Per Capita as of May 2023
The moving average for the light vehicle sales per capita series peaked in August 1978. Almost 45 years later, it is down 40.5% from that peak.
Goldman’s Hedge Fund ETF Is Crushing the S&P 500 With AI Bets
The artificial intelligence boom is handing a big win to hedge funds angling for an edge.
Conflicting Signals Add Uncertainty to Fed’s Rate Path
Choppiness in the equity market continues as investors look to see a debt limit deal approved.
Macro Tailwinds for Emerging Markets
David Dali, Head of Portfolio Strategy, provides his 12-month outlook for global equity markets.
Short-Term Versus Long-Term Gains When Selling ETFs
Because exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer a dynamic product that can serve as a buy-and-hold or buy-and-sell investment, they can offer investors the opportunity to reap long-term or short-term gains. Knowing the difference between the two is crucial, especially when it comes time for taxes.
Investing in AI-Focused ETFs: A Smart Move for Modern Investors
Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized how we live and work, and it is now poised to transform the investing world. As technology continues to evolve and mature, investors are increasingly turning to AI-focused ETFs to gain exposure to this dynamic and rapidly growing sector.
Treasury Yields: A Long-Term Perspective
As of May 31, 2023, the 10-year note was 312 basis points above its historic closing low of 0.52% reached on August 4, 2020.
S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI™: Renewed Decline in May
The May S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI™ dropped for the first time in five months to 48.4. The latest figure moves the index back into contraction territory after a brief 1-month stint in expansion territory. The May reading is slightly below the forecast of 48.5.
VettaFi Voices On: Debt Ceiling Investing
This week, the VettaFi Voices come together for an abbreviated chat about an important topic: the debt ceiling.
Moving Averages: S&P Finishes May Up 0.25%
Valid until the market close on June 30, 2023
The S&P 500 closed May with a monthly gain of 0.25%, after a gain of 1.46% in April. At this point, after close on the last day of the month, two of five Ivy portfolio ETFs — Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) and Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC) — are signaling "cash", unchanged from last month's final double "cash" signal.
Land the Big Whale
My advice to prepare for the “big” meeting is this…
Total Concentration: Mega Caps Reign
The concentration of gains up the cap spectrum isn't itself a precursor to weakness; it's the lack of participation from the "average stock" that warrants some caution.
Stock Traders Turn to Options for Desperate Chase to Catch the Tech Rally
Stock investors who planned for one thing in 2023 are getting something else entirely. Now, with the tech-obsessed market at risk of running away from them, the race is on to catch up.
It’s The Economy That Matters: PCE, GDP, Durable Goods & Employment Numbers
Several key economic indicators come out every week to help provide insight into the overall health of the U.S. economy. Policymakers and advisors closely monitor these indicators to understand the direction of interest rates, as the data can significantly impact business decisions and financial markets.
Consumer Confidence Slips to Six Month Low
The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index ® slipped to 102.3 in May from April's upwardly revised reading of 103.7. This month's reading was better than expected, exceeding the 99.0 forecast. The latest figure is the index's lowest reading in the past six months.
America's Driving Habits as of March 2023
Travel on all roads and streets increased in March. The 12-month moving average was up month-over-month by 0.1% and was up 0.3% year-over-year. If we factor in population growth, the 12-month MA of the civilian population-adjusted data (age 16-and-over) was up 0.0% MoM and down 0.8% YoY.
S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index: Rebound Continued in March
In March, S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index revealed seasonally adjusted home prices for the benchmark 20-city index saw a 0.5% increase month-over-month (MoM) and a 1.2% decrease year-over-year (YoY). After adjusting for inflation, the MoM was reduced to 0.0% and the YoY was reduced to -8.5%.
FHFA House Price Index Reaches Record High in March
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has released its U.S. house price index (HPI) for March. The index reached a record high last month, coming in at 398.0. U.S. house prices increased by 0.6% from the previous month. Year-over-year the index is up 3.6%. After adjusting for inflation, the real index is up 0.8% in March and up 0.2% year-over-year.
Bull vs. Bear: Is There a Future for Fossil Fuel Investments?
For this edition of Bull vs. Bear, Elle Caruso and Karrie Gordon discussed the pros and cons of investing in fossil fuels.
Beyond the Garden Variety of ETFS
Like planting seeds, sometimes new investment vehicles take time to take root. David Mann, Franklin Templeton’s Head of Global ETF Product and Capital Markets, draws parallels between gardening and developing and growing new ETFs.
The Seesaw Becomes Extreme
We've described the past several years' stock market as a seesaw in which the "market" was the fulcrum of the seesaw. On one side of the seesaw sit the highly speculative growth sectors and on the other side, sit virtually everything else in the global equity markets.
The AI Era Unleashed: How NVIDIA’s Stock Boom Reflects The Future Of Tech
If you were doubting whether the age of AI has arrived, NVIDIA’s stock performance this week may have given you second thoughts.
AI-Focused ETF Assets Could Triple to $35 billion by 2030
Exchange-traded funds tracking companies that are linked to artificial intelligence may see their assets grow three-fold to $35 billion by 2030, a report by Bloomberg Intelligence shows.
VettaFi Voices On: One Year as VettaFi
Last week the VettaFi Voices gathered to reflect on a year at VettaFi under the firm’s new name. The team celebrated wins, and time spent together, and shared their favorite insights and highlights from a busy twelve months.
Tesla’s Recent Shareholder Meeting Could Appease Bulls
With a year-to-date gain of just over 60%, Tesla stock keeps rolling higher, and the company’s recent shareholder meeting could continue to appease the bulls — if the electric automaker manages to hit its goals.
Friday Is Now an Options Feeding Frenzy as Big Tech Meets Zero-Day Options
An end-of-week feeding frenzy in options of the world’s biggest companies has emerged as two of the hottest trends on Wall Street collide.
An End To Tightening Supports Gold
Stocks are having a great year, but gold is doing even better. Year-to-date global equities are up roughly 9% in dollar terms; gold has advanced more than 10%.
Pending Home Sales Unchanged in April
The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) released the latest monthly data for its pending home sales index. The latest index remained at 78.9, representing a 0.0% change from last month, lower than the expected 0.5% increase. Pending home sales are down 20.3% compared to one year ago.
Examining the Importance of Dividend Growth
The two primary styles of dividend investing are growth and yield. In the latter, investors embrace stocks with what are deemed above-average yields — often from slower-growth sectors, such as utilities and real estate.
The Bond Market Knows More than the Credit Rating Agencies
Investors should rely on the wisdom of crowds as expressed through bond yields, not credit rating agencies, to judge fixed-income credit risk.
Money, Banking, and Markets – Connecting the Dots
Most of us spent moments of our childhood, crayon in hand, connecting numbered dots that gradually revealed a picture that we couldn’t deduce simply by looking at the separate dots. With experience, we got better at looking at those isolated dots and mentally connecting them into a coherent “gestalt.”
ETF Liquidity: What Is It and How Does It Benefit Investors?
One of the advantages of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) compared to other investment vehicles is their relative liquidity. But what is liquidity for an ETF? How does that liquidity actually give ETF investors the upper hand, compared to other assets?
There is Something Rotten in China
One metric I look at fairly often for various countries is the relationship between the performance of stocks vs. bonds. The idea is straightforward enough: when stocks are outperforming bonds, it tends to be associated with a growing economy.
Pimco, BlackRock Call End to Era of Stable Borrowing Costs
Bond-market titans BlackRock Inc., Pacific Investment Management Co. and Vanguard Group Inc. are warning that recent violent swings in US Treasuries are only the beginning of a new era of volatility that’s here to stay until central banks conquer inflation.
Hedge Funds Rush to Buy Stocks on S&P 500’s Momentum
Some previously steadfast bears are showing signs of giving in after a seven-month advance put the S&P 500 on the edge of a key chart line.
Wheat, Gold and the Pursuit of a Zero-Correlation Investment
Diversification is a cornerstone of thoughtful, long-term focused investing. Incorporating assets and asset classes that don’t always move in tandem – that is, their returns aren’t strongly correlated – can help temper stock and bond market risk.
It's the Economy That Matters: Most Recent Housing Market Trends
Several key economic indicators are released every week to help provide insight into the overall health of the U.S. economy. Policymakers and advisors closely monitor these indicators to understand the direction of interest rates.
How Direct Indexing Automation Aids Tax-Loss Harvesting
Tax-loss harvesting is one of the direct indexing’s biggest benefits. The automation that direct indexing provides greatly increases the strategy’s potential benefits.
New Home Sales Jump 4.1% in April
This morning's release of the April new home sales from the Census Bureau came in at 683K, up 4.1% month-over-month from a revised 656K in March. This is above the Investing.com forecast of 663K and the highest level in over a year. The median home price is now at $420,800, down $35K from March on a nominal basis.
A New, Low-Cost REIT ETF
Many investors view real estate as an attractive long-term investment opportunity that plays an important role in portfolio diversification. With that in mind, Columbia Threadneedle Investments recently announced the expansion of its exchange-traded fund offerings with the launch of the Columbia Research Enhanced Real Estate ETF (Ticker: CRED). The fund offers investors and allocators an accessible, research-driven way to gain exposure to the real estate asset class. REITS have a history of low correlations and attractive long-term returns and have a strong historical performance record in high inflation. According to a recent Columbia Threadneedle survey, 93% of financial advisors plan to maintain or increase their real estate allocations over the next 12 to 24 months.
Surrounding Crypto ETFs: Metaverse, Web3, and More
The distinction between futures-based ETFs and crypto equity ETFs is clear when you look closely at the two. But even when examining them closely, it may be difficult to distinguish between the different types of blockchain/crypto equity ETFs because of similarities with fintech, metaverse, and Web3 concepts.
In Golf and Investing, Handicaps Matter
We propose a golf-inspired advisor assessment framework with a scorecard, fairway average and handicap as performance measures to quantitatively assess an advisors’ investment performance.
Bitcoin’s Rise To Prominence On Full Display At This Year’s Miami Conference
Although attendance was down this year compared to last—mostly because Bitcoin’s price is still off its record high of approximately $69,000, set in November 2021—there was nevertheless an impressive turnout of investors of all ages, industry leaders, policymakers and more.
International Style
Factor investing has seen increased popularity in the US. Investors may also want to consider increasing their opportunity set by considering factors abroad.
A Bitcoin-Spot ETF Is Unlikely in US in the Near Future, VanEck CEO Says
Investors aren’t likely to see a Bitcoin-spot exchange-traded fund offered in the US anytime soon, according to VanEck Chief Executive Officer Jan Van Eck.
Market Performance When the Fed Pauses
After embarking on a rapid tightening cycle in March 2022, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) appears poised to pause its interest rate hikes in the middle of this year.
Wall Street Built a $370 Billion Business Cloning Quant Trades
Deep in the bowels of Wall Street, there’s a surprisingly successful counterfeiting operation underway: The world’s largest banks have created a booming business churning out imitation quant trades.
Bull vs. Bear: Playing Earnings Season With Single-Stock ETFs
For this edition of Bull vs. Bear, James Comtois, and Elle Caruso discussed the pros and cons of using single-stock ETFs to express opinions on stock earnings.
Zillow Home Value Index: Increases for Second Straight Month
April's ZHVI came in at $339.048, up 0.34% from March and up 3.30% from April 2022. This is the second consecutive monthly increase in home value. After adjusting for inflation, the real figures are -0.21% month-over-month and -4.45% year-over-year.
Existing Home Sales Fall Again in April
This morning's release of the April existing home sales showed that sales continued to fall for a second straight month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.28 million units from the previous month's 4.43 million. The latest number represents a 3.4% month-over-month decrease and was well below the forecast of a 0.1% increase in sales. Existing home sales are now down 23.2% compared to one year ago.
Debt-Ceiling Tail Hedges Are ‘Cheap Lottery Tickets,’ Bank of America Says
Investor indifference to the threat of a prolonged debt-ceiling impasse has left a handful of tail-risk strategies almost too cheap to pass up.
Active Management Could Help Tame Market Volatility From Traders
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is down about 26% for the year, but investors shouldn’t assume there won’t be market fluctuations ahead, especially with quantitative traders increasing their activity as of late.
How to Invest in Innovation
BNY Mellon Investment Management recently launched its latest suite of thematic ETFs, including the BNY Mellon Innovators ETF. It is managed by John Porter, who joins us today to discuss the ETF, what it means to invest in innovation, and why thematics.
The BNY Mellon Innovators ETF was created to support innovation across a wide range of industries and sectors, not just technology. It invests in companies that can provide economic benefits, create new jobs, and improve the quality of life for people worldwide. John’s broad definition of innovation is unique and we’re here to discuss more about the strategy with him.
A Long-Term Look: Residential Building Permits and Housing Starts
Earlier today, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development published their April findings for new residential housing starts and building permits. Over the long haul, the two series offer a compelling study of trends in residential real estate. Here is an overlay of the two series since the 1959 inception of the starts and permits data, which was tracked beginning a year later.
The Big Four: April Real Retail Sales Up 0.05%
Month-over-month nominal retail sales in April were up 0.42% and up 1.60% YoY. However, after adjusting for inflation, real retail sales increased by 0.05% and were down 3.20% YoY.
The Patent That Helped Vanguard Clients Pocket Big Gains Expires
The patent that’s given Vanguard Group an edge over competitors for the past 20 years — and helped its clients pull in more than $100 billion worth of additional investment gains — expired today.
Housing Starts Rise 2.2% in April
The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have now published their findings for April new residential housing starts. The latest reading of 1.401M was just above Investing.com's forecast of 1.400M and is a 2.2% increase from the March's revised figure of 1.371M. Housing starts are down 22.3% compared to this time last year.
Building Permits Fall 1.5% in April
The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have now published their findings for April new residential building permits. The latest reading of 1.416M came in below Investing.com's forecast of 1.437M and is a 1.5% decrease from March’s revised figure of 1.437M. Building permits are down 21.1% compared to one year ago.
High-Beta & Low-Beta ETFs: How Do They Differ?
When an exchange traded fund (ETF) is associated with high or low beta, what exactly does that entail? It all boils down to risk and how much an investor is willing to accept, which is different for everybody.
Stan Druckenmiller, David Tepper Lead Family Offices Betting on AI
Billionaire investing titans Stanley Druckenmiller and David Tepper loaded up on stocks benefiting from the artificial intelligence boom during the first quarter.
NAHB Housing Market Index: Lack of Existing Inventory Boosts Builder Confidence
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index (HMI) is a gauge of builder opinion on the relative level of current and future single-family home sales. The latest reading came in better than expected (45) at 50, up 5 from last month, and is the index's highest reading in the last ten months.
Retail Sales Rebound 0.4% in April
The Census Bureau's Advance Retail Sales Report for April was released this morning. Headline sales were up 0.4% month-over-month, below the expected 0.8% increase. Core sales (ex Autos) were also up 0.4% in April, in-line with expectations.
U.S. Debt Stand-off To Add to Volatility
We think the U.S. debt limit showdown will spark renewed volatility in markets. That risk reinforces why we stay invested and cautious by going up in quality.
Debt-Limit Default Risk Is Higher Than Ever. How Can You Safeguard Your Wealth?
The risk of a US debt default is greater than it’s ever been, threatening to tip global markets into a brand-new world of pain. For investors, there are few places to hide other than the oldest hedge in the book: gold.