最新ニュース iShares MBS ETF (NASDAQ:MBB)

iShares MBS ETF

The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the Bloomberg U.S. MBS Index (the Underlying Index), which measures the performance of investment-grade (as determined by Bloomberg Index Services Limited (the Index Provider or Bloomberg)) mortgage-backed pass-through securities (MBS) issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or sponsored entities. The Underlying Index includes fixed-rate MBS issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA or Ginnie Mae), Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) that have 30-, 20-, or 15-year maturities. All securities in the Underlying Index must have a remaining weighted average maturity of at least one year. In addition, the securities in the Underlying Index must be denominated in U.S. dollars and must be non-convertible. The Underlying Index is market capitalization-weighted and the securities in the Underlying Index are updated on the last business day of each month.

Blackrock Cash Funds: Institutional, Sl Agency Shares

VanEck Moody's Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETF

MARATHON BANCORP INC by Marathon Bancorp Inc.

Marathon Bancorp Inc

2025 promises to be a transformative year for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate">U.S. housing market</a>, offering fresh opportunities but also keeping everyone on their toes. 
Zillow Group Inc's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZG#NASDAQ">ZG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/Z#NASDAQ">Z</a>) latest <a href="https://www.zillow.com/research/2025-housing-predictions-34620/">predictions</a> reveal shifting dynamics for buyers, sellers, and renters. Investors in the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNQ#NYSE">VNQ</a>), the Schwab US REIT ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHH#NYSE">SCHH</a>), and the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>) track these dynamics closely.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/short-ideas/24/12/42265808/top-3-real-estate-stocks-that-may-plunge-this-quarter">Top 3 Real Estate Stocks That May Plunge This Quarter</a>
Here are five trends to watch closely:
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Breathing Room For Buyers Amid A Modest Market</h2>
Good news for buyers: more inventory is set to hit the market, giving you time to weigh options and negotiate harder. Zillow forecasts a modest 2.6% home value growth and an uptick in existing home sales to 4.3 million, signaling a gradual thaw in a market that's been tight for years.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Mortgage Rate Whiplash</h2>
Mortgage rates will remain the wildcard. While Zillow expects rates to ease overall, their volatility could unsettle even seasoned buyers. Expect refinancing booms during dips and a roller-coaster affordability picture throughout the year.
Investors in the iShares MBS ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBB#NYSE">MBB</a>) and the Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VMBS#NYSE">VMBS</a>) may face heightened uncertainty.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Buyers Markets Spread Westward</h2>
Currently concentrated in the Southeast, buyers markets are predicted to expand into the Southwest, giving buyers more power in negotiations. 
If mortgage rates fall significantly, however, sellers might regain the upper hand as competition heats up.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. The Rise of Smaller, Smarter Homes</h2>
Forget large mansions. Compact, purpose-driven homes are taking center stage. Listings describing properties as "cozy" have surged 35%, reflecting a cultural shift toward sustainable, affordable living. Urban condos are also stabilizing in value, according to Zillow, drawing buyers back to city life.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Renter Perks Are On Borrowed Time</h2>
A surge in multifamily construction has made 2024 a renter-friendly year, with concessions like free rent and parking aplenty. But Zillow predicts these perks will wane by late 2025 as the rental market tightens. Renters with pets will remain a dominant force, pushing property managers to adopt more pet-friendly policies or risk losing tenants.
2025's housing market is set to be more active and buyer-friendly, but unpredictability looms large. From mortgage rate swings to shifting buyer trends, staying agile and informed will be key to making the most of this evolving landscape.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/12/42287030/real-estate-veteran-pens-open-letter-to-donald-trump-resurrecting-housing-will-require-innovative-and-daring-solutions">Real Estate Veteran Pens Open Letter To Donald Trump: &#8216;Resurrecting Housing Will Require Innovative And Daring Solutions&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
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Analyst Color

Long Ideas

REIT

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

Real Estate

SCHH

VMBS

XLRE

5 Housing Market Trends For 2025: What Zillow's Forecast Means For You

Mortgage rates continue to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40921345/mortgage-rates-drop-to-2-year-low-refinancing-hits-fastest-pace-since-2022-rocket-lendingtree-among">fall toward 6%</a> as the housing market absorbs the Federal Reserve&#8217;s 0.5% rate cut on Wednesday, raising demand for refinancing and buying, stated Freddie Mac.
The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 6.09% on Thursday, down from 6.2% a week ago and 7.19% a year earlier, according to Freddie Mac&#8217;s Primary Market Mortgage Survey.
The rate for a 15-year fixed mortgage declined to 5.15%, down from 5.27% a week ago and 6.54% a year earlier.
"Mortgage rates continued declining towards the six percent mark, reviving purchase and refinance demand for many consumers," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's chief economist.
Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/09/40923657/single-family-housing-starts-are-up-as-mortgage-rates-decline-fed-eyes-lower-rates"> Single-Family Housing Starts Are Up As Mortgage Rates Decline, Fed Eyes Lower Rates</a>
"While mortgage rates do not directly follow moves by the Federal Reserve, this first cut in over four years will have an impact on the housing market. Declining mortgage rates over the last several weeks indicate this cut was mostly baked in, but we expect rates to fall further, sparking more housing activity."
Exchange-traded funds that hold mortgage stocks are sensitive to mortgage rates because they primarily invest in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) or mortgage-related assets, which are directly impacted by changes in interest rates.
<ul>
<li>IShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REM#BATS">REM</a>) rose 0.82%</li>
<li>VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MORT#NYSE">MORT</a>) went up 0.74%</li>
<li>IShares MBS ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBB#NASDAQ">MBB</a>) ticked up 0.06%</li>
</ul>
IShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF holds 15.2% of the REIT, Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NLY#NYSE">NLY</a>), while VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF holds 11.1%.
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/09/40817001/mortgage-rates-fall-to-lowest-level-since-february-2023">Mortgage Rates Fall To Lowest Level Since February 2023</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

ETFs

FMCC

MORT

iShares FTSE NAREIT Mortgage PLUS Capped Index Fund

Mortgage Rates Near 6%, Demand Increases For Refinancing, Purchases

Mortgage <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/06/39488167/prospective-homebuyers-get-little-respite-as-mortgage-rates-expected-to-plateau-freddie-mac-predicts">applications have slowed</a> as the average interest rate for 30-year mortgages has gone back above 7%.
Loan requests declined 2.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis as of June 28 from a week earlier, <a href="https://www.mba.org/news-and-research/newsroom/news/2024/06/26/mortgage-applications-increase-in-latest-mba-weekly-survey">according</a> to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with loan balances below $766,550 or less rose to 7.03% from 6.93%. The same interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 6.56% from 6.46%.
"Mortgage rates moved higher last week, crossing the 7 percent mark, even as the latest inflation data has kept market expectations alive for a rate cut from the Fed later this year," Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni said in a statement.
&#8220;Purchase applications decreased the final full week of June, even as both new and existing inventories have increased over the past few months.&#8221;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/06/39421719/mortgage-rates-fall-for-third-straight-week-with-signs-of-lower-inflation-fed-rates">Mortgage Rates Fall For Third Straight Week With Signs Of Lower Inflation, Fed Rates</a>
The Federal Reserve has kept its key interest rate between 5.25% and 5.50% as it aims to push a 3.4% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39603097/stocks-hold-steady-as-powell-reassures-on-disinflation-path-warns-about-debt-risks-tesla-rallies">rate of inflation</a> to 2%, but it does plan on cutting the rate once later this year.
Data released by Freddie Mac on<a href="https://freddiemac.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/mortgage-rates-increase-5?_gl=1&#x2A;qrr0gi&#x2A;_gcl_au&#x2A;NDg3ODg4MTM1LjE3MjAwMjQwNjU.&amp;_ga=2.247265479.2136513647.1720024066-1273696089.1720024066"> Wednesday </a>showed the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.95%, up from 6.86% the previous week and 6.81% a year ago. The 15-year FRM averaged 6.25%, rising from 6.16% last week and slightly higher than the 6.24% average a year earlier.
Price Action: Mortgage lender stocks trended downward in Wednesday&#8217;s mid-morning trading. JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) slipped 0.40% to $208.00, while Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) declined 0.28% to $40.81 and Wells Fargo &amp; Company fell 0.98% to $60.37.
Mortgage-backed security exchange-traded funds picked up ground by mid-morning. The iShares MBS ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBB#NASDAQ">MBB</a>) and the Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VMBS#NASDAQ">VMBS</a>) both rose 0.58%, while the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Mortgage Backed Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBG#NYSE">MBG</a>) moved up 0.11%.
Read Now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/federal-reserve/24/07/39609586/rbc-calls-itself-a-nervous-and-jumpy-bull-as-it-raises-s-p-500-outlook">RBC Calls Itself &#8216;A Nervous And Jumpy Bull&#8217; As It Raises S&amp;P 500 Outlook</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Markets

Mortgage Applications Fall As Rates Climb Back Above 7%

The recent spike in national mortgage rates stirred concerns among homebuyers and economists alike. With the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) climbing to 6.88% on April 11, questions arise about the trajectory of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate">the housing market.</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="874" height="644" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/11122010/Screenshot-2024-04-11-at-9.49.14-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-288021" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/11122010/Screenshot-2024-04-11-at-9.49.14-PM.png 874w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/11122010/Screenshot-2024-04-11-at-9.49.14-PM-300x221.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/11122010/Screenshot-2024-04-11-at-9.49.14-PM-768x566.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 874px) 100vw, 874px" /></figure>
Chart Source: Freddie Mac
Additionally, other key indicators such as the 15-year fixed mortgage rate, which rose to 6.16%, signaled a broader trend of rate hikes.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/03/37855254/are-you-a-housing-market-lock-in-high-mortgage-rates-result-in-people-not-living-in-homes-they-w">Are You A Housing Market Lock-In? High Mortgage Rates Result In &#8216;People Not Living In Homes They Would Prefer&#8217;</a>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Stubborn Inflation And The Fed To Blame</h1>
Per <a href="https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms">Freddie Mac</a>, mortgage rates have gradually increased through the year, due to persistent inflation and the reassessment of the Federal Reserve&#8217;s monetary policy trajectory. 
The latest inflation figures from March indicate minimal change, but the financial market&#8217;s response presents a contrasting economic outlook. The March estimate of 3.5% annual inflation growth fell within the range of 3.1% to 3.7%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a significant decrease following the announcement. This is reminiscent of the unmet expectations of a recession from a year prior.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Worst Day For Mortgage Rates Since October 2022</h1>
On April 10, the average lender experienced a mortgage rate hike by 0.28%, almost equivalent to the 0.29% rise observed after the Feb. 2 jobs report. Mortgage News Daily <a href="https://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/markets/mortgage-rates-04102024">described</a> this as &#8220;basically the worst day for mortgage rates since October 2022.&#8221;
Many analysts anticipated mortgage rates to drop below 7% in the current year. However, persistent inflation figures prevent rates from reaching the desired lower levels.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">McBride&#8217;s Musings: An Expert&#8217;s Take</h1>
Greg McBride, CFA, chief financial analyst for Bankrate, said the uncertainty persists regarding whether the current inflationary trend is temporary or posed a substantial threat to the progress made in reducing inflation in 2023. He suggested that until there was a clearer consensus on the trajectory of inflation, it would be challenging for mortgage rates to significantly and consistently decline below 7 percent.
Despite hopes for rates to dip below 7%, stubborn inflation numbers thwart expectations, posing challenges for prospective homebuyers and the housing market as a whole. 
"The housing market will continue to be characterized by high home prices, high financing costs, and a limited number of homes for sale," McBride told Benzinga in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/opinion/24/03/37938028/exclusive-interest-rates-rode-the-elevator-up-but-analyst-predicts-theyll-take-the-stairs-coming-dow">an exclusive interview</a>.
This might spell good news for those invested in the Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNQ#NYSE">VNQ</a>), the Schwab US REIT ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHH#NYSE">SCHH</a>), the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>) and the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYR#NYSE">IYR</a>). Rising home prices often reflect a healthy real estate market, which can boost the value of real estate assets held within these ETFs.
However, investors in mortgage ETFs such as the&nbsp;iShares MBS ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBB#NYSE">MBB</a>) and the&nbsp;Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities Index Fund ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VMBS#NYSE">VMBS</a>) may want to remain wary of their holdings.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">The Affordability Abyss</h1>
As experts weigh in on the implications of these developments, the affordability crisis deepens, compounded by limited housing inventory and stagnant wage growth. While navigating this landscape, the question is: are we witnessing the beginning of a sustained upward trend in mortgage rates?
Read Next: <a href="EXCLUSIVE: Interest Rates Rode The Elevator Up, But Analyst Predicts They'll Take 'The Stairs Coming Down'">EXCLUSIVE: Interest Rates Rode The Elevator Up, But Analyst Predicts They&#8217;ll Take &#8216;The Stairs Coming Down&#8217;</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Sector ETFs

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Real Estate Fund Index

Will Mortgage Rates Pop Again? Homebuyers Combat An Affordability Crises

Interest rates are on everyone&#8217;s radar, but what&#8217;s the game plan amid the Federal Reserve&#8217;s decision to hold <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37900527/federal-reserve-pushes-stocks-to-record-highs-as-rate-cuts-loom-nvidia-rallies-appl">steady for now</a>? 
Benzinga interviewed Greg McBride, CFA, Senior Vice President of Bankrate, for his exclusive insights on the current state of the economy and his expectations with the future.
Related: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37900527/federal-reserve-pushes-stocks-to-record-highs-as-rate-cuts-loom-nvidia-rallies-appl">Federal Reserve Pushes Stocks To Record Highs As Rate Cuts Loom, Nvidia Rallies, Apple Faces Legal Woes: This Week In The Markets</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Interest Rates May Take The Stairs Coming Down</h2>
McBride offered some very actionable insights. In response to a question about the Fed keeping interest rates unchanged this time, McBride said, &#8220;Interest rates took the elevator going up, but they're going to take the stairs coming down.&#8221; 
Per McBride, savers can capitalize on potentially lucrative returns that outpace inflation, from savings accounts, money markets, and CDs, provided they shop around for optimal deals. For borrowers, the mantra remains clear: prioritize slashing high-cost credit card debt.
His advice? &#8220;Always make at least your minimum payment on time – you can always pay more later.&#8221; It&#8217;s about dodging those pesky overdraft fees and late charges.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Real Estate Enthusiasts, Brace Yourselves</h2>
McBride&#8217;s forecast suggests a seller&#8217;s market, with limited inventory dictating terms. And falling mortgage rates? They might not spell relief as home prices continue their upward trajectory. &#8220;The housing market will continue to be characterized by high home prices, high financing costs, and a limited number of homes for sale,&#8221; said McBride.
This should be good news for those invested in the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VNQ#NYSE">VNQ</a>), the Schwab US REIT ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHH#NYSE">SCHH</a>), the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>) or the iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYR#NYSE">IYR</a>). Rising home prices often reflect a healthy real estate market, which can boost the value of real estate assets held within these ETFs.
Investors in mortgage ETFs such as the iShares MBS ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBB#NYSE">MBB</a>) and the Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VMBS#NYSE">VMBS</a>) may see a mixed impact.
Rising home prices can increase the value of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) held within mortgage ETFs. This appreciation can lead to higher returns for investors holding these ETFs. However, higher home prices also make it more challenging for potential homebuyers to afford properties and/or to refinance their existing mortgages, potentially leading to decreased demand for mortgages.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/reit/24/03/37882885/10-real-estate-stocks-move-on-thursday-fed-rate-cut-possibility-sparks-rally-for-troubled-sector">10 Real Estate Stocks Move On Thursday: Fed Rate Cut Possibility Sparks Rally For Troubled Sector</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Legislative Acts May Sway Sentiment, Let Diversified ETFs Steer Your Ship</h2>
When questioned on legislative juggernauts like the CHIPS Act and Infrastructure Act that promise economic shifts, McBride&#8217;s advice is refreshingly pragmatic: &#8220;Investors are best served building a low-cost, well-diversified portfolio.&#8221; Forget chasing fleeting trends; it&#8217;s consistency that builds wealth, he says.
Exchange-traded funds are a low-cost, diversified way to gain exposure and build wealth consistently. The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), the iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>) and the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) are the most popular and largest ETFs for U.S. equity exposure.
When asked about legislative acts impacting consumer sentiment and spending behavior, McBride said, &#8220;When Americans have jobs and paychecks coming in, the money gets spent.&#8221; Legislative acts may sway sentiment, but economic fundamentals steer the ship.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37922752/value-growth-stocks-trade-at-record-highs-but-long-term-leadership-lies-with-one-an">Value, Growth Stocks Trade At Record Highs But Long-Term Leadership Lies With One: Analyst</a>
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Opinion

Economics

Federal Reserve

Exclusives

Interview

EXCLUSIVE: Interest Rates Rode The Elevator Up, But Analyst Predicts They'll Take 'The Stairs Coming Down'

Investors have accumulated record amounts of cash and equivalent assets as a way to hedge against the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/10/35150923/why-this-cboe-global-markets-analyst-is-bullish-at-time-of-geopolitical-turmoil">volatility of recent times.</a>
Now, fund managers are urging investors to put that money to work, as decreasing inflation and the potential for an economic slowdown may lead to profitable opportunities in the bond markets.
<a href="https://www.ici.org/research/stats/mmf">According</a> to ICI Global, capital invested into money market fund assets reached a record of $5.73 trillion last week. Money market funds are characterized by having very low volatility and very high liquidity, holding large amounts of cash and other low-risk securities in their portfolios.
Investors tend to lean towards money market investing in times of uncertainty, when availability of cash is a prime concern and tolerance to risk is low. Money market funds give better returns than cash deposits on banks, which is why investors have been flocking towards these assets since the Fed began its tightening cycle last year, which has now taken the federal funds rate to between 5.25% and 5.50%.
But, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/11/35783516/october-inflation-drop-triggers-markets-rally-economists-reassess-after-surprising-">inflation dropping to more comfortable levels</a>, bond managers are suggesting that now is an optimal time to allocate some of those assets into the bond market.
Minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee&#8217;s November meeting revealed that Fed participants view the current interest rate level of between 5.25% and 5.5% as restrictive, potentially signaling the end of their intensive rate hike campaign in light of recent positive inflation data and acknowledging the significant tightening of financial <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/23/11/35903926/november-fomc-minutes-fed-leans-toward-rate-stability-as-inflation-eases">conditions in recent months.</a>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35905071/musk-and-the-magnificent-9-how-worlds-10-richest-people-bagged-400b-in-2023">Musk And The Magnificent 9: How World&#8217;s 10 Richest People Bagged $400B In 2023</a>
Greg Whiteley, head of Government Securities Investing at DoubleLine <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-21/bond-managers-of-2-5-trillion-make-case-for-leaving-cash-behind?srnd=premium&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">told</a> Bloomberg that the range of 4.5% to 5% yield "is a safe place to be buying bonds."
The two-year treasury bond currently yields at 4.89% while the 5- and 10-year bonds have a yield of 4.44%.
Whiteley and other fund managers contend that the Federal Reserve&#8217;s actions are effectively slowing down the economy, a necessary step to reduce inflation back to the 2% target. Economist Gary Shilling <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/11/35867664/legendary-economist-foresees-30-drop-in-stocks-predicts-recession-and-feds-credibil">this week predicted that a recession is imminent</a>, potentially including a 30% drop in stock values, which further supports the strategy of redirecting investments towards safer and comparatively higher-yielding assets such as bonds.
Piper Sandler strategist Michael Kantrowitz echoed the same prediction over the weekend, based on several data points coming<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/11/35866823/top-wall-street-strategist-expresses-worries-about-looming-recession-we-are-at-the-"> from housing, profits, and employment.</a> 
The housing market showed a slight uptick last week but<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/11/35836886/housing-market-shows-a-slight-uptick-but-remains-slow-ahead-of-beazer-homes-earnings-call"> continues at historically low levels</a>, with mortgage rates sustaining prices that are unaffordable for the majority of homebuyers.
Other economists, however, lean towards a soft-landing scenario, which would mean a return to pre-pandemic<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/23/11/35820947/us-economy-gearing-towards-soft-landing-amid-inflation-concerns-says-economists"> inflation levels without a recession</a>.
Bond fund managers argue that sticking to cash "means you miss all the potential price appreciation if the economy starts to slow," as Ryan Murphy of Capital Group told Bloomberg.
The managers also pointed to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-are-mortgage-backed-securities">mortgage bonds</a> as a sector that could lift off next year if interest rates come down. Mortgage-backed securities consist of pools of mortgages that lenders bundle together and sell as securities to third parties in order to free up more cash to continue lending.
While these securities gained a bad reputation for their role in the 2008 financial crash, increased regulation has made them appealing again. Although they still carry more risk than cash or government bonds, they're generally considered less risky than corporate bonds, because there&#8217;s real estate as collateral, and they carry less volatility than stocks.
These include Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BND#NASDAQ">BND</a>) and iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGG#NYSE">AGG</a>) for the broad ranging bond market, and iShares MBS ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBB#NASDAQ">MBB</a>) as well as Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VMBS#NASDAQ">VMBS</a>) for specific exposure to mortgage-backed securities.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/23/11/35904576/sam-altman-in-discussions-about-openai-return-as-employees-revolt-and-msft-picks-up-the-pieces">Sam Altman In Discussions About OpenAI Return As Employees Revolt, Microsoft Picks Up The Pieces</a>
Image by Shutterstock.

News

Bonds

General

Ready For Recession? Fund Managers Advocate Shift To Treasury, Mortgage Bonds

Through the end of November, investors allocated $133 billion to fixed income exchange traded funds, putting bond ETFs on pace to out-gather equity ETFs on an annual basis for the first time since the dark days of the global financial crisis.
<h3>What To Know</h3>
Strong inflows to bond ETFs are benefiting two industry giants: BlackRock&#39;s (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/blk#NYSE">BLK</a>) iShares and Vanguard.
&ldquo;Vanguard gathered $91 billion of net inflows thus far in 2019 and its market share of 34% was second only to iShares, which is owned by BlackRock (BLK) and pulled in $98 billion of new money (37% share),&rdquo; <a href="https://www.cfraresearch.com/">CFRA Research </a>Director of ETF &amp; Mutual Fund Research Todd Rosenbluth wrote in a recent note.
As Rosenbluth notes, the gap between Vanguard&#39;s $91.21 billion in year-to-date inflows down to the next issuer &ndash; Charles Schwab (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schw#NYSE">SCHW</a>) at $21 billion &ndash; is massive.
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
Five of this year&#39;s top 10 ETFs in terms of new assets added are bond funds: two Vanguard funds and three iShares products. With $10.33 billion in 2019 inflows, the Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bndx#NASDAQ">BNDX</a>) is leading the way while indicating there is appetite among American investors for ex-U.S. bonds.
The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bnd#NASDAQ">BND</a>) and the iShares MBS ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mbb#NASDAQ">MBB</a>) are other asset-gathering stars among bond funds.
&ldquo;Aided by BNDX and BND inflows, as well as iShares MBS (MBB), ETFs tied to Bloomberg indexes gathered $62 billion of net inflows thus far in 2019, the most among the index firms,&rdquo; Rosenbluth said. &ldquo;It is more common with bond funds than stock ones for asset managers to not promote the index provider or name in the product name.&rdquo;
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
While iShares and Vanguard will continue looming large over the ETF industry, hope is not lost for other players, particularly those with strong brand recognition and distribution platforms, such as Goldman Sachs (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gs#NYSE">GS</a>) and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jpm#NYSE">JPM</a>), two smaller, but growing ETF players.
&ldquo;Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta US Large Cap Equity ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gslc#NYSE">GSLC</a>) and JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jpst#NYSE">JPST</a>) were among the 40 products with the highest net inflows in 2019,&rdquo; Rosenbluth said.
As of Nov. 30, investors have added $9.70 billion to JPMorgan ETFs this year, good for the fifth-best total among U.S. sponsors.
Related Links:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/19/12/14926438/idr-elimination-could-be-a-positive-for-mlp-etfs">Why MLP ETFs Are Worth Another Look</a>
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Specialty ETFs

BNDX

GSLC

JPST

SCHW

Bond Flow Aid The Ascents Of ETF Goliaths

Fixed income exchange traded funds are gathering new assets at breakneck speed and with interest rates declining and stocks scuffling, bond funds could lure even more capital from investors.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
In the first half of this year, fixed income ETFs saw inflows of $74 billion, including a staggering $26 billion in June alone, said <a href="https://www.cfraresearch.com/">CFRA Research</a> Director of ETF &amp; Mutual Fund Research Todd Rosenbluth in a note out Tuesday.
Year to date, five bond ETFs are among the top 10 U.S.-listed ETFs in terms of new assets added and all five of those funds are iShares or Vanguard products. Based on figures offered by CFRA, nearly 74 cents of every dollar going into a bond ETF this year, is flowing to an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/19/06/13998876/bond-etfs-to-hit-2-trillion-in-five-years-blackrock-says">iShares or Vanguard fund</a>.
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
&ldquo;While the asset manager is the US ETF industry heavyweight with $1.6 trillion in assets and a leading 39% market share, iShares is even more dominant in the bond asset class with a 49% share,&rdquo; said Rosenbluth. &ldquo;Indeed, the gap between iShares and Vanguard and SSGA, the next two largest ETF providers is much wider with bonds than overall.&rdquo;
Among the top asset-gathering bond ETFs this year are the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ief#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) and the iShares MBS ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mbb#NASDAQ">MBB</a>), which have taken in about $10.9 billion in new assets combined. Rosenbluth has an Overweight rating on IEF.
Some other issuers do have products that are competitive on the fixed income front. For example, the SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spib#NYSE">SPIB</a>) has hauled in nearly $881 million in new assets this year. Rosenbluth also has an Overweight&nbsp;rating on that ETF.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
&ldquo;Vanguard&rsquo;s 25% bond ETF slice is essentially in line with its take of the broader ETF pie (26%), which makes sense since Vanguard&rsquo;s line up is often used for asset allocation purposes,&rdquo; said Rosenbluth.
The top asset adder among Vanguard&#39;s bond ETFs this year is the Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bndx#NASDAQ">BNDX</a>), which has garnered inflows of $5.38 billion, putting it among the top 10 U.S.-listed ETFs overall. BNDX has a 30-day SEC yield of 2.90%.
Related Links:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/19/08/14210168/on-the-worst-day-of-the-year-for-stocks-this-etf-hit-new-highs">This ETF Soared On A Bad Day For Stocks</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/19/08/14205724/these-leveraged-etfs-may-tell-you-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-trade-war">Trade War Embodied In These ETFs</a>

iShares Trust Barclays 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund

SPIB

Obvious Winners As Bond ETFs Gain More Assets

Just last month, BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/blk#NYSE">BLK</a>), the parent company of iShares, the world&#39;s largest exchange traded funds issuer, said that global fixed income ETFs reached $1 trillion in combined assets under management. Perhaps more notable was the forecast that that figure will double to $2 trillion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/19/06/13998876/bond-etfs-to-hit-2-trillion-in-five-years-blackrock-says">over the next five years</a>.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
Additional data support the notion that bond ETFs are poised to keep growing. Consider this: At $1 trillion, fixed income ETFs represent a scant percentage of the $105 trillion global bond marketplace, <a href="https://www.blackrockblog.com/2019/07/29/bond-etfs-are-feeling-the-flow/">according to BlackRock</a>.
&ldquo;Wider adoption has translated into heavier trading volumes, which generally result in lower on-exchange transaction costs,&rdquo; said BlackRock in a recent note. &ldquo;Convenience and ease of trading help explain why investors increasingly rely on bond ETFs to reposition their holdings during periods of market turbulence, such as the <a href="https://www.ishares.com/us/insights/october-bond-etf-spotlight">final</a> months of 2018.&rdquo;
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
Flows confirm bond ETF adoption is on the rise and is happening across multiple corners of the fixed income universe. Year to date, <a href="https://www.etf.com/etfanalytics/etf-fund-flows-tool">five of the top 10</a> asset-gathering ETFs in the U.S. are bond funds. That quintet includes Treasury funds, mortgage-backed securities, junk bonds and international debt.
&ldquo;All types of investors are recognizing that modern portfolios combine active management and index-tracking products,&rdquo; according to BlackRock. &ldquo;Some investors use broad bond ETFs to diversify their stock holdings; others use term-maturity bond ETFs to help generate predictable income through <a href="https://www.blackrock.com/tools/portfolio-analysis/ibonds">laddering</a>; and still others use bond ETFs alongside individual securities in their portfolios.&rdquo;
The iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ief#NASDAQ">IEF</a>) and the iShares MBS ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mbb#NASDAQ">MBB</a>) are among this year&#39;s top asset-gathering bond ETFs, having hauled in more than $11.1 billion combined.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
As for what&#39;s next for bond ETFs, that&#39;s easy: more adoption and more growth. With the Federal Reserve poised to lower interest rates, perhaps this week, investors could be drawn to higher-yielding asset classes within the bond ETF realm.
&ldquo;Recent market trends underscore that bond ETFs are tools for building dynamic portfolios,&rdquo; said BlackRock. &ldquo;U.S.-listed bond ETFs pulled in $37.4 billion in the second quarter of 2019, the &ldquo;most of any quarter on record. These days, many investors are actively targeting bond ETFs to search for yield as global central banks consider whether to <a href="https://www.blackrockblog.com/2019/07/17/income-in-emerging-market-debt/">loosen monetary policies</a> in the near future.&rdquo;
Related Links:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/19/07/14147834/how-to-get-a-lot-of-international-stocks-on-the-cheap">A Cheap International Vanguard ETF</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/19/07/14147833/an-eventful-energy-week-looms-for-these-etfs">Exciting Times For These Energy ETF</a>

Bond ETFs Are Big And Only Getting Bigger

The&nbsp;iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/agg#NYSE">AGG</a>), the largest U.S.-listed fixed income exchange traded fund, reached its 15th birthday Sept. 22, making it an appropriate time to examine the bond ETF boom.
When AGG debuted, a scant number of bond ETFs were on the market. Today, more than 1,200 such funds with $840 billion in assets under management are listed around the world, <a href="https://www.blackrockblog.com/2018/09/19/bond-investing-revolution/">according to BlackRock</a>.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
Various data points indicate the growth of bond ETFs will continue.
&ldquo;Though fixed income offerings represent 17 percent&nbsp;of the exchange traded product market, the category&rsquo;s $63 billion of net inflows year-to-date through Sept. 7 were a 36-percent&nbsp;share,&rdquo; <a href="https://newpublic.cfraresearch.com/">CFRA Research</a> Director of ETF &amp; Mutual Fund Research Todd Rosenbluth said in a recent note.
&ldquo;Despite recent interest rate hikes (as well expectations for additional hikes in the future), demand has swelled for low-cost, liquid vehicles for core and tactical bond allocations.&rdquo;
As of Aug. 31, investors have added $51.5&nbsp;billion to U.S.-listed bond ETFs this year. Bond ETFs still represent a small percentage of the overall fixed income space, but institutional investors are increasingly turning to these products as avenues for superior liquidity.
A recent survey by <a href="https://www.plansponsor.com/fixed-income-etfs-used-address-bond-market-issues/">Greenwich Associates</a> said institutional investors find it&nbsp;harder to execute large trades in some individual bonds, a scenario that is stoking demand for bond ETFs.
<h3>Why It&#39;s Important</h3>
Broadly speaking, bond ETFs do offer valid alternatives for liquidity-seeking investors. CFRA&#39;s coverage universe includes 63 bond ETFs with average daily volume of 250,000 shares or more and 138 bond ETFs with bid/ask spreads of 3 cents or less, Rosenbluth said.&nbsp;
AGG is one of the ETFs meeting both parameters,&nbsp;as is the iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lqd#NYSE">LQD</a>) and the iShares MBS ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mbb#NASDAQ">MBB</a>).
Insurance companies are expected to increase usage of bond ETFs in the years ahead.
<h3>What&#39;s Next</h3>
Last year, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners revised its accounting methodology for bond ETFs, opening the door for insurance companies to increase use of these products in investment portfolios.
&ldquo;A new systematic valuation method allowed insurers to treat ETFs more like ordinary bonds, which has the potential to reduce the volatility in the company&#39;s balance sheet and income statement,&rdquo; Rosenbluth said. &ldquo;In 2017, insurance companies increased their assets in fixed income ETFs by a whopping 69 percent,&nbsp;according to S&amp;P Global.&rdquo;
Related Links:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/18/09/12374259/inklings-of-a-dividend-etf-resurgence">Dividend ETFs Bounce Back</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/18/09/12346876/multiple-asset-classes-in-one-new-etf">A Nifty Multi-Asset ETF</a>

'Demand Has Swelled': Why Bond ETFs Will Continue Growing

Unfortunately, many Americans first became aware of asset-backed securities (ABS) during the Financial Crisis, when mortgage defaults nearly triggered the collapse of the entire financial system. While irresponsible lending behavior was behind the mortgage bubble, there&rsquo;s nothing inherently risky in ABS investing. Here&rsquo;s how it works.

	ABS and MBS are actually classes of bonds, much like corporate bonds or government bonds. Instead of being backed by a company or government, ABS are backed by other types of receivables, including credit card receivables, auto loans, student loans and home-equity loans.

	Financial institutions originate loans and then turn those loans into investable products via a process known as securitization. The underlying assets behind an ABS, such as auto loans, typically can&rsquo;t be sold to investors as-is. Instead, pools of loans are sorted, packaged together and then sold to investors.

	For the loan issuers, securitizing and selling the loans to investors frees up more cash for the issuer to use to provide more loans. For investors, ABS offer a relatively high-yield source of fixed income and a way to diversify a bond portfolio.

	Related Link: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/markets/bonds/16/09/8452635/what-do-corporate-credit-ratings-mean-for-investors">What Do Corporate Credit Ratings Mean For Investors?</a>

	Credit agencies assess the creditworthiness of ABS and assign a credit rating in the same way they issue ratings on corporate or government bonds. Although ABS got a bad name during the Financial Crisis, most ABS receive AAA ratings (the highest possible) from the major credit agencies.

	Although there are very few ABS ETFs out there, the iShares Barclays MBS Bond Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mbb#NYSE">MBB</a>) is one way for retail investors to easily invest in the MBS market.

	Visit <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/general/education">http://bit.ly/BZTeach</a> for more awesome educational content!

Education

What Are Asset-Backed Securities?

Econ #s

No MBA Data at 7:00 AM ET; Mortgage Bankers Association Offices Closed Until January 4

The selloff in stocks has erased all of the gains on Wall Street this year as the S&amp;P 500 Index dipped into the red for 2014.&nbsp;

	In just a few short weeks, sellers have taken control of the momentum in equities and significantly altered the tone of the markets.&nbsp;

	As a result of fear overtaking stocks, investors have been fleeing for another asset class that has shown tremendous resilience in the face of adversity.&nbsp;

	Treasury and mortgage-related ETFs have been the recipients of a flight to quality that has pushed bond prices to new 2014 highs. The CBOE 10-Year Treasury Note Yield fell to an intraday low of 1.868 percent on Wednesday as stocks continued their losing streak.

	This marked the lowest reading for bond yields since May 2013 and contributed to gains across the board in investment grade fixed income.

	Investors typically flee risk assets during times of uncertainty for safe haven securities such as credit risk-free Treasuries.&nbsp;

	The iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Note ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ief#NYSE">IEF</a>) tracks intermediate-term Treasury bond prices and has seen more than $2.4 billion in net inflows this year.&nbsp;

	<bzrelatedlink>Related Link: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/14/10/4920648/3-equity-etfs-benefiting-from-low-interest-rates">3 Equity ETFs Benefiting From Low Interest Rates</a></bzrelatedlink>

	IEF is now sitting on gains of more than 10 percent in 2014 and continues to show that investors are willing to forgo risk in favor of safety.

	<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/imce?app=nomatter%7Cimceload@imceInline.load#" onclick="imce.send('ief.png'); return false;" title="Insert file"><img alt="ief.png" height="284" src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/u79448/ief.png" width="460" /></a>

	In conjunction with falling Treasury yields, mortgage-related ETFs are also rising sharply in October. The iShares MBS ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mbb#NYSE">MBB</a>) tracks a wide range of U.S. denominated mortgage bonds. This includes securitized fixed income from government sponsored enterprises such as Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae.&nbsp;

	MBB is up more than 6 percent in 2014 and has garnered more than $1 billion in additional inflows as well.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

	Interest rates will certainly be a closely watched indicator through the remainder of 2014 as the Federal Reserve brings its quantitative easing efforts to an end. The strength in bond prices along with falling equity and commodity values has many concerned about the potential for deflationary effects to take hold as well.&nbsp;

	Only time will tell if economic forces collude to push the 10-Year Treasury Note Yield down to its 2013 low of 1.65 percent, which would continue to press bonds even higher.

Treasury And Mortgage Bond ETFs Hit New Highs

Income investing has quickly become a hot button topic among ETF investors who are searching for the right mix of credit quality, duration, and yield. 

	The threat of rising interest rates and below-average dividend streams from traditional aggregate bond funds has many income seekers looking for alternative strategies to meet their needs.

	With that goal in mind, Blackrock (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/blk#NYSE">BLK</a>) just recently launched the iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/byld#NYSE">BYLD</a>).  
	This ETF is a “fund of funds” that takes a multi-sector approach to it’s fixed-income allocation by utilizing other iShares ETFs for it’s underlying holdings. 

	The top three funds in BYLD include: iShares MBS ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mbb#NYSE">MBB</a>), iShares High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/hyg#NYSE">HYG</a>) and iShares Intermediate Credit Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ciu#NYSE">CIU</a>).

	BYLD is unique in that it gives you access to a variety of individual sectors of the U.S. bond market without the overweight nature of treasuries, investment grade corporate bonds, and agency securities that make up the iShares Core Total U.S. Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/agg#NYSE">AGG</a>).

	See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/14/04/4499702/3-mega-cap-etfs-for-your-portfolio-mgc-oef-xlg-aapl-msft">3 Mega Cap ETFs For Your Portfolio</a>

	BYLD is clearly focused more focused on the credit side of the spectrum and has a very low allocation to high quality fixed-income securities.  Treasuries are typically more sensitive to changes in interest rates, while high yield bonds fluctuate in relation to corporate and economic outlook.  

	This may play right into the wheel house of retirees, pension funds and other income portfolios that are looking to eschew interest rate sensitivity in favor of taking on <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/14/03/4413843/2-diversified-etfs-for-high-monthly-income">additional credit risk for greater yield</a>. The top three holdings in BYLD all have effective durations of less than 4.5 years, while AGG has an effective duration of 5.2 years.  

	Because BYLD is so new, it has yet to distribute any income from which to calculate the current yield.  However, it is sure to be higher than the current 2.07 percent yield of AGG.  

	It will be interesting to see if BYLD makes significant headway in attracting assets away from more established fixed-income ETFs in this space.

	While that landscape has proven to be a tough hill to climb, BYLD has many attractive qualities that set it apart from it’s competitors and make for a compelling investment thesis.

New ETFs

BYLD

New iShares Bond ETF Seeks Optimal Income Mix

Here is the ETF Professor's ETF Watch List for Wednesday, September 18, 2013.

Give the PowerShares Dynamic Industrials ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/prn#NYSE">PRN</a>) a look.

The SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/gld#NYSE">GLD</a>) will certainly be in play.

Keep an eye on the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vti#NYSE">VTI</a>).

Put the SPDR S&amp;P Dividend ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/sdy#NYSE">SDY</a>) on your list.

Emerging markets plays of the day: WisdomTree India Earnings ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/epi#NYSE">EPI</a>), WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/dem#NYSE">DEM</a>) and the Market Vectors Indonesia ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/idx#NYSE">IDX</a>).

Forex play of the day: PowerShares DB Dollar Bullish (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/uup#NYSE">UUP</a>).

Bond play of the day: iShares Barclays MBS Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mbb#NYSE">MBB</a>).

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Short Ideas

Emerging Market ETFs

Currency ETFs

Pre-Market Outlook

PowerShares Dynamic Industrials Sector Portfolio

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund

ETFs to Watch September 18, 2013 (MBB, SDY, UUP)

Here is the ETF Professor's ETF Watch List for Tuesday, September 17, 2013.

Keep an eye on the SPDR S&amp;P Regional Bank ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/kre#NYSE">KRE</a>).

Give the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xlp#NYSE">XLP</a>) a look.

The iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/idu#NYSE">IDU</a>) saw unusual volume Monday.

Check in with the iShares International Select Dividend ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/idv#NYSE">IDV</a>).

Emerging markets plays of the day: Market Vectors Egypt ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/egpt#NYSE">EGPT</a>), WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/dem#NYSE">DEM</a>) and the Market Vectors Brazil Small-Cap ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/brf#NYSE">BRF</a>).

Forex play of the day: CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/fxa#NYSE">FXA</a>).

Bond play of the iShares MBS ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mbb#NYSE">MBB</a>).

EGPT

iShares Trust Dow Jones US Utilities Sector Index Fund

iShares Dow Jones International Select Dividend Income Fund

ETFs to Watch September 17, 2013 (IDV, MBB, XLP)

Here is the ETF Professor's ETF Watch List for Thursday May 30, 2013.

The Market Vectors Mortgage REIT ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mort#NYSE">MORT</a>) remains in focus

The Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vpu#NYSE">VPU</a>) is in trouble.

Give the PowerShares Dynamic Media Portfolio (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pbs#NYSE">PBS</a>).

Let's see if the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/gdx#NYSE">GDX</a>) can keep it going.

Emerging markets plays of the day: ProShares UltraShort FTSE China 25 (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/fxp#NYSE">FXP</a>), iShares MSCI All Peru Capped Index (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/epu#NYSE">EPU</a>) and the ProShares UltraShort MSCI Emerging Markets (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/eev#NYSE">EEV</a>).

Forex play of the day: CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/fxc#NYSE">FXC</a>).

Bond play of the day: iShares Barclays MBS Bond Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mbb#NYSE">MBB</a>).

ProShares UltraShort MSCI Emerging Markets

Market Vectors ETF Trust Market Vectors Gold Miners

ETFs to Watch May 30, 2013 (MBB, MORT, VPU)

The recent mantra to Fed action was buy gold as a hedge against the dollar, but with the gold (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/gld#NYSE">GLD</a>) being the second-most crowded trade to (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), what are other alternatives? (Note: that's not an actual statistic, just an observation). There are many different views on the best hedges to the Fed, but let's see what the data has to say.
Gold obviously is the winner, having nearly doubled from the 2008 lows through the end of QE2 and increasing another 14% during QE2. Miners have not performed as well, though small and mid cap miners (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/gdxj#NYSE">GDXJ</a>) have outperformed their larger cap (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/gdx#NYSE">GDX</a>) brethren. Silver (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/slv#NYSE">SLV</a>) has lagged its yellow cousin, as it actually has industrial value. Really, only Apple has outperformed gold since the Fed has attempted to save the world.
<img src="/files/images/2012/June/06/gold-bar.jpg" width="390" height="311" alt="gold-bar.jpg" />
Another obvious trade is to short the dollar (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/uup#NYSE">UUP</a>), especially as the dollar has been strong recently. However, the dollar was stronger ahead of both of the quantitative easing programs, with the dollar index trading well north of 85 prior to each. The high so far has only been just over 83. The sell-offs following balance sheet expansion by the Fed have ended around 75, meaning that traders could pick up about 12% by shorting the dollar (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/udn#NYSE">UDN</a>).
Shorting bonds have been the loser in all of this, with treasury bonds (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/tlt#NYSE">TLT</a>) continuing to fall to record low yields. Being short bonds (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/tbt#NYSE">TBT</a>) has been a losing trade, with the TBT down some 75% since the onset of the financial crisis in 2008. Mortgage Backed Securities (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mbb#NYSE">MBB</a>) have been winners, with the Barclays MBS Index rallying some 12.5% since the 2009 lows. However, with fed members hinting that the next round of easing could focus on MBS only, they may be a winner.
<img src="/files/images/2012/June/06/copper.jpg" width="228" height="228" alt="copper.jpg" />
Copper (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/jjc#NYSE">JJC</a>) almost tripled after QE1 and other stimulus policies and rallied another 50% from there after QE2. Copper may be a place for investors to put some capital if they believe that more QE is on the way. Oil has also benefited from QE, and so have oil companies. For those wishing to have less volatility than commodities, investing in miners or energy companies (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xle#NYSE">XLE</a>) may make more sense.
In general, it will be a risk-on environment, so those wanting a more broad -based allocation to risk may wish to invest in a diversified portfolio, such as the UBS Fisher-Gartman Risk On ETN (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/onn#NYSE">ONN</a>). This ETN is a portfolio of various risk assets, such as Aussie Dollar (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/fxa#NYSE">FXA</a>) futures, Canadian Dollar (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/fxc#NYSE">FXC</a>) futures, crude oil, equities, and bonds.
We know the playbook: buy gold, buy stocks, buy commodities. But now we know exactly which ones to buy. Good luck and good trading.
<img src="/files/images/2012/June/06/bernanke_superhero.jpeg" width="553" height="369" alt="bernanke_superhero.jpeg" />

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We have just released ETF based plan Amerivest Guided Portfolios Based ETF Plan that uses index ETFs to represent the asset classes suggested by the Amerivest[...<a href="http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_news.action?PID=4298">more</a>...] 
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Using Asset Classes in Amerivest Guided Portfolios to Construct ETF Portfolios

<div>
<div>
<h1></h1>
</div>
High yield bond ETFs concentrate on lower quality corporate bonds, which are considered riskier than higher-quality or more established companies. Because of this higher level of risk, high-yield bonds, also known as junk bonds, offer higher yields to investors. US high yield bond ETFs invest at least 65% of capital in binds that are not rated or are rated by S&amp;P or Moody's at or below BB (considered speculative). Because of high returns and the potential for diversification across many markets, regions, and industries, high yield bonds are a major part of many investment strategies.
<div> We track <a href="http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/advanced__markets.action">asset class movement</a> and you can see here the fixed income table which is updated weekly.</div>

<div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="10">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th align="left">Assets Class</th>
<th>Symbols</th>
<th>05/06 Trend Score</th>
<th>04/29 Trend Score</th>
<th>Direction</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>International Inflation Protected</td>
<td>WIP</td>
<td>6.74%</td>
<td>9.22%</td>
<td>v</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>High Yield</td>
<td>JNK</td>
<td>5.54%</td>
<td>5.68%</td>
<td>v</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>International Treasury</td>
<td>BWX</td>
<td>5.1%</td>
<td>6.82%</td>
<td>v</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Long Term Credit</td>
<td>LQD</td>
<td>3.48%</td>
<td>2.87%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Emerging Mkt Bonds</td>
<td>PCY</td>
<td>3.48%</td>
<td>2.21%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20+ Year Treasury</td>
<td>TLT</td>
<td>3.38%</td>
<td>1.63%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Inflation Protected</td>
<td>TIP</td>
<td>3.09%</td>
<td>3.27%</td>
<td>v</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10-20Year Treasury</td>
<td>TLH</td>
<td>2.88%</td>
<td>1.73%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Intermediate Term Credit</td>
<td>CIU</td>
<td>2.43%</td>
<td>2.06%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Intermediate Treasury</td>
<td>IEF</td>
<td>2.39%</td>
<td>1.65%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>US Total Bond</td>
<td>BND</td>
<td>2.1%</td>
<td>1.77%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MBS Bond</td>
<td>MBB</td>
<td>1.92%</td>
<td>1.83%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>California Muni</td>
<td>CMF</td>
<td>1.74%</td>
<td>1.99%</td>
<td>v</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>National Muni</td>
<td>MUB</td>
<td>1.57%</td>
<td>1.24%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Short Term Credit</td>
<td>CSJ</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
<td>1.09%</td>
<td>v</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>New York Muni</td>
<td>NYF</td>
<td>0.64%</td>
<td>0.51%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Short Term Treasury</td>
<td>SHY</td>
<td>0.55%</td>
<td>0.53%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Treasury Bills</td>
<td>SHV</td>
<td>0.08%</td>
<td>0.07%</td>
<td>^</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
  Trend score is the average of 1,4,13,26 and 52 week total returns (including dividend reinvested). You can get a <a href="http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/api__customize.action">no cost widget </a>for any of these tables which will automatically update weekly.
<a rel="lightbox" href="http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/article_toptablechart.action?tableName=FixedIncomeReturnTable"> <img src="http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/article_toptablechart.action?tableName=FixedIncomeReturnTable" width='600' height='400' /> </a>
<a rel="lightbox" href="http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/article_lowtablechart.action?tableName=FixedIncomeReturnTable"> <img src="http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/article_lowtablechart.action?tableName=FixedIncomeReturnTable" width='600' height='400' /> </a>
</div>
<div></div>
<div>At the end of last week (5/6/2011), high yield bond ETFs, represented by the SPDR Barclays Capital High Yield (JNK), stood among the top of the Fixed Income Return Table. Yields in the sector have declined as risk premiums have tightend on stronger performance by companies with lower credit ratings. While returns on corporate bonds have declined slightly in recent periods, ETFs that track the market have continually offered strong returns relative to other fixed income securities. </div>
<div></div>
<div>
<div id="highYieldBonds" class="back">
<h2> U.S. High Yield Bonds</h2>
05/06/2011
<div class="dividerTop">
<table id="HighYieldBond" class="tablesorter" border="2" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2">
<thead>
<tr>
<th > Description </th>
<th > Symbol </th>
<th > 1 Yr </th>
<th > 3 Yr </th>
<th > 5 Yr </th>
<th > Avg. Volume(K) </th>
<th > 1 Yr Sharpe </th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="even">
<td>iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corp</td>
<td><a href="http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/jsp/fundcenter/View.action?symbol=HYG&amp;type=1&amp;includeHeader=true" target="_blank">HYG</a></td>
<td>17.67%</td>
<td>7.03%</td>
<td>NA</td>
<td>1,247</td>
<td>270.24%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>SPDR Barclays Capital High Yield</td>
<td><a href="http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/jsp/fundcenter/View.action?symbol=JNK&amp;type=1&amp;includeHeader=true" target="_blank">JNK</a></td>
<td>20.83%</td>
<td>8.41%</td>
<td>NA</td>
<td>2,972</td>
<td>279.79%</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>PowerShares Fundamental High Yield</td>
<td><a href="http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/jsp/fundcenter/View.action?symbol=PHB&amp;type=1&amp;includeHeader=true" target="_blank">PHB</a></td>
<td>19.2%</td>
<td>0.79%</td>
<td>NA</td>
<td>302</td>
<td>318.25%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div>Among US High Yield Bond ETFs, the top performers include the SPDR Barclays Capital High Yield (JNK), the Powershares Fundamental High Yield ETF (PHB), and the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate ETF (HYG) returning 20.83%, 19.20%, 17.67% respectively in the past year.</div>
<div></div>
<div>With the highest one-year return and the highest trading volume, the SPDR Barclays Capital High Yield ETF remains a srtong investment option. The ETF is well diversified, with no single bond comprising more than 4% of total assets and the top 10% of assets making up only 22.58% of the total. </div>
<div></div>
<div>Going forward, yields on high yield corporate debt should continue to tighten as long as companies continue to generate strong performance. Still, high yield corporate bond ETFs should continue to offer attractive returns relative to other fixed income assets. </div>
<div></div>
<div>Corporate bonds are an important component of diversified bond portfolios, as they offer greater returns and risks than government bonds. Due to their high level of interest paid, generally in the form of monthly distributions, corporate bond ETFs may be especially suitable for individuals approaching or already in retirement. As with any investment, it is important to make sure the risk and return levels match up with your personal investment goals. </div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div>Symbols: <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=AGG&amp;count=00155'>AGG</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=BND&amp;count=00172'>BND</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=SHV&amp;count=0091'>SHV</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=SHY&amp;count=0090'>SHY</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=IEF&amp;count=0090'>IEF</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=TLH&amp;count=0019'>TLH</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=TLT&amp;count=0092'>TLT</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=TIP&amp;count=0040'>TIP</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=WIP&amp;count=0027'>WIP</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=HYG&amp;count=00104'>HYG</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=JNK&amp;count=0096'>JNK</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=PHB&amp;count=0090'>PHB</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=CSJ&amp;count=0073'>CSJ</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=CIU&amp;count=00118'>CIU</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=LQD&amp;count=0073'>LQD</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=BWX&amp;count=0053'>BWX</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=CMF&amp;count=0014'>CMF</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=NYF&amp;count=0014'>NYF</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=MUB&amp;count=0087'>MUB</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=MBB&amp;count=0078'>MBB</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=PCY&amp;count=0038'>PCY</a>, <a href ='http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k_symbols.action?symbol=EMB&amp;count=0035'>EMB</a> </div>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div>Tickers: (NYSE: AGG), (NYSE: BND), (NYSE: SHV), (NYSE: SHY), (NYSE: IEF), (NYSE: TLH), (NYSE: TLT), (NYSE: TIP), (NYSE: WIP), (NYSE: HYG), (NYSE: JNK), (NYSE: PHB), (NYSE: CSJ), (NYSE: CIU), (NYSE: LQD), (NYSE: BWX), (NYSE: CMF), (NYSE: NYF), (NYSE: MUB), (NYSE: MBB), (NYSE: PCY), (NYSE: EMB)</div>
<div>
 
Disclosure:
<a href="http://www.myplaniq.com/LTISystem/f401k__main.action">MyPlanIQ </a>does not have any business relationship with the company or companies mentioned in this article. It does not set up their retirement plans. The performance data of portfolios mentioned above are obtained through historical simulation and are hypothetical.</div>
<div></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
 
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iShares S&P California AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund

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