Top ETF Review for Investing in Asia – DBJP, DXJ and CQQQ

Performance of Spearheads 

Versus Mature and Emerging Markets

A review of the top picks in the exchange traded fund (ETF) category is a prudent approach to investing in Asia. On the whole, the stock markets in the budding regions of the world have a way of soaring and plunging far more than their peers in the mature countries. This hallmark applies to the bourses of Asia as much as anywhere else.

Unfortunately, the emerging regions as a whole have fared a lot worse than the U.S. market in recent years. Amid the widespread funk, however, Japan and China have turned into a couple of hotspots on the global stage.

Over the past three years, the best performance was turned in by the MSCI Japan US Dollar Hedged Index fund, which trades in the U.S. under the ticker symbol of DBJP. The total return for the dynamo, given by the sum of capital gain plus dividend yield, came out to an annual gain of 28.15% on average over a 3-year period ending in spring 2015.

During the same timespan, the runner-up was the WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity ETF. The index fund, which runs under the banner of DXJ, racked up 26.54% a year on average.

Meanwhile the third slot was nabbed by the Guggenheim China Technology ETF, which sports the call sign of CQQQ. The tracking vehicle scored an average gain of 25.92% a year.

By way of comparison, the flagship fund within the mature economies takes the form of SPY. The beacon chalked up an advance of 18.11% a year over the same interval. Meanwhile the heavyweight for the emerging markets lies in VWO, which eked out a mere 4.94% per annum.

From a different slant, a graphic survey of the price action over a longer time frame provides a wholesome view of the markets. For this purpose, a fitting window is a span of half a decade, which is long enough to cover the crash of the stock market in the autumn of 2011 as well as the recovery in the years to follow.

The visual plot serves to highlight the advantage of SPY in terms of ample growth coupled with muted risk over the entire stretch. More precisely, the flagship ETF turned in an admirable showing compared to its rivals in terms of risk-adjusted growth over the course of half a decade.

NOTE: The full briefing is a document in PDF form. The report, titled “Top ETF Review for Investing in Asia”, may be viewed or downloaded here.

*       *       *

 

Top 5 Markets for ETF Investing in Europe – Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium, Britain and Nordics

 

Index Fund Performance

for

EIRL, EWL, EWK, EWU and GXF

A performance review of the top markets in Europe sets the stage for investing in a diverse region that includes budding countries as well as mature economies. For this purpose, a robust and convenient vehicle for the worldly investor lies in an exchange traded fund (ETF).

In sizing up the field of index funds, a straightforward tack is to begin with a list of the high flyers. Then other traits such as volatility and liquidity can be brought to bear on the subject in addition to the capital gains.

In order to obtain a balanced view of performance, the window of evaluation should cover a period in which the market has encountered a boom as well as a bust. On one hand, a longish timespan provides a wealth of data for a thorough survey of performance. On the other hand, the turnout in recent years is likely to be a better guide to the prospects going forward than the record of the remote past.

The vale of exchange traded funds has seen explosive growth around the turn of the millennium. Given the welter of saplings, an investor who insists on a long history will thereby rule out a raft of candidates. In this setting, a track record of three years seems like a fitting compromise in trading off the opposing factors of ample data versus plentiful candidates.

With these points in mind, the chosen window spans three years ending in spring 2014. From this standpoint, the front-runners take the form of index funds dealing with Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium, Britain and the Nordic region.

In addition to the return on investment over the entire stretch, a crucial issue concerns the volatility of each vehicle along the way. In gauging the extent of turbulence, a handy aid lies in a concurrent plot of the index funds. For this purpose, a suitable scheme involves a visual display spanning a stretch of 5 years ending in spring 2014.

Based on the capital gains over the past three years, the best vessels sport the ticker symbols of EIRL, EWL, EWK, EWU and GXF. Over this stretch, the index fund for Ireland (EIRL) outpaced the chief benchmark of the stock market – namely, SPY – by a solid margin. On the other hand, the other four vehicles lagged the latter beacon by varying degrees.

Meanwhile, over the longer span of half a decade, the Irish fund beat out SPY by a modest amount. During this period, the turnout for Switzerland (EWL) was comparable to the flagship benchmark of the stock market. By contrast, the remaining three contenders turned in worse results. In particular, Britain (EWU) brought up the rear amongst the top names in the European theater.


NOTE: The full briefing is a document in PDF form. The publication, titled “Top Markets for ETF Investing in Europe”, may be viewed or downloaded here.

*       *       *

 

Midcap ETF Review for CSD, RPV and RYJ

 

Performance of Top Index Funds

Given the attractions of an exchange traded fund, a midcap ETF review for the stock market paves the way for investing in lusty firms of moderate size. For this purpose, the first order of business is to select a timespan for sizing up the returns on investment.

On one hand, a lengthy window of observation provides a heap of data for a thorough analysis of performance. On the other hand, the broad-based approach has its drawbacks as well. One stumper springs from the dynamism within the financial forum. Due to the explosive growth of index funds in the millennium, a prolonged timespan has the side effect of brushing aside numerous entrants that have stepped into the arena only in the recent past.

For this reason, the wily investor has to strike a balance between the conflicting factors in order to pick an apt window of evaluation. In striking a compromise, a time frame of three years seems like a fitting choice in general.

From a different stance, the financial crisis of 2008 was a watershed in the global economy. In recognition of the landmark, a duration of five years ending in spring 2013 has the advantage of spanning the epic blowup and its aftermath. For this reason, the longer window of half a decade can provide a host of pointers on the true nature of motley markets.

In addition to grasping the price action in the arena, the wise investor takes into account a number of additional factors relating to the short run as well as the long range. A case in point is a modicum of liquidity needed for the artful player to enter and exit a given market in a timely fashion.

A second hallmark of the savvy investor lies in an aversion for levered vehicles. The reason stems from the constant threat of sudden death and/or gradual demise that dogs any type of rickety scheme based on high gearing. Due to the specter of certain doom, only a heedless speculator lusts after shaky contraptions pumped up by the gimmicks of leverage. In other words, the wise investor relies only on sturdy rigs that move with the target market in a direct and forthright way.

In sifting through a database of index funds focused on midsize firms, a straightforward approach is to begin with a muster of the front-runners in the field. Then the other factors such as liquidity and risk can be brought to bear on the appraisal.

In line with this thrust, we begin with a tally of raw performance over the course of three years ending in the autumn of 2013. The resulting list of candidates can then be whittled down further by a couple of secondary screens. As we noted above, the first filter deals with the liquidity of the ETF in the marketplace. Meanwhile the second criterion concerns the directness of the setup; that is, the absence of leverage.

Based on this regimen, the top 3 index funds turned out to be CSD, RPV and RYJ. The purpose of these pools is to keep pace with their respective benchmarks: the Beacon Spin-off Index, the S&P Pure Value Total Return Index, and the Raymond James SB-1 Equity Index.

Among these pacers, CSD turned out to be the clear winner. Moreover the return on investment for the spearhead displayed a series of higher peaks as well as rising troughs over the span of half a decade.

Of the pair of runners-up, the average payoff for RPV over the past three years was comparable to that for RYJ. On the other hand, the former pool broke down more severely than the latter during the financial flap of 2008. After the smashup, though, RPV for the most part kept up with its rival and managed to eke out a slightly better performance in recent years.

To place the turnout of the high flyers in context, the eagles were compared against a couple of renowned benchmarks of the stock market. Looking at the big picture, the Standard & Poor’s index of 500 giants stands out as a popular proxy for the bourse as a whole. Meanwhile the S&P 400 Midcap Index is arguably the leading beacon within the vale of midsize stocks.

Each of the foregoing yardsticks has spawned an index fund of its own. The offsprings carry the ticker symbols of SPY and MDY respectively. On the upside, the trio of winning funds for midcap stocks – namely, CSD, RPV and RYJ – trumped the popular benchmarks of the bourse by a solid margin.

NOTE: The full report is a document in PDF form. The publication, listed under the title of “Midcap ETF Review for Investing in Top Markets”, may be downloaded here.  

*       *       *

 

ETF Review of Top 3 Picks for Consumer Cyclical Stocks – XRT, PEJ and XHB

 

Comparison of Fund Performance

for

XRT, PEJ and XHB 

A review of the top performers is a springboard for sound investing in consumer cyclical stocks by way of an exchange tradedf fund (ETF). To pick out the best choice of index fund, the first step is to round up the front-runners. In sizing up the firebrands, the key gauges include the speed of capital gains and the extent of price volatility

To this end, a basic criterion involves the rate of return over the past few years. On the other hand, a lot of index funds are relative newcomers to the field. For this reason, a prober who insists on a lengthy history will exclude a raft of candidates. At this early stage in the upgrowth of exchange traded funds, a fitting compromise between the length of the track record and the size of the candidate pool is a life span of 3 years.

For our purpose here, the period of evaluation straddled three years ending in the summer of 2013. During this stretch, the best performance was turned in by an exchange traded fund based on the S&P Retail Select Industry Index. The communal pool, which sports the ticker symbol of XRT, chalked up a gain of 30.92 percent a year on average.

The runner-up in the sweepstakes was a vehicle tied to the S&P Homebuilders Select Industry Index. The dynamo, which flies under the banner of XHB, managed to snag an average return of 29.73% per year.

Meanwhile the bronze metal in the race went to the PowerShares Dynamic Leisure & Entertainment fund. The hustler, branded as PEJ, snapped up a yearly gain of 28.46%.

In order to obtain a better sense of the performance figures, we need to put the results into a larger context. For this purpose, the benchmark of choice among professional investors lies in the Standard & Poor’s index of 500 titans listed on the stock market.

The latter yardstick is tracked with remarkable accuracy by an exchange traded fund that runs under the banner of SPY. The tracking vehicle turned in a bounty of 18.87% a year on average over the course of three years.

To sum up, the third place in the rankings was claimed by PEJ which surpassed the chief benchmark of the market by nearly 10% a year. By contrast, the outcome for XHB turned out to be a mite better by about 1%. Finally, the payoff for XRT was higher still by another percent or so.


NOTE: The full report is a document in PDF form. The resource is available here: Top ETF Review for Consumer Cyclical Stocks.


*       *       *

 

Smallcap ETF Review – Top 3 Index Funds for Healthcare, Energy and Growth Stocks

 

 Index Fund Performance 

 for 

 PSCH, PSCE and IJT 

Given the drawcards of an exchange traded fund, a smallcap ETF review for the stock market lays the groundwork for investing with finesse in bantam firms. To this end, the first order of business is to select a suitable timespan for sizing up the candidates.

On one hand, a lengthy window of observation provides a heap of data for a thorough analysis of performance. On the other hand, the broad-based approach has its drawbacks as well. One stumper springs from the dynamism within the financial forum. Due to the explosive growth of index funds in the millennium, a prolonged timespan has the side effect of casting aside numerous entrants that have stepped into the arena only in the recent past.

For this reason, the wily investor has to strike a balance between the conflicting factors in order to pick an apt window of evaluation. In striking a compromise, a time frame of three years seems like a fitting choice in most cases.

From a different stance, the financial crisis of 2008 was a watershed in the global economy. In recognition of the landmark, a duration of five years ending in spring 2013 has the advantage of spanning the epic fiasco and its aftermath. For this reason, the longer window of half a decade can provide a host of pointers on the true nature of motley markets.

In addition to grokking the price action in the arena, the deft investor takes into account a number of additional factors relating to the short run as well as the long range. A case in point is a minimal level of liquidity needed for the artful player to enter and exit a given market in a timely fashion.

A second hallmark of the savvy investor is an aversion for levered vehicles. The reason lies in the constant threat of sudden death and/or gradual demise that besets any type of rickety scheme based on high gearing. Due to the specter of certain doom, only a heedless speculator lusts after shaky contraptions pumped up by the gimmicks of leverage. In other words, the sober investor relies only on sturdy rigs that move with the target market in a direct and forthright way.

In sifting through a database of index funds focused on smallish firms, a straightforward approach is to begin with a muster of the front-runners in the field. Then the other factors such as liquidity and risk can be brought to bear on the appraisal.

In line with this thrust, our search begins with a tally of raw performance over the course of three years ending in spring 2013. The resulting list of candidates is then whittled down by the duo of secondary screens. As we noted above, the first filter deals with the liquidity of the asset in the marketplace. Meanwhile the second criterion concerns the directness of the setup; that is, the absence of leverage.

Based on this routine, the top 3 index funds turned out to be PSCH, PSCE and IJT. These pools focus respectively on the healthcare sector, energy market, and growth stocks.

Within the ranks of acceptable funds based on bantam stocks, PSCH turned out to be the clear winner. The return on investment for the spearhead displayed a series of higher peaks as well as rising troughs over the span of three years following its debut in the stock market in spring 2010.

Of the pair of runners-up, the average payoff for PSCE was comparable to the turnout for IJT. On the other hand, the latter vehicle was a lot less volatile compared to the former. For this reason, IJT was the better choice for the genuine investor.

To place the performance of the high flyers in context, the eagles were compared against a couple of renowned benchmarks of the bourse. Looking at the big picture, the Standard & Poor’s index of 500 giants stands out as a popular proxy for the stock market as a whole. Meanwhile the Russell 2000 Index is arguably the leading beacon within the vale of bantam stocks.

Each of the foregoing yardsticks has spawned an index fund of its own. The offshoot vehicles carry the ticker symbols of SPY and IWM respectively. On the bright side, the trio of winning funds for smallcap stocks – namely, PSCH, PSCE and IJT – trounced the standard benchmarks of the bourse by a comfortable margin.


 NOTE: The full briefing is a document in PDF form. The publication, titled “Smallcap ETF Review for Investing in Top Markets”, may be viewed or downloaded here.

*       *       *

 

Thailand ETF Review Featuring a Top Stock Market in Asia

 Index Fund Performance for THD 

 Versus Benchmarks for 

 Mature and Emerging Markets 

In picking an index fund bound for growth, a review of the exchange traded fund (ETF) for Thailand sets the stage for investing in a top stock market in Asia. For this purpose, the vehicle of choice is an ETF that trades in the U.S. under the ticker symbol of THD.

As with budding markets in general, the bourse in Thailand is wont to thrash around a lot more than those of the mature regions. For this reason, the volatility of the market is as important as the return on investment in sizing up the corresponding fund.

On the upside, THD has turned in a rousing performance over the past few years in spite of the stormy weather kicked up by the financial crisis of 2008 and its aftershock. On one hand, the index fund crumbled more than the broad benchmarks of the emerging markets as a whole. Despite the smackdown, however, THD regained its vigor in short order and continued to trudge higher in the years to follow.

From a larger stance, the benchmarks of the emerging regions have been unable to recover fully from the pounding they received during the financial flap. As a result, the tracking funds for the sprouting markets have lagged behind the foremost benchmark of the bourse used by professional investors.

Despite the poor showing of the emerging regions in general, Thailand has managed to outshine its peers. Granted, the stock market did encounter a number of setbacks along the way. A case in point was the takedown prompted by the crash of the American bourse in the autumn of 2011.

By contrast to their usual behavior, the emerging regions as a group have fared worse than the U.S. market in recent years. Even so, Thailand has turned out to be one of the bright spots on the global stage.

In short, the exchange traded fund for Thailand has turned in a sparkling performance since the financial crisis and its fallout. On one hand, THD has been somewhat more volatile than the broad-based vehicles for the emerging regions; in particular, the index funds sporting the labels of EEM and VWO. In line with their usual behavior, the latter vehicles were in turn more flighty than the flagship pool for the mature markets; namely, the tracking vehicle known as SPY.

On the bright side, though, the exchange traded fund for Thailand has outpaced SPY by a hefty margin over the span of half a decade, and likewise for the past few years. Given this backdrop, many an investor would have done well to trade off a modicum of turbulence in return for the windfall turned in by THD.


NOTE: The full briefing is a document in PDF form. The publication, titled “Thailand ETF Review for a Top Stock Market in Asia”, may be viewed or downloaded here.

*       *       *

 

Top 3 Exchange Traded Funds for the Middle East

 

ETF Comparison 

for Egypt, Israel and Turkey 

Against the USA

For the worldly investor, a handy way to access the Middle East – including the frontier markets of Egypt, Israel and Turkey – is to take up the corresponding exchange traded funds (ETFs) listed in the USA. In this article, we examine the performance of the index funds in the context of the American market which serves as the bellwether for the bourses of the world.

The ETFs are compared in terms of growth along with the risk entailed. For a balanced view of performance, the period of evaluation should cover a stretch in which the market has experienced a boom as well as a bust. The index funds can then be weighed in view of the return on investment coupled with the degree of volatility.

These factors are examined for the index funds dealing with Egypt, Israel and Turkey; namely, EGPT, EIS and TUR respectively. Moreover, the three pools are compared against the behavior of SPY, the flagship fund for the American bourse.

Read more on Top 3 Exchange Traded Funds for the Middle East.

*       *       *

 

Top 3 Index Funds for North America

 

Performance Review for Canada, Mexico and USA

In choosing a robust vehicle for investing in North America, a good place to start is to prepare a list of the top index funds for Canada, Mexico and USA. For each country, an apt choice is an exchange traded fund with a proven track record among those listed on the leading stock market in the world: namely, the U.S. bourse.

The next step is to examine the candidates in terms of growth as well as risk. For a rounded view of performance, the period of evaluation has to cover a stretch in which the market has experienced a boom as well as a bust. The funds can then be compared in terms of the return on investment as well as the level of volatility.

Another vital gauge lies in a hybrid measure of risk-adjusted gain that takes into account the overall payoff as well as the characteristic turbulence along the way. These factors are examined for the top index funds dealing with Canada, Mexico and USA; namely, EWC, EWW and SPY.

ONLINE  RESOURCES

A primer on “Cruddy Information on Exchange Traded Funds” is available under the section on Investment Funds at MintKit – http://www.mintkit.com/investment-funds.

An article on “Financial Risk” talks about obvious as well as elusive hazards for investors – http://www.mintkit.com/risk.

*       *       *

 

Top ETFs for the Frontier Markets of Turkey, Thailand and South Africa

 Review of TUR, THD and EZA as 

 the Best Exchange Traded Funds 

 for Frontier Markets 

 During and After the Financial Crisis 

The top vehicles for growth include the exchange traded funds (ETFs) for the frontier markets of Thailand, Turkey and South Africa. The time frame for evaluation covers a crucial stretch of three years spanning the financial crisis of 2008 and its aftermath. In sizing up the performance of the funds, the key factors include the return on investment, the volatility of the pool, and the cost of maintenance.

As a rule, the vital features are interlinked rather than independent. As an example, a vehicle on the fast track to growth is prone to be more flighty than a sluggish one which plods along at a modest pace. Another sample lies in the cost structure: an index fund with a heavy burden of maintenance fees is prone to lag behind its rivals that have leaner structures.

In sizing up the index funds, a straightforward scheme is to begin with a list of the high flyers. Then the other factors such as risk and cost can be brought to bear on the appraisal.

For the tally at hand, the total return – consisting of the capital gain and dividend yield – covered a stretch of three years ending in March 2011. By this reckoning, the index fund for Turkey earned the gold medal.

Meanwhile, the pool for South Africa turned in a solid return coupled with a lower level of volatility. As a result, the African fund won the trophy for risk-adjusted returns.

In sizing up the efficiency of operations, the funds for Turkey and South Africa boasted a slim advantage over the pool for Thailand. On the other hand, the difference in maintenance fees was too small to have much of an impact on the rankings.

Read more on Top ETFs for the Frontier Markets of Turkey, Thailand and South Africa.

*       *       *

Volatility Slams the Return on Index Funds

 The Return on Index Funds  

 Rises with the Aloofness of the Investor  

 and Falls with the Volatility of the Market 

A high level of volatility in the market prods investors into fiddling with their portfolios, thereby slashing the return on investment for index funds. By trading in and out of the stock market at precisely the wrong times, the fidgety players end up shooting themselves in the foot.

Over the long haul, the sprightly segments of the market are apt to outpace the other branches. The dynamic niches include bantam firms, technology ventures, and emerging regions. On the downside, though, the spry markets tend to be more roily than the rest.

Unfortunately, the investing public has a way of dashing in and out of the market at just the wrong moments. As a result, the punters give up a great deal of the gains on offer in the lusty domains. The higher the volatility, the greater in general is the lag of the investor behind the target index.

On the upside, though, there is a straightforward way for the mass of investors to boost their earnings by a significant amount. The gamers could enjoy a plump increase in profits if they would stop meddling with their portfolios and simply ignore the goings-on in the marketplace. Moreover, the benefits of a laissez-faire policy grows with the turbulence of the market, along with the flightiness of the corresponding index fund.

Read more on Volatility Slams the Return on Index Funds.

*       *       *

How Forex Affects an ETF for Global Investment

 Showcase of Australia and Korea 

In a global marketplace, the return on investment for an exchange traded fund (ETF) depends in part on the behavior of the foreign exchange (forex) market. Whatever the type of asset, the turnout of the currency in a particular country can have a big impact on the payoff for an international investor. It makes no difference whether the investment involves a financial instrument like a stock or bond, or a tangible object such as land or housing.

Many people have the impression that equities and currencies are independent classes of assets. While that may be true in principle, it’s hardly the case in practice.

For this reason, the global investor has to consider the linkages amongst different types of assets. The forces at work are examined in connection with a couple of stark examples involving Australia and Korea. The case studies happen to involve divergent cultures and distinct time scales, but the crucial patterns crop up regardless.

Read more on How Forex Affects an ETF for Global Investment.


*       *       *

Top 10 ETF List for Growth – Performance, Risk and Cost

In order to pick out a promising exchange traded fund (ETF) in an orderly way, the first task of the investor is to compile a list of the top performers. For this purpose, the crucial factors include the pace of capital gains, the level of price volatility, and the burden of maintenance charges.

In certain cases, additional features may come to the fore. A case in point is the yield due to the dividends thrown off by the ETF.

For the most part, the traits noted above are interlinked rather than independent. As an example, an exchange traded fund on a growth streak is apt to be more volatile than a sluggish one which plods along at a modest pace. Another sample is the cost structure; whatever the performance in the past, an index fund with a heavy load is more likely than not in the future to lag behind its rivals with leaner structures.

In tackling these issues, a sensible step is to begin with a muster of the top 10 funds by way of growth. Then the other factors such as risk and cost can be brought to bear on the evaluation.

Read more on Top 10 ETF List for Growth – Performance, Risk and Cost.

*       *       *

Shifty Data For Investment Planning - Patchy Statistics Deceive Investors

Investors are exposed to two forms of risk in the financial markets. One type of threat is discussed openly by the financial community and the business press, while the other is seldom acknowledged in spite of its whopping importance.

In the financial community, the term "risk" usually refers to the volatility of the price of an asset. We may refer this type of bugbear as chronic risk.

In addition to the fluctuation in price, however, there is a menace lurking in the background which the financial community rarely talks about in spite of its importance. All too often, an asset or even an entire fund breaks down and goes kaput. In that case, the investors in the vehicle end up losing their shirts in one fell swoop.

Since the notion of total ruin is a pariah in financial circles, hardly anyone likes to talk about it. In line with this state of affairs, there is no terminology that is in general use for this type of bogey.

Given its significance to the investor, however, the subject ought to be brought into the open and given its due. In the absence of a suitable term, we will refer to the prospect of death as terminal risk.

This type of threat is almost always ignored by the statistics of the forum. The omission is especially baleful in the case of a compilation such as the average performance of the "Top 100 Firms" in a particular area.

More on   Shifty Data For Investment Planning - Patchy Statistics Deceive Investors.