Retail’s Hottest Emerging Markets, 2012

By Benzinga: By: The ETF Professor

By Emerging Money: By Tim Seymour

By Benzinga: By The ETF Professor With just a few days left before 2012's halfway point arrives, investors might feel disappointed with the performance of emerging markets ETFs year-to-date. Following a stellar start to 2012, emerging markets funds have wilted thanks to China's slowing economy and Europe's sovereign debt woes, among other catalysts.

By Benzinga: By: The ETF Professor

By Tom Lydon: Emerging markets and dividends in one exchange traded fund is a trend that is catching on with investors, and providers alike. The higher growth potential that emerging economies present, plus an income stream is a combination that is showing marked interest.

Last week John Derrick appeared on FOX Business to discuss the strong rebound in emerging markets so far in 2012 with Charles Payne. John explained that the global markets are currently in the early stages of a new easing cycle that began toward the end of 2011. John said central bankers and government officials are focused on increasing economic activity through policies such as low interest rates and higher money supply growth rates.

By greg group: While the U.S. markets have been in an uptrend in early 2012, the emerging markets have been even hotter. The S&P 500 (SPY) is up 7% year to date, a nice return over 25 trading days ending February 6, 2012. Emerging market ETFs remain at attractive valuations after taking a beating over the course of 2011. But since the start of 2012, they've been advancing.

By Robert Abad: This is the 19th piece in our Positioning for 2012 series. Readers can find the entire Positioning For 2012 series here .