BestNoLoadFunds.com : December 2007

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Monday, December 31, 2007

Year-End Mutual Fund News

U.S. stock funds struggle to gain footing after volatile year: "Slowing economy, sluggish earnings favors large-cap growth strategies"
Eight Mutual Fund Stories That Will Make Headlines In '08: Here are eight stories I think are likely to be written in 2008:
Investing strategies: Steady at the wheel: "Whatever 2008 brings for stocks, some ...investors say they aren't worried. They say they've experienced volatile markets before and have developed strategies that let them sleep at night."
You may be ready for a 1-fund shop: "Kiplinger's ...offers up a few good ones. Bob Torray is one pick with his Torray fund. He and Doug Eby take a long-term, value approach and keep expenses low. Others to consider are Sound Shore fund, Jensen fund and Presidio fund."
New Real Estate Funds Crash and Burn: "As with the onslaught of new technology funds just before the Internet bubble popped, the industry has rolled out a slew of funds that invest in real estate investments at the worst possible time. ...The timing couldn't have been worse."

(permalink) -- Posted by KenW

Friday, December 28, 2007

Mutual Funds and ETF News

A Brandywine Portfolio For Mid Caps: "This team approach has lifted Advisors to a 28.14% gain this year going into Wednesday. Its mid-cap growth rivals averaged 17.15%. The S&P 500 was up 7.48%."
The next generation of ETFs: "As investors flock to exchange-traded funds, index funds that trade like stocks, the roughly 15-year-old industry is branching into more complex instruments."
ETFs handing investors big capital gains -- to pay taxes on: "Only a few people really care, but there's a mutual fund battle raging: Are exchange-traded funds superior to traditional mutual funds, or should investors stick with the classics?"
Some ETF Investors to Feel Tax Bite for '07: "Investors who bought exchange-traded funds hoping to avoid the tax bills that sometimes plague mutual-fund investors could be in for disappointment for 2007."
Mutual Funds Struggling to Keep Investors: "The mutual-fund industry had another record year in 2007, but there are some big storm clouds on the horizon."
ETFs seen taking bigger role in 401(k) plans in coming years: "While mutual funds are a staple of many 401(k) and other retirement plans, ETFs are likely to become serious competitors in the coming years."
SEC chief puts mutual fund changes on his to-do list: "In what will almost certainly be his final year as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Christopher Cox is preparing to tackle a number of [mutual fund] issues..."
ETF Companies Testing Limits Of Stock Picking: "Exchange traded funds, which are supposed to track indexes, are moving closer to active management."
Mutual-fund growth losing steam: "An explosion in 401(k) plan adoption lifted ownership of mutual funds, typically used in such plans, from 6 percent of U.S. households in 1980 to 48 percent in 2001. Now, with fewer 401(k) plans being established, fund ownership has leveled off."
Toast the New Year With These 'Boozy' Funds: "...to appropriately cap off 2007, we have a list of funds likely to gain and then lose popularity in just a matter of hours."

(permalink) -- Posted by KenW

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Index Funds, ETFs, and Funds News

John Bogle Speaks Out: "His recent book, The Little Book of Common Sense Investing, offers compelling reasons why index funds offer most investors the biggest bang for their buck."
How to Invest $20, $100, and $1,000 (and More): "An index fund that tracks the S&P 500 is your ticket to an investment that has traditionally returned about 10% per year."
His Own Man - Forbes.com: "Jonathan Steinberg says he has found a way to build a better index fund and, in the process, a reputation he can be proud of."
3 Things You Need to Know about International Exchange-Traded...: "We are going to take a look at regional exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in this article and examine some facts that you need to know about these funds."
Rethinking Index Investing - Seeking Alpha: "So let me ask two simple questions. Why are market-value weighted indexes ...the most generally accepted benchmarks by which to compare investment results? Is there any particular reason for such value-weighting ...?"
Experts make plenty of financial and career mistakes, too, and learn from them: "...I shouldn't have tried to pick stocks. I should have bought broad-based mutual funds – index funds and ETFs (exchange-traded funds)."
Warren Buffet on Index Funds, the Truth on Investment Professionals, and the Falling Dollar: Warren Buffett's views on index funds
Index-Fund Tortoises Are Long-Term Winners - WSJ.com: "While index-fund investors are often seen as a thrifty bunch, a new study suggests they have another distinguishing characteristic: They make well-timed investment decisions."
The Secret to Better Mutual Fund Returns: "...undergraduate and M.B.A. students at Harvard and Penn, were told to choose one of four index funds that were identical except for their varied fees. The majority failed to pick the least expensive option."
ETFs seen taking bigger role in 401(k) plans in coming years: "While mutual funds are a staple of many 401(k) and other retirement plans, ETFs are likely to become serious competitors in the coming years."
Exiting Shareholders Impact Fund Performance: "Typically, investors focus on how fees and strategy can impact performance. But, other details, like redemptions, can also have a profound effect on a given fund."

(permalink) -- Posted by KenW

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

No-Load Fund Views

Finding the Funds That Beat the S&P 500: "With beating the S&P 500 index in my mind, last night I used Morningstar's mutual fund screening tool to see if I can find any winner with the method suggested by Consumer Reports."
Compare Mutual Funds-Tips For Finding The Top Ones To Reach Your Financial Goals: "Many people want to know how to compare mutual funds to make the right decision. There are obviously many factors at work here."
A Fund Cure for Your Energy Cost Woes (and Inflation): "Below are three excellent no-load funds and three excellent ETFs that can serve your needs. Each has a different approach, but all can serve as an excellent hedge against both energy price increases and general inflation."
December pick for the WylieMoney Slowly portfolio: "The December pick for the WylieMoney Slowly portfolio is a Large Cap Blend fund."
Real Estate Has More Appeal Outside the U.S.: "For real estate investors, global markets look brighter than those in the U.S. today. ...There are at least 16 retail mutual funds and three exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trained mainly on Europe, Asia and Latin America. Some of them include U.S. properties, others don't."

(permalink) -- Posted by KenW

Monday, December 24, 2007

Exchange-Traded Funds News

Best Stocks for 2008: Global expert goes with Japan ETF (EWJ) - BloggingStocks: "My favorite, and more conservative investment idea for 2008 is Japan -- specifically, the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (ASE: EWJ)," says Mike Burnick, editor of Global Market Investor.
Agribusiness ETF Moos At Energy-Bill Signing: Hungry for profit? Agricultural funds might fill your craving. Take Market Vectors Agribusiness MOO. The exchange traded fund tracks the DAXglobal Agribusiness Index... With 37 stocks in its basket, the fund offers investors a chance to own a piece of all things agricultural, from farm-equipment makers to livestock providers.
Wild ETFs Could Help Tame Portfolio: ETF sponsors have launched intriguing funds in four key sectors, offering ordinary investors some great new ways to diversify.
Investing in Biotech ETFs - Seeking Alpha: Investors are faced with the challenge of picking stocks or choosing from a few ETFs. ...The ETFs in the space all have issues that investors must reconcile.
An ETF to Avoid?: "Make room for the brand new FocusShares ISE-REVERE Wal-Mart Supplier Index Fund (NYSE: WSI). ...I have a few problems with this investment, though:..."
Bond ETFs definitely pay dividends - USATODAY.com: For many investors used to buying stocks, the ability to buy a diversified basket of bonds using one ticker symbol is attractive.
Investors wary of financial sector look to profit elsewhere | csmonitor.com: Financial stocks often have been bellwethers for the economy and lately they've been flashing a warning signal.
Bespoke Investment Group: Recent ETF Performance: "Since today is going to be a slow trading day, we figured we would provide readers with our table of recent ETF performance. As shown, there is a lot of green on the screen..."
Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) Focus - Small Caps Take the Lead: Last week, we saw a pullback as more than 90% of the ETFs I track were lower. Real estate and homebuilders were weak while the U.S. Oil Fund (USO) and PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Fund (PBW) led. This week we have a bounce with just over 80% of my list showing a gain.

(permalink) -- Posted by KenW

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Mutual Funds, ETF News

Fabian Preaches The Gospel Of The ETF: "I began pushing the no-load mutual fund. And I loved mutual funds. But then there was the bear market of 2000-02. Mutual funds provided no value"
10 Time Bomb Tickers: "...the names of those bad funds are readily available. Here are the worst-performing mutual funds over the trailing 10-year period"
Chasing performance comes at a cost: "A controversial study has come to a distressing conclusion for advisors who sell load mutual funds. Zero Alpha Group (ZAG), a U.S.-based network of independent wealth-management firms, came to the seemingly counterintuitive insight that clients who buy load mutual funds through advisors underperform those who buy no-load funds or index funds."
The Panel's Picks -- Courant.com: "From the crystal ball of new and returning experts comes advice for the mythical $10,000 in 2008"

(permalink) -- Posted by KenW