Rising oil prices are helping the
VanEck Vectors Oil Service ETF (OIH), which is up 30% year-to-date. The ETF ended last week’s trading session with a 10% gain thanks to fears of rising inflation.
“Oil extended gains from its highest close in more than a year on a slump in U.S. oil inventories and a broader lift to the reflation trade taking place across global markets,” a World Oil article said. “Futures in New York rose near $63 a barrel. Inventories of U.S. oil have fallen by 40 million barrels over the last three weeks, with cold weather demand for heating fuels offsetting a rise in gasoline and crude stockpiles.”
March 1, 2021
On Monday, Fred Alger Management, LLC (“Alger”), a leading growth equity investment manager, announced its release of the actively managed fund, the
Alger Mid Cap 40 ETF (FRTY), marking the firm’s entry into the ETF space. This vehicle will be focused, high conviction strategies.
“We have seen increased demand for our focused strategies since we launched our first one in 2012. Having these strategies available as actively managed ETFs enables investors who prefer an ETF vehicle to access our investment capabilities,” said Dan Chung, CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Alger. “Alger has a proud, 56-year record of investing in change and innovation, and we believe the innovation of actively managed ETFs is something that will help to continue to propel our growth.”
The FDA met Friday to review J&J’s request for emergency use authorization. Approvals occurred shortly after similar requests by Pfizer and Moderna.
After J&J submitted its vaccine study data to the Food and Drug Administration earlier this month, the FDA staff said it determined that the clinical trial results and safety data were “consistent with the recommendations set forth in FDA’s guidance Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19.”
The vaccine’s level of protection varied by region, J&J said, with the shot demonstrating 66% effectiveness overall, 72% in the United States, 66% in Latin America, and 57% in South Africa, where the B.1.351 variant is rapidly spreading. However, the FDA staff documents showed the vaccine was 64% effective in South Africa after about a month. The company said the vaccine prevented 100% of hospitalizations and deaths.
March 2, 2021
T. Rowe Price launched four active ETFs in August 2020, providing access to the firm’s time‑tested strategic investing expertise in a new set of vehicles. Relying on the same managers as four of T. Rowe Price’s flagship U.S. large‑cap investment strategies that have been available to clients for decades meant allowing for similar strategies to build up separate histories and track records for these funds.
As detailed in T. Rowe Price’s article, “Accessing U.S. Equities With T. Rowe Price Active ETFs,” While all four ETFs use the S&P 500 Index as either their primary or secondary benchmark, each focuses on a different approach to the U.S. large‑cap market and seeks to leverage specific fundamental return factors to drive active performance. The funds include:
Is Your Portfolio Leaving Quality Hung Out to Dry? March 2, 2021
As advisors well know, interest rates are at historic lows, and while Treasury yields recently climbed, the present is still a very much low rate environment. In this climate, investors have a tendency to stretch for yield, eschewing quality in the process.
Advisors can get their clients back on track with the Global Dividend Model Portfolio, which is part of WisdomTree’s Modern Alpha series of model portfolios.
“This model portfolio seeks to provide capital appreciation and high current dividend income, through a globally diversified set of WisdomTree’s dividend income oriented equity ETFs. The model strives to deliver dividend income in excess of the global benchmark of equities,” according to WisdomTree.