By SIMON CONSTABLE
They're back!
Investors piled billions of dollars into specialized commodities funds in the first quarter after going cold on the sector last year, according to new data.
The sudden switch in sentiment comes amid increased chances of a U.S.-China trade deal, expectations of rising inflation and the perceived need by some investors to diversify away from stocks, analysts say. Read more here.
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Millennials are an attractive market for many companies. But a fund that focuses on companies that target millennials hasn’t attracted much interest from investors, despite impressive returns. Read more here.
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Investors increasingly may hear the term “quantamental” being used by financial professionals.
It refers to an investment strategy that combines a fundamental approach to investing with a quantitative one, hence quantamental, which combines parts of both words. Read more here.
By SIMON CONSTABLE
Investors in exchange-traded funds are more excited about emerging markets than ever.
Globally, ETFs specializing in emerging-markets stocks took in a record amount of net new cash in 2018: $63.1 billion, up from $57.7 billion in 2017, according to figures from financial-data company EPFR. That brought net inflows for the past three calendar years to $142 billion. Through March of this year, investors stuffed a further $15 billion into emerging-markets ETFs. Read more here.
By SIMON CONSTABLE
A new deluge of rain in the Midwest looks set to hit already waterlogged soil, possibly sending wheat prices soaring.
“A $5 target for now
is a very realistic target,” says Shawn Hackett, president of Boca Raton–based advisory firm Hackett Financial Advisors. That’s based on the current saturated soil levels and rain forecasts for April, he says. Read more here.
By SIMON CONSTABLE
If you haven't already placed a bullish bet on oil prices, now may not be the best time to start.
The risks would likely far outweigh the potential rewards, according to a little-watched indicator that rarely gets mentioned outside the trading rooms of Wall Street. Read more here.
By SIMON CONSTABLE
The United Arab Emirates believes that a few extra days off from work may make a world of difference.
The UAE government has standardized the number of public holidays that workers receive, regardless of whether their employer is in the public or private sector. The move is part of the country’s efforts to get its citizens to consider taking jobs in the private sector over traditionally preferred government work. Read more here.
