This post provides links to a number of interesting articles I have read over the past few days that you may also enjoy.

• Michael Kahn (Barron’s): Setting free the bears, November 2, 2009. The stock market’s astounding run from its March lows has finally run into a real ceiling. After outpacing most, if not all, post bear-market rallies over the past century the inevitable is finally here. But is it part of another correction or something more? The urgency of the sell-off suggests the latter. That said, I don’t see the danger of the market testing its March lows any time soon.

• Charles Githler (MoneyShow.com): Former bears’ take on the market’s future, October 18, 2009. Are we headed for a major correction, or even worse: a resumption of the bear market?What “the best” (former bears) are telling us now …

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This post provides links to a number of interesting articles I have read over the past few days that you may also find enjoyable.

• Doug Kass (TheStreet.com): Sooner or later, the piper must be paid, August 28, 2009. My view is that investors will shortly see through the current sugar high and the better-than-expected earnings cycle and will begin to look over the valley at the chronic and secular issues that have emerged from the past cycle and from policy decisions aimed at returning the domestic economy toward self-sustaining growth.

• Michael Kahn (Barron’s): Dollar and frothy sentiment are new worries, August 26, 2009. There’s a fine line between risk taking and risk ignoring. Bulls may be doing both.

• Economist.com: Has the tide turned for corporate profits?, August 27, 2009. The recent rally in shares has

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ETF Deathwatch In '09

Tom Petruno of the Los Angeles Times notes that about 60 exchange-traded funds were closed in 2008, a big increase from past years. The articles says that only five ETFs were shuttered from 2003-2007.

He talks to Ron Rowland, who serves as chief investment officer at Capital Cities Asset Management. He also publishes newsletters advocating momentum-based trading strategies using stocks, ETFs and other types of funds. In any case, he has formulated his own ETF Deathwatch List, which enters 2009 with 97 ETFs and 42 exchange-traded notes included.

His list is calculated based on average daily volumes, among other factors. You can read the story here. 

 

Energy ETFs Rebounding

This article in Barron's by Michael Kahn takes a look at ETFs such as the Sector Select SPDR Energy ETF (XLE) and the Market Vectors-Coal ETF (KOL), which are starting to attract more assets and look better

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Gold Mining Stocks --- And ETF--- May Have Bottomed

A lot of investors have been waiting for a bottom in gold mining stocks. With gold prices having stabilized in the $700+/ounce range, gold mining stocks look like downright bargains. Today, Michael Kahn at Barron's says that gold mining stocks and the Market Vectors Gold Miner's ETF (NYSEArca: GDX) may have put in a technical bottom last week. The fund closed yesterday right at its 50-day moving average. A jump above that market would be a very bullish signal.

Read the full article here.

Romey: More Advisors Should Switch To ETFs

Good press has been relatively easy for exchange-traded funds to find during the equity mutual fund rout, as the media, including IU.com, have highlighted the transparency and low costs of ETFs vs. traditional mutual funds. IndexUniverse.com contributor Rich Romey, president of advisory firm ETF Portfolio Solutions, explains all the reasons

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This chart from Michael Kahn over at Barron's puts the dollar rally in some perspective, eh?People are saying the dollar bear market is over but as rallies this decade go it doesn't look that big.It could extend and turn into something big of course but we have seen this movie before WRT to snap back rallies during this decade.This applies to charts of other things having violent moves in the other direction from what we have become accustomed.To me this is a good reminder that these moves, counter trend or the real deal, happen often, do not require a panicked response and make a good argument for moderate exposure.I was never in the gold $2000 camp, and thought oil could come back down to $120 but as fast as the moves have been I ...