Qniform

CEFs to Weather a Continued Storm in Equities

Another caution for due diligence is in order when picking CEFs. Check the use of leverage used in the purchase of the fund's assets and the liquidity position of the fund to maintain the div. Typically assets purchased w/ leveraage are financed with short term paper, which can lead to forced asset sales to maintain regulatory ratios if asset prices (NAV) drop.

I think any discussion of CEFs should include these issues.

More ProShares Ultrashorts Tomfoolery

The problems with these instruments over time are becoming well known. Still, I like them in my IRA and use the 2x inverse ETFs with close stops - always 3% or less. The reverse moves that eat return are eliminated (at the cost of $10 trades) while the larger moves can run.

Corn and Its Industry: The Next Tobacco

Lots of assertions, not particularly well presented. While our diet may be the source of health problems, pointing to corn as the cause is not demonstrated in the article. Other sources for sweeteners are available (obviously), so the elimination of corn acreage in itself does nothing to change tastes. The same can be observed with preferences for meat, whether corn-fed or otherwise. Can't tell if the axe being ground is political or vegan...

What is Hank Paulson Thinking?

I said the same thing about Citi/Wachovia this morning. Wells Fargo could handle it, but Citi is now a bigger disaster waiting to happen.

Single Country Emerging Markets ETFs, ETNs and Closed-End Funds

They left out the Swiss Helvetica Fund (SWZ, I think) the only single country CEF for Switzerland I know of.