iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM)

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) is an index exchange traded fund offered by BlackRock iShares. This index fund utilizes its assets to purchase stocks of U.S. companies with small-capitalization. This ETF is tracking the Russell 2000 Index.

Investor can invest in this ETF to get access to 2000 small-cap domestic stocks in single fund. It mainly invests in small public U.S. companies. The fund objective is to provide long term growth.

IWM Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 05/22/2000
• Ticker Symbol: IWM
• CUSIP: 464287655
• Rank in category (2014): 55%
• Category: Small Blend
• Yield: 1.38%
• Capital Gains: -
• Expense Ratio: 0.20%
• Total Assets: $ 35.16 billion

Top Performing Income & Preferred Stocks Closed End Funds 2015

Income & preferred stocks closed end funds are investing in high dividend stocks & preferred stocks with high yield. Income seeker investors will find these funds attractive.

High Yield Funds

These top closed end funds are selected based on its 1 year performance for the past year. You may find other information such as expense ratio fee, portfolio turnover rate, management or index approach, performance, etc. You can find the fund review and comparison below.

Top performing income & preferred stocks closed end funds 2015 are:

1. Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund (PFD)
2. Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund (PFO)
3. John Hancock Preferred Income 3 (HPS)
4. John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (PDT)
5. John Hancock Preferred Income Fund (HPI)
6. Cohen & Steers Select Preferred and Income Fund (PSF)
7. John Hancock Preferred Income 2 (HPF)

Rotation to Consumer Stocks: Food Stocks

Are we seeing a rotation to consumer stocks for the past week? Top performing industries in week 13, 2015 are major diversified food, jewelry stores, long distance carriers, and other drug manufacturers.

Best Food Stocks

This post will look into the top performing stocks, industry, and sector. The S&P 500 index has a weekly return of -2.20%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of -2.69%. Dow Jones Industrials Average has a weekly return of -2.29%. The small cap (Russell 2000) has a return of -1.99%.

Top performing stock industries in week 13, 2015 (March 23, 2015 to March 29, 2015) are:

1. Food - Major Diversified 23.46%
2. Jewelry Stores 6.07%
3. Long Distance Carriers 5.64%
4. Photographic Equipment & Supplies 5.59%
5. Synthetics 4.22%
6. Drug Manufacturers – Other 2.78%
7. Office Supplies 2.53%
8. General Contractors 2.49%

Vanguard Global Equity Fund (VHGEX)

Vanguard Global Equity Fund (VHGEX) is an actively managed international stock mutual fund. This mutual fund invests in 800-plus stocks from more than 20 countries around the world. It may invest in US, Europe, emerging markets, pacific, Middle East, etc.

VHGEX Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 08/14/1995
• Ticker Symbol: VHGEX
• CUSIP: 922038203
• Beta (3yr): 0.79
• Rank in category (YTD): 65%
• Category: World Stock
• Distribution Yield: 1.58%
• Capital Gains: -
• Expense Ratio: 0.61%
• Net Assets: $ 4.4 billion
• Number of Years Up: 14 years
• Number of Years Down: 5 year

Bond Investment: Mutual Funds, ETFs, CEFs

Bond investment is popular among any investors. Bond is an instrument of indebtedness of the bond issuer to the bond holders. Typically bond issuer will pay certain yield on certain period for the holders. Bond may be issued by government or corporation. Bond issued by U.S. government is also known as U.S. Treasuries.

Bond features include:

• Principal: Nominal or face amount on which bond issuer pay interest.
• Maturity: The date when the issuer needs to repay the nominal amount is known as maturity.
• Coupon: The coupon is the interest rate that the issuer pays to the holder.
• Yield:  The rate of return received from investing in the bond is known as yield.
• Credit Quality: Credit rating agencies may grade the bond quality issued by government or corporation.
• Market Price: The present value of your bond is also known as market price.

How to Invest in Bond

There are many ways for investors to invest in bond. You can invest in individual bond through your brokerage. Other ways to invest is through bond funds including mutual fund, exchange traded fund, and closed end fund. You can also buy bond funds through your brokerages.

Precious Metals Stocks Fight Back in 2015

Will precious metals stocks find their mojo in 2015 again? Top performing sectors in week 12, 2015 are silver, major airlines, gold.

Top Silver & Gold Stocks

This post will look into the top performing stocks, industry, and sector. The S&P 500 index has a weekly return of 2.67%. NASDAQ Composite has a weekly return of 3.17%. Dow Jones Industrials Average has a weekly return of 2.13%. The small cap (Russell 2000) has a return of 2.79%.

Top performing stock industries in week 12, 2015 (March 16, 2015 to March 22, 2015) are:

1. Silver 7.45%
2. Major Airlines 7.18%
3. Industrial Metals & Minerals 7.16%
4. Basic Materials Wholesale 7.08%
5. Biotechnology 6.69%
6. REIT – Office 5.91%
7. Gold 5.91%
8. Water Utilities 5.83%
9. REIT - Industrial 5.71%
10. Resorts & Casinos 5.66%

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (VEU)

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (VEU) is an international stock exchange traded fund. This index ETF invests in non-US stocks of developed countries.

Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF invests its assets to buy stocks of companies across developed and emerging non-U.S. equity markets around the world. This fund will invest in companies located in Japan, UK, Canada, Germany, and more. This equity fund is tracking the return of the FTSE All-World ex US Index.

VEU Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 03/02/2007
• Ticker Symbol: VEU
• CUSIP: 922042775
• Rank in category (YTD): -
• Category: Foreign Large Blend
• Yield: 2.69%
• Capital Gains: -
• Expense Ratio: 0.11%
• Total Assets: $ 18.29 billion