Bonds

Markets were mixed at the open, as investors appear to be bracing for what is typically the busiest Friday of the summer days of trading when the Russell U.S. indexes undergo their annual rebalancing act. Oil might grab a spotlight again today but might also be vying for attention with bank stocks...

Insurance providers are among the institutional investors driving exchange-traded funds growth, and data suggest there is plenty of room for insurers to play a significant role in the adoption of ETFs among professional investors. The Role Of Insurers “Insurers held just $19 billion in ETF...

As info tech stocks lick their wounds after their biggest two-day drop since last autumn, attention shifts to the Fed today. There’s not much sense of mystery there, however, with chances of a rate hike standing near 99%, according to Fed funds futures. U.S. stocks rebounded a bit in pre-...

It’s a waiting game today as the market’s attention centers on three big political and economic events looming on Thursday. There’s lots of buzz around the British election, a European Central Bank (ECB) meeting, and of course, the scheduled testimony of former FBI Director James...

Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy, with $74 billion in debt at stake, is the largest municipal default in history. Despite the scope of the U.S. territory’s financial troubles, one of the bond business’ most respected analysts said Puerto Rico's debt is unlikely to break the foundation...

Equity-based exchange-traded funds are still the kings of the ETF universe, a throne unlikely to be relinquished anytime soon, but data suggest bond funds will be integral components of ETF growth. Increased adoption among financial advisors is seen as a significant growth frontier for bond ETFs....

It was nice while it lasted, but the seven-day run of gains that sent the S&P 500 Index (SPX) up a total of 2.5% to new record highs ended Tuesday. The rally largely reflected strong Q1 earnings, but with those out of the way, fiscal policy and the coming British election step into the...

Investors who remember the role various real estate-related securities played in global financial crisis may be skittish about embracing an exchanged-traded fund dedicated to mortgage-backed securities, but some funds dedicated to this asset class are relatively low risk and offer investors an...

The hits keep on coming as the market marks five days of the current rally. Thursday begins with the S&P 500 Index (SPX) resting just below all-time record highs and potentially in line for another boost amid positive earnings results. OPEC and the Fed dominate today’s news cycle, but don...

Shaking off a terror attack and political uncertainty, the stock market finds itself back to nearly where it was a week ago before last Wednesday’s sharp sell-off. Fed minutes and OPEC's meeting take center stage today and tomorrow. A four-day rally faces steep resistance near all-time...

The iShares MSCI Brazil Capped ETF (NYSE: EWZ) and other exchange traded funds with large exposure to Brazilian have recently been wracked by controversy as another political corruption probe works its way though Latin America's largest economy. After plunging more than 16 percent May 18 in...

Last Wednesday’s sharp sell-off seems like a long time ago following three consecutive days of gains. Tuesday begins with major indices within striking distance of all-time highs as investors mull last night’s terror attack in England along with a long list of other potential market-...

In the absence of notable earnings this coming week, several items could catch investors’ attention. They include Fed minutes, home sales, and, of course, the possibility of more Washington, D.C., drama.  The market enters the pre-Memorial Day week still up sharply year-to-date and not...

Although expectations for more interest rate hikes this year by the Federal Reserve have been adjusted, issuers of exchange traded funds continuing bringing short-term bond funds to market. Two such funds debuted last week, one of which was the JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF (NYSE: JPST). The...

Regardless of your political or social leanings, 2016 was a year of unexpected developments in the world of geopolitics. The decision on the part of British voters to leave the European Union as well as the election victory of Donald Trump were two high-impact instances of the unanticipated running...