“If you’re a believer in the bullish housing data that has been seen recently in the U.S., there’s an ETF to play this trend with. The Claymore/Beacon Global Timber ETF (NYSE:CUT) offers exposure Read more…

NYSE:CUT

“One industry with no worries about shelf life is timber. The reason I love timber is that even when it isn’t consumed immediately, it doesn’t start to lose its value… like bread Read more…

ETF BASIC NEWS, NYSE:CUT, WOOD

“I don’t think this is a typical market environment, let alone a typical market cycle. Instead, I think we’re in a secular trough of the next global bull market cycle. Read more…

ETF BASIC NEWS, NYSE:CGW, NYSE:CUT, USL

In a universe of ETFs that covers everything from timber — Claymore/Clear Global Timber(CUT Quote) — to Taiwan — iShares MSCI Taiwan Index(EWT Quote) — investors are seeking protection as well as opportunity.

The iShares Barclays TIPS Bond (TIP Quote) Fund is one of the more conservative portfolio choices that equity-wary investors have added to their ETF picks as the question of inflation looms larger on the horizon. TIP tracks an index of U.S. Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS) that have at least one year remaining to maturity, an investment-grade rating and more than a $250 million face value.

Inflation, or at least the fear of inflation, could be the result of the hefty stimulus package proposed by the current administration. A recent Bloomberg News survey of 57 economists suggested that U.S. consumer prices may rise 1.6 percent in 2010.
 
While TIPS pay a lower coupon than regular Treasuries, the advantages in an inflation-fearful economy may be worth the wait. According to the Merrill Lynch bond indices, regular Treasuries have lost 3.9 percent including interest payments this year while TIPS have returned 3.6 percent.

Full Story: http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/10505685/1/a-tip-for-the-inflation-wary-etf-trader.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA

NYSE:CUT, NYSE:EWT, TIP

Although our markets began to climb alongside the improved news in financials, the best ETFs over the last 3 months revolve around metals and materials used to build things. Here are the 5 best ETFs (excluding financials) on a rolling 3-month basis:

Best Non-Financial ETFs Over 3 Months (2/27/09-3/26/09)
     
                                                                    % Gain
Claymore China Real Estate     (TAO)               79%
Market Vectors Steel                (SLX)                69%
Claymore Global Timber           (CUT)               68%
SPDR Metals and Mining           (XME)               56%
First Trust Materials                 (FXZ)                56%

The implications here are twofold. One, the companies involved in the production, extraction and transportation of basic materials as well as industrial metals and lumber have collectively seen their share prices surge. Two, we can credit China’s infrastructure stimulus package in addition to the Chinese consumer.

For all of the talk about rebuilding U.S. infrastructure, only 5% of our stimulus package is going to these efforts. China? Some $300 billion of the $600 billion

Full Story: http://www.etfexpert.com/etf_expert/2009/05/etf-expert-best-etfs-tap-singular-theme-lets-build-stuff.html

NYSE:CUT, NYSE:FXZ, SLX, TAO, XME