25 things you should know about ETFs

By CommodityHQ: By Jared Cummans

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.Although the silver price has declined by 11% over the past three weeks, tightness in the physical market continues as the metal is again in backwardation, i.e. the spot price is higher than the futures price.

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.The U.S. has lost its position as the best place to do business, and China and the rest of the East have so mastered the ways of the West that they’re charting a whole new economic paradigm, Harvard historian Niall Ferguson says in an interview with WSJ’s John Bussey.

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.Adam Hewison, charting strategist of INO.TV, brings you another edition of his invaluable service of daily technical updates on the ups and downs of various markets. This short analysis is a great tool for keeping one’s finger on the pulse and timing the markets.

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.The strange combination of rising US inflation, ultra-loose monetary policy and falling bond yields is just one of the more unusual signs that all is not well with the global markets. Jennifer Hughes, FT’s senior markets correspondent, looks at the rationale behind so-called “bull flattener” trades and what these signal about the economic outlook.

Michael Johnston submits:Commodity ETPs can be extremely powerful tools for tapping into an asset class capable of providing both return enhancement and diversification benefits. With dozens of products available – there are more than 120 U.S.-listed commodity ETFs, according to our ETF screener – picking the right fund for your investment objectives and risk tolerances can be challenging.

Article written by Prieur du Plessis, editor of the Investment Postcards from Cape Town blog.Stock market historian and CLSA consultant Russell Napier discusses with John Authers, head of FT’s Lex, his warning that the real bear market in the S&P has yet to come and could push the US equities index down to 400, plus he explains how emerging markets could trigger a leap in US Treasury yields.