Oil

Investors, politicians and even government agencies, such as the SEC, have made the claim that exchange-traded funds create investment bubbles. However, it is only in the history of asset bubbles do we find that ETFs are followers, not leaders. Most recently in 2008, global markets experienced their greatest bubble yet: an energy bubble. During this [...]

Following record high energy prices in 2008, the CTFC has proposed new regulations which would seek to curb the total outstanding positions held by commodity ETFs. The regulations, known as the Proposed Position Limit Rule, would restrict ETF ownership of four energy commodities, including natural gas, crude oil, heating oil, and gasoline blendstock. The rule [...]

Javelin is hoping to tap into the uneasiness of investors and contrarian investing, which has become more popular among post-credit crunch investors. The ETF will seek out investments that have underperformed the market, but maintain strong fundamental elements. The JETS Contrarian Opportunities Index Fund will be listed on the NYSE Arca and track an already [...]

U.S. Commodity Funds has chosen the actively-managed route with a new diversified commodity ETF. The company, which owns two popular energy ETFs, the United States Oil Fund (USO: Quote, Profile, Advanced Chart, News) and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG: Quote, Profile, Advanced Chart, News), will offer investors the ability to track commodities on [...]

Capitalizing on high energy demand in China, Global X Management launched the Global X China Energy ETF (CHIE) on Wednesday. The fund is the first to tap into the strength of energy and utility companies inside mainland China. The fund will seek to replicate the returns of the S-BOX China Energy Index. The underlying index [...]

Despite the CTFC-inspired closure of the Direxion 3x Oil ETF Fund (DXO), Direxion is still planning to introduce additional leveraged products. The four new funds, however, will avoid the questionable commodities sectors and instead look for more traditional ETF plays. The following are the four proposed funds: 1. Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3x Shares [...]

OOK Advisors launched the Oklahoma Exchange Traded Fund (OOK: Quote, Profile, Advanced Chart, News) fund hoping to find solid support from Oklahoma investors, as well as those interested in single-state investments. Upon perusing the list of companies in the fund, this ETF may attract small cap energy investors as well. The exchange-traded fund seeks out [...]

As oil prices carve out new 2009 highs, clean energy ETFs are also grabbing their share of a solid bull run. Although clean energy producers dived during the credit crunch, they’re back with vengeance, moving up more than 70% since March. The iShares S&P Global Clean Energy Index Fund (ICLN: Quote, Profile, Advanced Chart, News) [...]

Although exchange-traded funds aren’t considered luxury vehicles like hedge funds and bank debentures, they’re rapidly coming into favor among wealthy investors. Their low cost, liquidity, and convenient tax structure find a niche in the portfolio of many wealthy stock investors. One of the biggest drivers of growth for exchange-traded funds among wealthy investors is the [...]

New regulations placed on the size of institutional investments in commodities have forced many commodity funds to shrink or close their doors. United Natural Gas Fund (UNG: Quote, Profile, Advanced Chart, News), however, is seeking to court new regulations by finding new natural gas derivative investments to back its $4 billion fund. The new possible [...]