S&P 500's New High: How'd We Get Here?
Three weeks after the Dow Jones industrial average blew past its all-time high, the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index joined it in the history books.
exchange traded funds
Despite Surge in U.S. Stock Prices, Investors Remain Cautious
Investors are putting larger amounts into bonds and foreign-stock funds, analysis shows, despite the surge in the Dow Jones industrial average.
The Dangerous Problem Behind ETFs' Big Asset Surge
Thanks to their lower fees, most ETFs do better for investors than similar mutual funds, and investors have noticed: They poured $154 billion into ETFs in 2012, while yanking more than $119 billion out of stock mutual funds. Just one problem: Most of that money went into the wrong kind of ETFs.
ETFs and 529s: Two Smart Money Moves That Don't Go Together
Exchange-traded funds are among the most popular recent innovations in the investing world -- with good reason: They offer a host of advantages over mutual funds. But they aren't a universally good solution: They make no sense at all within 529 college savings plans.
The Quickest Way to Double Your Money (or Lose It Twice as Fast)
Designed as an easy way for investors to make money over the long term, exchange-traded funds are quickly becoming an even easier way for investors to lose money in the short term.
Pick an Investing Motif: New Idea Combines Best of Funds, Stocks
Now, there's a new vehicle for those looking to invest in a specific part of the market. It's called Motif Investing, and it aims to combine the best of funds with the best of individual stocks.
How to Invest in Facebook With Less Risk (If You Still Want To)
As Friday's Facebook IPO -- and its gory aftermath -- proves, even experts can run into trouble investing in social media. But if you're still looking to get in on the Facebook action, and want to mitigate your risks, this ETF might be the way to go.
Are ETFs Really Necessary? Pros and Cons of an Investment Craze
Everywhere you look, new exchange-traded funds are popping up, and many people now think they're a must-have for a successful portfolio. But even though investors have poured more than $1 trillion into ETFs, the question remains: Do you really need them?
Escape the Low-Interest Trap With Dividend Stocks
A few years ago, with $1 million invested in CDs, you could have lived off your interest, but with rates at historic lows, now your returns would barely cover a few mortgage payments. This is forcing retirees to find new, fairly safe ways to get those returns. The experts' pick? Dividend stocks.
5 ETFs You Need in Your Portfolio
In search of a well-balanced diversified portfolio, you could spend every spare minute combing through financial statements before you bought a single share of a company's stock. Or, you could take a shortcut and buy ETFs. Though not a magic bullet, they're a huge time and effort saver. Here are five ETFs that will make your investing a lot easier.
10 Smart Places to Invest In Case the U.S. Defaults
The odds that the U.S. will default on its debt increase each day, and even if a short-term deal is reached, the ratings agencies may downgrade U.S. debt anyway. If that happens, turmoil could roil the markets. So where can the smart money flee for safety? 24/7 Wall St. offers 10 safe options.
How to Boost Your Profits With Unusual Index Funds
By now, most small investors know that investing in index funds is frequently superior to owning individual stocks or actively managed mutual funds. It turns out, however, there are several ways to squeeze even better returns out of your capital using unusually constructed index funds.
Can You Profit from Obama's New Energy Policy?
Last week, President Obama outlined a new energy policy that aims to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. How can patient investors capitalize on his vision?
The Dangers of Buying on Disasters
Days after Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami, some investing experts pronounced the country's woes a buying opportunity. A cash stampede into U.S.-based Japan exchange-traded funds followed. But these investments carry greater risks than the average Joe probably realizes.
As IPOs Revive, Should You Be Joining In?
After a few comatose years following the financial crisis, the IPO market is roaring back. And with names like Facebook and Groupon driving the rumor mill, smaller investors are wondering how to get in on the action. The answer: Carefully, thanks to the many risks.