For several reasons, I have decided that ETFs are just not suitable for trading

some time ago, Jim Cramer said ETFs do not make sense, now I agree with him.

Same as ETFs, index futures also are not suitable for trading.

Maybe they are good for long-term investment.
 
Quote from clacy:

Ok, so you make a claim, but don't even give your reasoning?

Since you ask so politely, I will answer:

1. cancellation among components/sectors.

2. not subject to direct buying/selling.

3. murky conversion between components and the instrument.

4. arbitrary weighting.

5. unclear roles of leader/follower.

6. friction between futures and cash.

7. Red_Ink.
 
The larger the ETF, the less problems you will have.

IMHO, only 20 or 30 ETFs can be traded efficiently, the rest are just fillers. Note the word: efficiently.
 
I agree with zgtrader. I only trade ETFS both long and short time with no problem. You have to pick the right ones. Never pick a new one.
 
ETF's were a great idea years ago. I made good money with them. But they're just fee-sucking machines for institutions that "sponsor" them now. Might as well trade the individual components in most cases. Top 30 volume ETFs are ok, the rest suck.
 
Quote from risktaker:

ETF's were a great idea years ago. I made good money with them. But they're just fee-sucking machines for institutions that "sponsor" them now. Might as well trade the individual components in most cases. Top 30 volume ETFs are ok, the rest suck.

ETFs are the only thing that I recommend to family members who want to profit from a falling market.

No way I'd recommend an individual stock to people who think that holding an overnight short GE carries the same risk as a bare-bones, cash-poor biotech who just scored a phase III approval on their lead candidate.
 
risktaker
how much money would you need to buy each stock in the S&P 500. Oops for got my dentist has all my money 2 root canals and 3 caps ago. Thats why I buy ETFS.
Seriously I would limit my selection to the top 20 in volume and have been around at least 3 years. :)
 
Just to add, these are the 20 big ETFs (sorted by volume):

SPY S&P Dep Receipts
XLF S&P Sel Financial Spdr Fund
QQQQ PowerShares QQQ Trust Series 1
EEM iShares MSCI Emerg Mkt Index F
FAZ Financial Bear 3x Shares
IWM iShares Russell 2000 Index Tr
UYG Ultra Financials ProShares
UNG United States Natural Gas Fund
SDS UltraShort S&P 500 ProShares
FAS Financial Bull 3x Shares
SSO ProShares Ultra S&P 500
SRS UltraShort Real Estate ProShrs
URE Ultra Real EstateProShares
SKF UltraShort Financials ProShare
EWJ iShares MSCI Japan Index Fd
IYR iShares DJ US R/E Index Tr
FXI iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25
QID UltraShort QQQ ProShares
EFA iShares MSCI EAFE Index Tr
XLE S&P Sel Energy Spdr Fund

Although, some consider the below list to be the most popular.

SPY S&P Dep Receipts
QQQQ PowerShares QQQ Trust Series 1
EEM iShares MSCI Emerg Mkt Index F
IWM iShares Russell 2000 Index Tr
XLF S&P Sel Financial Spdr Fund
EWJ iShares MSCI Japan Index Fd
EFA iShares MSCI EAFE Index Tr
FXI iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25
IYR iShares DJ US R/E Index Tr
GLD SPDR Gold Trust
XLE S&P Sel Energy Spdr Fund
EWT iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fd
EWZ iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fd
DIA Diamonds Trust, Series 1
XLV S&P Sel Health Care Spdr Fund
XLI S&P Sel Industrial Spdr Fund
XLB S&P Sel Materials Spdr Fund
EWH iShares MSCI Hong Kong Idx Fd
XHB SPDR S&P Homebuilders
ILF iShares S&P Latin Am 40 Index
 
Quote from BPtrader:

some time ago, Jim Cramer said ETFs do not make sense, now I agree with him.

Same as ETFs, index futures also are not suitable for trading.

Maybe they are good for long-term investment.
yes, need huge cash to trade ETF stocks...BUT...ETF options are the sole way to go...
 
Back
Top