News about

Bet on the Euro with These 3 ETFs – ETF News And Commentary

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:00:01 -0500

Time to bet on euro ETFs for a spring surge?

ProShares Launches Geared Aussie Dollar ETFs

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 09:00:10 -0400

In yet another first for the ETF industry, ProShares announced this week the introduction of a pair of products that will offer leveraged exposure to the exchange rate between two of the world’s most heavily traded currencies. The new ETFs will offer access to the AUD / USD exchange rate, amplifying swings in the value of the Australian dollar. The new ETFs are: ProShares UltraShort Australian Dollar (CROC) ProShares Ultra Australian Dollar (GDAY) CROC will seek to deliver -2x daily returns to the AUD/USD cross rate, while GDAY will offer 2x leveraged daily exposure to the same benchmark [see 46 Amusing ETF Tickers]. Aussie Dollar In Focus The Australian dollar has been the target of significant flows in recent years, thanks in large part to Australia’s distinction as one of the first developed markets to raise interest rates after the global recession. Australia’s benchmark interest rate is currently at about [...]

Click here to read the original article on ETFdb.com.

What is an ETF? — Part 15: World Currencies

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:00:19 -0400

Exchange traded funds continue to increase in number and popularity, growing to one of the most commonly traded securities on the stock exchange as both institutional and the average retail investor gain greater access to broad or specialized market exposure. Yet many individuals are unfamiliar...

Chart of the Day: Euro ETFs

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:30:43 -0500

In the past six sessions, the message that the Euro currency has given investors in terms of price action can be summed up in three words: Not so fast! CurrencyShares Euro Trust (NYSEArca: FXE) has suddenly been tripped up, dropping in five of the last six sessions before finding some late day...

The Contrarian: Euro ETFs

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 08:15:19 -0400

Global stock exchange traded funds tumbled to start the week as markets remained unable to shake worries that Greece will default and escalate the debt crisis. The Contrarian looks at the market’s most unloved ETFs — this week’s installment examines euro currency funds. [The...

EUR Has Shot of Espresso as Europe Opens, Waits for US Payrolls

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 07:10:05 -0400

FRANKFURT - The euro threw back a shot of espresso when markets opened in Europe and now waits nervously for direction from the US.The euro rose to over the 1.4170 level against the US dollar after hitting a three-week overnight low of approximately ...

Euro Weakening against US Dollar Ahead Of ECB Meeting

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:42:38 -0400

The euro has moved down to around the 1.425 level against the US dollar in the first hours of trade in Europe.Technicians see trend-line resistance at 1.4367 with support seen at 1.4183, according to India Forex.Economists expect the European Centr...

Euro Rises as Final Decision on Greece Nears

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:44:19 -0400

The euro defied the odds in today's trading to climb higher against the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen. At the moment, the euro rose 0.52% against the greenback to stand around $1.4186. The Japanese yen put up more resistance as the euro gained 0.47%...

ETFdb Category Kings: Best Performers From First Half Of 2011

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:00:40 -0400

The first half of 2011 is officially in the books, and many investors find their portfolios in approximately the same place as they were to start the year (though a furious rally in the final week of the quarter gave a nice boost at an opportune moment). Most major equity indexes are up slightly on the year, while fixed income benchmarks have similarly hovered around breakeven. Beyond these broad generalizations, there are some significant performance discrepancies among exchange-traded products that may seem to offer up similar risk/return profiles. The following tables highlight the top performers from every ETFdb Category during the first six months of the year, shedding some light on the asset classes that have struggled and thrived so far in 2011–and reinforcing that the seemingly minor distinctions between ETPs can lead to big differences in performance [for monthly updates on the best performers, sign up for the free [...]

Click here to read the original article on ETFdb.com.

Euro Falls as Portugal Looks More Like New Greece

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 05:19:34 -0400

The euro is in retreat on Wednesday, as Portugal begins to look a lot more like Greece. At the moment, the euro lost 0.48% of its value against the U.S. dollar to trade around $1.4360. nop

Euro Falls on Slowdown in Europe’s Service Sector Activity

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 05:20:35 -0400

The euro's momentum against the U.S. dollar was halted on Tuesday, as signs of a slowdown in Europe's service sector activity started to appear.

D-Day for Greece, Euro Edges Higher

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:22:11 -0400

All eyes will be on Athens tonight, as the Greek parliament is preparing to vote on the next round of austerity cuts and economic reforms. The result is expected to be close and traders are proceeding cautiously in today's trading. The euro has edged s...

Euro Falls as Greek Crisis Nears Climax

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:27:32 -0400

The euro fell against major currencies on Wednesday, as the Greek crisis is reaching its climax, i.e. the vote on the new austerity measures. At the moment, the euro lost 0.16% of its value against the greenback to trade around $1.4388. At the same tim...

Euro Falls on Greece Fears

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 05:20:23 -0400

The euro fell on Wednesday on fears Greece might not implement another round of austerity measures aimed at reducing the country's massive debt. At the moment, the euro lost 0.457% of its value against the U.S. dollar to trade around $1.4377. At the sa...

Euro Falls on Weak Economic Results in France and Germany

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 05:37:31 -0400

The euro fell against the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen on Friday, after France and Germany posted more disappointing news.At the moment, the euro is trading at $1.4471 against the U.S. dollar, or 0.262% below yesterday's close.

Euro Makes Slim Gains Against U.S. Dollar after Portuguese Socialists Admit Defeat

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 02:11:08 -0400

The euro made slim gains against the U.S. dollar on Monday, after the Socialist government of Portugal admitted election defeat. The Portuguese Socialists were soundly beaten by the center-right Social Democrats on Sunday.

U.S. Dollar Bulls Stay Put During Dip

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:10:52 -0400

Many U.S. dollar bulls are holding onto their bets even though the euro has climbed to a three-week high against the U.S. dollar.The euro went above $1.44 on Wednesday, its highest level against the U.S. ...

Euro Is Rising on Encouraging Economic Data From Spain

Fri, 27 May 2011 04:02:44 -0400

The euro is rising against the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen on Friday, following encouraging economic data from Spain. Traders are getting used to good news from Germany and France. Today, the Spanish economy also helped to provide some boost to th...

PowerShares, Deutsche Team Up On Leveraged Dollar ETNs

Wed, 25 May 2011 07:00:25 -0400

PowerShares and Deutsche Bank have rolled out two exchange-traded notes that give investors additional options for expressing their outlook on the performance of the U.S. dollar against its major developed market rivals. The two new ETNs are linked to an index that consists of U.S. Dollar Index Futures, which reflect the performance of the greenback against a basket consisting of the euro, yen, pound, franc, Canadian dollar, and Swedish krona. The two new ETNs are: 3x Long U.S. Dollar Index Futures ETN (UUPT): This note will deliver monthly results that correspond to 300% of the change in the futures-based index. UUPT charges an expense ratio of 0.95% [see UUPT fact sheet]. 3x Short U.S. Dollar Index Futures ETN (UDNT): This note will deliver monthly results that correspond to -300% of the change in the futures-based index. UDNT also charges 95 basis points annually [see UDNT fact sheet]. PowerShares already offers [...]

Click here to read the original article on ETFdb.com.

Euro Gains Against U.S. Dollar on Rising Price Level in Germany

Fri, 20 May 2011 03:58:01 -0400

As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, the index of producer prices for industrial products grew by 1% in April, beating market expectations of a 0.6% rise. In March, the index grew by 0.4%.

Euro Shakes Off Strauss-Kahn Scandal To Gain Against U.S. Dollar (ULE, URR)

Mon, 16 May 2011 09:06:54 -0400

Recent economic data from the Eurozone helped its currency overcome insecurities following the legal problems of the IMF's head, Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Mr. Strauss-Kahn's arrest made some investors agitated because of the strong role he played in bail...

Italy’s Trade Balance Deteriorates in March (DRR, SEUR, URR, LEUR)

Mon, 16 May 2011 04:59:20 -0400

On Monday, Italy reported worse than expected trade balance results for March. Most analysts expected Italy's trade balance to improve from February's €3.63 billion deficit to €2.29 billion deficit. Instead, Italy's deficit increased to €3.94 bil...

Eurozone Economy Gains Strength (ULE, URR)

Fri, 13 May 2011 06:54:21 -0400

Eurozone economy is rebounding strongly in Q1. According to Eurostat, Eurozone and EU27 economy grew by 0.8% in Q1, ahead of 0.6% predicted by most analysts and some way above 0.3% recorded in the last quarter of 2010. Strong European economy will be s...

Germany and France Post Q1 Growth Results Ahead of Expectations (URR, EU, DRR, EUO)

Fri, 13 May 2011 03:49:08 -0400

German and French economies are speeding up. On Thursday, Germany announced its economy expanded by 1.5% in Q1, topping market expectations of 0.9% and 0.4% reported in Q4 2010.

Euro’s Reversal Of Fortune & Outlook

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 08:24:00 -0500

The Euro closed up Friday`s session at 136.13, and looks poised to make a run up to test the 140 level in February. I, among many, was thinking the Euro would next test the 125 level, and things started heading well in that direction with the Euro moving down to 129, and appearing on a downward [...]

Gold, Euro and the Yen: ETFs for Changing Sentiment

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:00:43 -0400

Can you feel the changing tides? Gold prices are back to seven-week lows, the U.S. dollar has fallen off its perch and euro exchange traded funds (ETFs) are back in favor. Now that the sentiment has turned, there are a slew of ETFs to play it. Traders are fleeing the gold market. Matt Day for The...

Euro's dive pushes currency ETF near all-time low

Sun, 30 May 2010 21:00:00 -0400

An exchange-traded fund launched in late 2005 designed to track the movement of the euro against the dollar has come nearly full circle, but the ride has been anything but smooth for investors.

Time For A Leveraged Euro ETF?

Thu, 20 May 2010 11:00:03 -0400

It seems like ages ago that the future of the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency was in serious doubt, with the euro being held out as one viable replacement. But with Greece on the brink of a fiscal collapse and several major European economies struggling to reel in ballooning budget deficits, it is [...]

Original Post

How to Play Currency ETFs While Greece Awaits a Fix

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:00:20 -0500

6 ETFs to Ride the Euro’s Changing Fortunes

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:00:17 -0500

A Guide To Currency ETFs

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:01:55 -0400

Currencies and the exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track them are getting an increasing amount of attention these days as the U.S. dollar zigs and zags and inflation becomes a potential threat, while other currencies gain relative to it. The Forex Market The foreign exchange market, also known as the forex market, is the largest ...

ETF Trends’ Guide to Currency ETFs

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:00:10 -0400

Currency ETFs Offer A Way to Capitalize, But Know What You’re Getting

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:00:32 -0400

There’s been a lot of talk lately about the value of the dollar - is it up? Is it down? - which has been sending investors on the hunt for currency exchange traded funds (ETFs). ETFs have made it possible for the average investor to get exposure to the world’s currency markets - the largest financial [...]

Rydex Adds More Currencies To Their ETF Family

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:00:37 -0400

It seems like it won’t be long before there’s an exchange traded fund (ETF) for the most far-flung currency you can think of. Rydex is bringing us a step closer to that with the creation of four more currency-focused funds to join their growing CurrencyShares family. These funds will track the: Russian ruble South African rand Hong Kong dollar Singapore dollar During [...]

ResMed (RMD) “Trading Transparency”

Wed, 28 May 2008 12:28:30 -0400

Hello Friends! Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting my blog, Stock Picks Bob’s Advice! As always, please remember that I am an amateur investor, so please remember to consult with your professional investment advisers prior to making any investment decisions based on information on this website.

A few moments ago I sold all of my shares of ResMed (RMD), which amounted to 150 shares, at $38.46. These shares were purchased 2/4/05 at a cost basis of $29.87 giving me a long-term gain of $8.59 or 28.8% on these shares.

This sale brings me down to my ‘minimum’ portfolio size of 5 positions. I have set my maximum at 20 positions and my minimum at 5. What this means is that with this sale, as before, since it is on ‘bad news’, which means selling on a defensive basis as part of a decline, I shall be ’sitting on my hands’ with the proceeds. That is, I shall not be replacing this position.

However, since I am now at 5 positions, if any of these are sold on ‘bad news’ I shall be looking for new stocks to replace them. I hope you follow this ’strategy’.

I would also like to explain the why of my sale.

Basically after my initial purchase of ResMed (RMD), I had two partial sales at appreciation targets–at 30% and 60% appreciation levels. My approach to stocks requires me to sell stocks if they decline to certain levels. After an initial purchase, I sell a stock if it declines to an (8)% loss. After a single sale at my first appreciation target (30%), I sell if a stock declines–slips back–to ‘break-even’. With additional sales, my sell-point is increased to 50% of the highest appreciation sale. With ResMed having been sold partially at a 60% appreciation level, this means that when the stock dropped to under a 30% appreciation level I was given the ’signal’ to sell the stock.

Actually, the stock was ‘flirting’ with a sale yesterday as it bounced at that 30% appreciation level under and over. I hoped it wouldn’t break through but with today’s market weakness, ResMed dipped and I sold shares.

Even though I still ‘like’ the stock from the good 3rd quarter report and the decent Morningstar.com ‘5-Yr Restated’ financials, with my own sale, the best I can do:

RESMED (RMD) IS RATED A HOLD

If we look at the ResMed “point & figure” chart from StockCharts.com, we can see the technical weakness with the stock, after peaking at $56 in February, 2007, has struggled to move higher, failing to make a new high in December, 2007, when it reached $54, and then breaking through support currently.

This isn’t about ‘liking’ a stock. I like ResMed a lot. But my trading system required me to part company with the shares. Successful trading is about some sort of discipline and I try hard to depend on my own trading rules to succeed. I hope that I shall be a shareholder in this stock in the future, but for now…..

Thanks again for stopping by and visiting! If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them on the blog or email me at bobsadviceforstocks@lycos.com. If you get a chance, visit my Covestor Page where my trading account is tracked, my SocialPicks page where all of my stock picks for the last year-and-a-half have been monitored, and my podcast page where you can download some mp3’s and listen to me discuss a few of the many stocks I write about here on the website.

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Thursday Tidbits

Thu, 08 May 2008 08:29:00 -0400

Speaking of Romania the Slovakian koruna will be no more as Slovakia has been accepted into adopting the euro starting Jan 1, 2009 (save for a potential snag or two). I don't know a lot about Slovakia but the bigger macro for these countries is smaller, faster growing, cheaper labor, younger population than the European old gard makes them generally attractive as an investment destination.

IndexUniverse is reporting that there will be two platinum related ETNs from ETRACS listing very soon, one will go long platinum and have ticker PTM and the other will go short platinum with ticker PTD.

This chart compares the platinum product from ETF Securities in the UK versus GLD (client holding). The basic case for platinum as I understand it is there is less of it than gold and it gets consumed for industrial purposes.

Van Eck launched a double long euro ETN, ticker URR, and a double short euro ETN, ticker DRR. These look a little funky to me as there are more moving parts to the calculation than you might think. IndexUniverse explains it here.

According to the IndexUniverse article the index for URR is up 12.8% YTD through April 30. According to Yahoo Finance the Rydex Euro Fund (FXE) is up 6.9% so despite my perceived funkiness that seems pretty reasonable. DRR YTD through April 30 is down 10.68%.

Rydex has filed for new currency ETFs; Russian ruble, Hong Kong dollar (this is an odd one, HKD is pegged to the greenback), South African rand and Singapore dollar. Hat tip to 24/7 Wallstreet for this info.

All of these new products, which I just heard about yesterday, tie in with the ongoing thread of more products allowing for more sophisticated portfolios. For do-it-yourselfers who are inclined to learn about them and proceed with moderation (this comment assumes the products all work which remains to be seen) I think this is a big positive.

Anyone saying they can't keep track of all of them, I hear you. There have been a slew of double long and double short commodity products that I cannot keep straight. For my tastes commodities are volatile enough that single exposure is good enough for me.

As more things come it creates some interesting sorts of pairings like trading the spread between platinum and gold or the AUDNZD rate (once/if the WisdomTree New Zealand ETF lists). Even if you have no plans to make these sorts of trades learning about them may offer some utility for what you are comfortable doing.

Of the products mentioned in this post I am most interested in the Sing dollar. I have been interested in it for a while, hopefully they follow through with it.

One commodity ETF or ETN I'd like to see is coffee. I am of the opinion that coffee consumption in Asia could skyrocket yet still have virtually no market share but if correct that could have a meaningful impact on the supply and demand equation for coffee. To be clear coffee will never be the drink of choice in Asia.

And finally from the hey that farm in Uruguay doesn't look so bad file is this rather lengthy look at the state of the US power grid. Yikes.

News about

Bet on the Euro with These 3 ETFs – ETF News And Commentary

ProShares Launches Geared Aussie Dollar ETFs

Related Posts:

What is an ETF? — Part 15: World Currencies

Chart of the Day: Euro ETFs

The Contrarian: Euro ETFs

EUR Has Shot of Espresso as Europe Opens, Waits for US Payrolls

Euro Weakening against US Dollar Ahead Of ECB Meeting

Euro Rises as Final Decision on Greece Nears

ETFdb Category Kings: Best Performers From First Half Of 2011

Related Posts:

Euro Falls as Portugal Looks More Like New Greece

Euro Falls on Slowdown in Europe’s Service Sector Activity

D-Day for Greece, Euro Edges Higher

Euro Falls as Greek Crisis Nears Climax

Euro Falls on Greece Fears

Euro Falls on Weak Economic Results in France and Germany

Euro Makes Slim Gains Against U.S. Dollar after Portuguese Socialists Admit Defeat

U.S. Dollar Bulls Stay Put During Dip

Euro Is Rising on Encouraging Economic Data From Spain

PowerShares, Deutsche Team Up On Leveraged Dollar ETNs

Related Posts:

Euro Gains Against U.S. Dollar on Rising Price Level in Germany

Euro Shakes Off Strauss-Kahn Scandal To Gain Against U.S. Dollar (ULE, URR)

Italy’s Trade Balance Deteriorates in March (DRR, SEUR, URR, LEUR)

Eurozone Economy Gains Strength (ULE, URR)

Germany and France Post Q1 Growth Results Ahead of Expectations (URR, EU, DRR, EUO)

Euro’s Reversal Of Fortune & Outlook

Gold, Euro and the Yen: ETFs for Changing Sentiment

Euro's dive pushes currency ETF near all-time low

Time For A Leveraged Euro ETF?

How to Play Currency ETFs While Greece Awaits a Fix

6 ETFs to Ride the Euro’s Changing Fortunes

A Guide To Currency ETFs

ETF Trends’ Guide to Currency ETFs

Currency ETFs Offer A Way to Capitalize, But Know What You’re Getting

Rydex Adds More Currencies To Their ETF Family

ResMed (RMD) “Trading Transparency”

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Thursday Tidbits