Clamdigger

Peering into ETFs' Future

Roger, enjoy your thoughtful approach to investing. Here's an idea for a new ETF: Alternative Income Payers. The idea would be to hold a worldwide basket of income producers like MLPs, Canroys, Pipelines, REITs, Utilities and the like. I think an ETF would work but how do you construct an index? Probably best to leave the financials out. Maybe you could suggest a small bag of ETF's that would fill the bill?

I also like to pair up income producers like LQD and VWO.

Thanks for your willingness to share your talents without a self serving pitch like so many other bloggers.

Is Quantitative Easing Really Inflationary?

OK, I admit I am no economist, but I found this article just a little too dense to follow. Lots of moving parts. But in trying to understand the author's conclusion I stumble on such concepts as "asset inflation" vs "consumer inflation". Airplanes vs food? Can anyone help? I think this stuff will be important to my retirement!

Friday Outlook: Rage Against the Machine

Don't comment much but this thread is too good to ignore. Great work by David and his Knothole Gang. I am waiting for comments on the excellent Sprott piece. Hard assets, things that hurt if you drop them on your foot, short duration debt, villas in Brazil, etc. I guess. A special mention for Dr O's cogent comments. Thanks guys & gals!

In Defense of GLD

I guess one difference between physical and GLD is that Da Boyz at Goldman can short your GLD all they want. But can they "borrow" your physical in their vaults to short against you also? Here's a conspiracy theory: they created the GLD and SLV in order to have a free supply of metal to use for shorting. I'd rather own the miners.

The Top Ten ETFs for Decoupling 2.0

Thank you for very good ETF articles over the last few months that I have been following.

Random Friday Notes on ETFs, Ratings, the Dollar and the Reflation Trade

Roger, thanks for sharing your work and observations on investing and life.

Tuesday Outlook: Commodities, Global Markets

Dave, thanks for your work. What about Tech? XLK, etc. ...or maybe I missed it sipping my cheap chardonnay?

Curiously, Growth Stock ETFs Are Obliterating Value Counterparts

Cheap shot, Artie, unless you can predict how quickly reversion will occur (2 wks, 2 mos, 2yrs).

Gary, have you looked at Growth vs Value in other recession cycles? Also small vs large caps?

Thanks for the article.

How Quantitative Easing Will Affect Bond, Currency and Related ETFs

Thanks for an excellent analysis of QE and impact on various asset classes. I'm liking EWA, EWC, EWZ as hard asset-based economies less likely to debase their currencies. GLD, SLV attractive but also subject to central bank manipulation. What about TBT as a longer term hedge vs reflation?

Defense Sector: Locked, Loaded and Ready to Go

I concur with this upbeat assessment of Defense industry prospects. I own ITA (an etf) and ORB (a growing space company).

Starbucks Will Restructure and Rise Once Again

Take a look at GMCR (Green Mountain Coffee Roasters) and their Keurig single serve brewer if you want to see the replacement business model for SBUX. These brewers are exploding off the shelves and the company is growing like a rocket. Very good coffees and teas and cocoa too. Have one at home and one in your workplace. GMCR coffee is also being sold by MCD. SBUX is a dead model. Really, you chould check it out.