powershares

It has been a good year for the technology sector, the largest sector allocation in the S&P 500. The tech-heavy NASDAQ-100 Index is up 8.7 percent while the Technology SPDR (ETF) (NYSE: XLK), the largest technology exchange-traded fund, is higher by 16.5 percent. PSI, Ahead Of The Rest...

Broadly speaking, U.S. stocks are not alarmingly expensive, but as one of the longest-running bull markets in history ages, investors are looking for other value destinations. Predictably, that includes ex-U.S. developed markets. While there is a plethora of ex-U.S. developed markets exchange-...

Count 2016 as another year of impressive growth and expectations of more of the same for smart beta exchange-traded funds. BlackRock data indicate 2016 is proving to be a banner year for smart beta funds. As of November 20, smart beta ETFs around the world attracted $45 billion in new assets...

This has been a very good year for major small-cap benchmarks. For example, the widely followed Russell 2000 Index and the S&P SmallCap 600 Index are up 24 percent and 29 percent, respectively, year-to-date. Some small-cap strategies are doing even better, namely small-cap exchange-traded funds...

An increasingly popular niche within the expansive universe of smart beta exchange-traded funds is the low volatility/high dividend concept. SPHD And 2 New ETFs The PowerShares S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility Portfolio (PowerShares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II (NYSE: SPHD)) pioneered the...

Every year, hundreds of new exchange-traded funds come to market in the United States. While the number of new ETFs debuting in any given year is usually large, the number that ultimately prove successful is far smaller. Ditto for those ETFs that burst out of the gate and immediately prove...

In an upset of epic proportions, Republican nominee Donald Trump is now president elect after defeating Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Volatility And Victory As Election Day turned to Election Night with the contest shaping up to be closer than recent polling data suggested, global financial...

Plenty of bloom has come off the low volatility rose. That was especially true during the third quarter when high beta offered significant out-performance over the low volatility factor, but low volatility could have its day again. Looking To China A familiar catalyst, China, could be the reason...

As is the case with other investments, knowing exactly when low volatility is going to be in style amounts to an effort aimed at factor timing and can be a tricky endeavor. Likewise, knowing when higher beta stocks will be favored is a taxing endeavor. Welcome To The Market, LVHB The Elkhorn Lunt...

For investors focusing on dedicated, equity-based volatility exchange-traded funds, “low” has been the name of the game this year. However, that trend could be starting to change amid a significant recent influx of new assets to the PowerShares S&P 500 High Beta Portfolio (...

Traders are increasingly reconciling the fact that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in December. That speculation is prompting some pressure on rate-sensitive asset classes, as highlighted by recent retrenchments in real estate and utilities stocks and exchange-traded funds. Preferred...

When it comes to exchange-traded funds tracking the technology sector, the largest sector weight in the S&P 500, the funds that command the most attention are large-cap products heavy on familiar stocks such as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT). However, as is...

Perhaps it is not a coincidence that as concerns linger regarding valuations on U.S. stocks the value factor is making a comeback this year. That, after value lagged growth for the better part of a decade. Rising multiples on the S&P 500 leave investors wondering how much more can be juiced of...

Regarding volatility exchange-traded funds, it is those of the low volatility variety that are garnering all the attention this year. That includes the ultra-popular PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility Portfolio (PowerShares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II (NYSE: SPLV)). Amid all the fervor over...

The low volatility factor and the exchange-traded funds dedicated are spending plenty of time in the limelight this year. Much of attention heaped upon these ETFs falls into the category of adulation, but there are concerns that among U.S.-focused low volatility products, the trade is crowded and...