sbenard

Multiple Asset Class Short-Term Returns

My favorite commodity ETF wasn't included on this list. It is quite unique in that it continues to move higher while most commodities -- and the related ETFs -- have lately moved lower. This ETF is unique because, to my knowledge, it is the ONLY commodity ETF that takes both long and short positions in the same fund. The symbol is LSC, and it is the Elements Lolng & Short Commodity ETF. I've posted a recent chart on my blog here:

etfchart.blogspot.com/...

Comparing Commodity ETFs/ETNs

There are also several other ETFs/ETNs. There are some new ones by Deutsche Bank that both double the long and double the short side of the commodity markets. One might look at them also before making a decision.

Taking iPath DJ Livestock Cow out of the Barn

One more thing --
Elements is the company that markets the commodity funds of the super commodity guru Jim Rogers, so they automatically have high credibility to me. Needless to say, choosing which ETF/ETN to invest in is never a decision as easy as choosing one expense ratio over another.

Taking iPath DJ Livestock Cow out of the Barn

I've been long COW for about 10 days. There are two other livestock-related ETFs now that are very similar: LSO (by Elements ETNs) and UBC (marketed by the European Investment Banking giant UBS). LSO has an expense ratio that is half of UBC, and they are both lower than the expense ratio of COW.
As a trader, I buy and sell these ETFs/ETNs only as long as they continue to rise, so the bid/ask spread is more of a consideration to be than the expense ratio. However, I consider them both before choosing one or the other. At the time of this posting, COW and UBC have spreads of 4 cents, while LSO has a spread of 6 cents.
The two ETNs I've mentioned here are both very new, started within the past couple of weeks. As a trader, I buy and sell based upon the charts, so I won't trade either of the new ones until they have been around for at least two months, so they can establish chart patterns.
Each ETN also has a different composition of cattle vs. hogs, also. Cow is also the most liquid. All the factors must be taken into account, I believe, in making an investment.