Checking In

Given the prodigious rate at which it has been introducing new ETFs over the past year, New York-based ETF issuer Global X has provided ample fodder for the "Checking In" space and one of the firm's rookie ETFs has once again caught our attention. With the recent run higher by emerging markets...

Today's candidate for Checking In inspection is timely because Russia has been the top performer among the BRIC quartet in 2011. Ah yes, Russia is living the dream right now with high oil prices, which are important because Russia's economy is based on three industries: Energy, energy and, oh yeah...

To say the First Trust NASDAQ CEA Smartphone Index Fund (Nasdaq: FONE) was ballyhooed even before its debut would be a fair assessment. Mobile phone users are all about smartphones these days, whether it's the iPhone, Blackberry or some other varietal, smartphones are where it's at in the mobile...

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) have come back from the brink they flirted with during the financial crisis to once again be a preferred destination for income investors. ETF issuers have been there to meet renewed investor interest in REITs with the addition of several REIT-specific ETFs in...

As if things weren't already tough enough for Indian stocks and ETFs tracking the country to start this year, along comes the array of problems in the Middle East and $100 oil. Terrible news for a rapidly expanding economy that is not only seeing its oil demands surge, but the strain of inflation...

This week's visit with a new ETF is an appropriate one for the times, not just because the ETF has been steadily moving higher recently, but because of the factors that have led to its ascent. Precious metals, namely gold and silver started 2011 out in a swoon after notching impressive runs last...

In this week's installment of "Checking In," we're going to have a look at another Global X fund. Hey, the firm has been prolific to say the least in the past year at introducing new ETFs and to Global X's credit, most of the new ETFs it brings to market seem to catch on with investors right off...