Home Logon FTA Investment Managers Blog Subscribe About Us Contact Us

Search by Ticker, Keyword or CUSIP       
 
 
 
Blog Home
 

  Has the Balance between Potential Risks and Returns Shifted in Favor of Bond Investors?
Posted Under: Podcast

 

In this episode of the podcast, Ryan is joined by Bill Housey, Managing Director of Fixed Income at First Trust for a discussion about the US economy, the Federal Reserve, interest rates, and why Bill believes that an asymmetry between risk and return has shifted in favor of bond investors.

Posted on Monday, March 11, 2024 @ 8:12 AM • Post Link Print this post Printer Friendly
  Market Minute - March 2024
Posted Under: Market Minute
Supporting Image for Blog Post

 

One of our favorite Yogi Berra sayings is “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” Momentum was the most dominant equity factor in February (see chart above). In fact, it has been the main factor behind the massive equity rally that started in late October that  has added almost 1,000 points to the S&P 500 Index in four months. The momentum factor is also extremely crowded... but everyone is still going there. For now. While we employ the momentum factor in our research, we prefer a multifactor approach and also like to see tangible evidence why the momentum factor is working and can continue to outperform. That is where our concern lies.

Click here to read entire piece.

Posted on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 @ 10:08 AM • Post Link Print this post Printer Friendly
  Asset Flows Monitor March 2024 Edition
Posted Under: ETFs
Supporting Image for Blog Post

 
  • Net inflows for US-listed ETFs totaled $66.7 billion in February, bringing total ETF assets under management to $8.34 trillion.

  • Equity ETFs had net inflows totaling $48.9 billion in February, bringing trailing 12-months (TTM) net inflows to $444.1 billion. Active equity ETFs accounted for $15.5 billion in net inflows in February, compared to $33.4 billion in net inflows for passive equity ETFs. Total AUM in actively managed equity ETFs was $365.9 billion, accounting for 5.5% of all equity ETF assets ($6.65 trillion), as of 2/29/24.

  • Fixed income ETFs had net inflows totaling $11.6 billion in February, bringing TTM net inflows to $212.0 billion. Active fixed income ETFs accounted for $6.5 billion in net inflows in February, compared to $5.1 billion in net inflows for passive fixed income ETFs. Total AUM in actively managed fixed income ETFs were $186.7 billion, accounting for 12.3% of all fixed income ETF assets ($1.52 trillion), as of 2/29/24.

  • Commodities ETFs had net outflows totaling $2.5 billion in February, bringing TTM net outflows to $15.1 billion. Precious metals ETFs (-$2.5 billion) was the weakest commodity sub-category in February.


To continue reading, click here

Posted on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 @ 9:52 AM • Post Link Print this post Printer Friendly
  What Solutions Can Direct Indexing Offer?
Posted Under: Podcast

 

In the episode of the podcast, Ryan speaks with Jon DiGiovanni, Managing Director of Direct Indexing and Separate Managed Accounts at First Trust, about some of the reasons that Direct Indexing has quietly been one of the fastest growing innovations in the financial services industry. 

Posted on Sunday, February 25, 2024 @ 6:34 PM • Post Link Print this post Printer Friendly
  Getting Broader and Smaller in 2024
Posted Under: ETFs
Supporting Image for Blog Post

 

After an unusually good year for US equities in 2023, concerns about high valuations and concentration risk for U.S. equity indices, such as the S&P 500® Index, have led some financial professionals to seek  potentially better opportunities among small- and mid-capitalization ("SMid-cap") stocks.  However, fears that an economic recession could be on the horizon have led some to shy away from tilting portfolio allocations towards smaller companies.  Below, we discuss these issues, highlighting why we believe that SMid-cap stocks may offer an attractive opportunity, but also why selectivity may be critical for navigating the current market environment.  We then discuss why we believe those seeking to increase allocations to SMid-cap stocks should consider the First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY).

Click Here to continue reading.

Posted on Friday, February 16, 2024 @ 1:48 PM • Post Link Print this post Printer Friendly
  Dissecting Incentives and Opportunities in (Traditional and Alternative) Energy
Posted Under: Podcast

 

In this episode of the podcast, Ryan is joined by Jim Murchie, co-founder of Energy Income Partners for a deep dive into the energy industry, discussing incentives and opportunities that lie on the horizon.

Posted on Monday, February 12, 2024 @ 8:40 AM • Post Link Print this post Printer Friendly
  ETF Data Watch Asset Flows Monitor February 2024 Edition
Posted Under: ETFs
Supporting Image for Blog Post

 
  • Net inflows for US-listed ETFs totaled $42.5 billion in January, bringing total ETF assets under management to $8.11 trillion.
  • Equity ETFs had net inflows totaling $17.2 billion in January, bringing trailing 12-months (TTM) net inflows to $395.3 billion.  Active equity ETFs accounted for $15.3 billion in net inflows in
  • January, compared to $1.9 billion in net inflows for passive equity ETFs.  Total AUM in actively managed equity ETFs were $340.7 billion, accounting for 5.3% of all equity ETF assets ($6.43 trillion), as of 1/31/24.
  • Fixed income ETFs had net inflows totaling $21.4 billion in January, bringing TTM net inflows to $201.5 billion.  Active fixed income ETFs accounted for $4.9 billion in net inflows in January, compared to $16.5 billion in net inflows for passive fixed income ETFs.  Total AUM in actively managed fixed income ETFs were $181.1 billion, accounting for 11.9% of all fixed income ETF assets ($1.52 trillion), as of 1/31/24.
  • Commodities ETFs had net outflows totaling $3.2 billion in January, bringing TTM net outflows to $13.1 billion. Precious metals ETFs (-$2.3 billion) was the weakest commodity sub-category in January.


To continue reading, click here

Posted on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 @ 3:16 PM • Post Link Print this post Printer Friendly
  Market Minute - February 2024
Posted Under: Market Minute

U.S. stocks have dominated the rest of the world’s stocks over the last 10 years. The MSCI USA Index outperformed the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index by 770 basis points annually over that period. The cumulative return over those 10 years was 208% for the MSCI USA Index and 51% for the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index. According to MSCI Global, as of January 31, 2014, the U.S. weight in the MSCI ACWI Index was 48.90%, as of January 31, 2024 it was 63.16%.

Click here to read entire piece.

Posted on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 @ 2:29 PM • Post Link Print this post Printer Friendly
  Alternatives Update 4th Quarter 2023
Posted Under: Alternatives

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) shifted to a more dovish stance and fueled speculation that rate cuts could be on the table in 2024. Risk assets seized on this pivot and staged a furious rally. Equities put on a “light show” reminiscent of the moonshot of later 2020 then driven by trillions of Covid relief money. Fixed Income also participated as hopes were high that inflation was vanquished and that a redux of the 1970s rate cycle would not be repeated. Not surprisingly, Alternative Investments (“Alternatives”) lagged as risk managed approaches or strategies lacking significant beta received punitive treatment by investors. Economic growth and unemployment have yet to show the effects of the steep rise in rates of the past 21 months while inflation data has fallen from its highs but is now flattening out at levels still above the desired 2% range. In our view, the market sentiment seems to be declaring that the war on inflation has been won, central banks are operating with the skill of neurosurgeons not lumberjacks, and the money pumps of the 2010s could and should be turned back on again. To those who believe monetary policies take a while to work through the system and aren’t quite as sold on the skills of central bankers, it might evoke images of President George W. Bush standing on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in 2003 against a backdrop with a sign declaring “Mission Accomplished”.

To view the entire article, click here.

Posted on Thursday, February 1, 2024 @ 3:02 PM • Post Link Print this post Printer Friendly
  Handicapping the Odds for a 2024 Recession and Upcoming Elections
Posted Under: Podcast

 

In this episode, Ryan speaks with Bob Stein, Deputy Chief Economist at First Trust about why a US recession didn’t materialize in 2023, why it may still be coming in 2024, and implications for the upcoming elections in November.

Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 @ 7:38 AM • Post Link Print this post Printer Friendly

These posts were prepared by First Trust Advisors L.P., and reflect the current opinion of the authors. They are based upon sources and data believed to be accurate and reliable. Opinions and forward looking statements expressed are subject to change without notice. This information does not constitute a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security.
Search Posts
INVESTMENT INSIGHTS
Contributors
Dave McGarel
CIO, COO | Bio
  1. Market Minute
Bill Housey
Senior Portfolio Manager | Bio
  1. Income Insights
Ryan Issakainen
ETF Strategist | Bio
  1. ETF Data Watch
  2. ETF Observations
  3. Inside First Trust ETFs
  4. First Trust ROI Podcast
Jeff Margolin
Closed-End Fund Analyst | Bio
  1. Closed-End Fund Quarterly Commentary
Client Resource Kits
  1. Alternatives
  2. Equity
  3. Fixed-Income
  4. Markets In Perspective
  5. Investment Themes
Other Newsletters
  1. Alternatives Update
  2. Housing Tracker
  3. Commercial Real Estate Tracker
  4. Equity Newsletter
  5. Weekly Market Commentary
  6. Weekly Market Watch
Subscribe To Receive Email
 


 PREVIOUS POSTS
How are Alternatives Expanding the Traditional Toolbox of Investment Professionals?
ETF Data Watch Asset Flows Monitor January 2024 Edition
Will the Stock Market Rally Continue in 2024?
Market Minute - January 2024
How Are Elite Teams Serving the Next Generation of Investors?
Attractive Relative Valuations Bolster the Case for Cybersecurity
Market Minute - December 2023
Are There Any Catalysts on the Horizon for Emerging Markets?
ETF Data Watch Asset Flows Monitor December 2023 Edition
How to Stay at the Cutting Edge of Asset Management
Archive
Skip Navigation Links.
Search by Topic
Skip Navigation Links.

 
The information presented is not intended to constitute an investment recommendation for, or advice to, any specific person. By providing this information, First Trust is not undertaking to give advice in any fiduciary capacity within the meaning of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or any other regulatory framework. Financial professionals are responsible for evaluating investment risks independently and for exercising independent judgment in determining whether investments are appropriate for their clients.
Follow First Trust:  
First Trust Portfolios L.P.  Member SIPC and FINRA. (Form CRS)   •  First Trust Advisors L.P. (Form CRS)
Home |  Important Legal Information |  Privacy Policy |  California Privacy Policy |  Business Continuity Plan |  FINRA BrokerCheck
Copyright © 2024 All rights reserved.