International Investing

To hedge or not to hedge

by Henry Becker 03.28.2011
Thumbnail image for To hedge or not to hedge

Now more than ever it has been a benefit to investors in foreign stock ETFs it the ETF is not hedged for currencies. Hedging a fund for foreign currency fluctuation can be a curse or a blessing depending on the strength or weakness of the US dollar. I contacted iShares and asked about their international [...]

Read the full article →

Income the new fashion way foreign dividends

by Henry Becker 10.19.2010
Thumbnail image for Income the new fashion way foreign dividends

In the old days many investors bought solid dividend paying stocks for both the growth opportunity and the income.  Even if the investor did not need the income they would reinvest the dividends to buy more shares.  The world is a lot different place than it once was.  In the new world you want to [...]

Read the full article →

Is Chile More than you think?

by Henry Becker 11.10.2009
Thumbnail image for Is Chile More than you think?

No, it is not a typo. I know the mainstream press cannot get enough of Brazil. I too have sung (still sining) the praises of the future host of the Olympics. On the other side of the continent from Brazil is a sliver of a country that boasts an impressive economy. With 16 million people [...]

Read the full article →

Profit from a falling dollar without shorting?

by Henry Becker 09.28.2009
Thumbnail image for Profit from a falling dollar without shorting?

The dollar is looking heavier than cement boots. How can you profit from the dollar’s weakness without shorting the dollar? A common way to make money in a floundering security without shorting is to find something that moves up when the floundering security moves down. Shorting, especially with ETFs, can be a dangerous proposition if [...]

Read the full article →

Playing the mining merger mania with ETFs

by Henry Becker 07.03.2009
Thumbnail image for Playing the mining merger mania with ETFs

Many of the metal commodities have been enjoying a nice rebound thanks to renewed faith that China will continue to snap up vast amounts of natural resources.  According to the Economist.com, another factor lately has been the merger deal making. In late June Xstrata and Anglo American proposed a merger.  If completed this would produce [...]

Read the full article →

Can emerging Asian economies shop the global economy back?

by Henry Becker 06.26.2009
Thumbnail image for Can emerging Asian economies shop the global economy back?

Many economists will have you believe that without the American buyer the world is in trouble.  Maybe.  There are more than a few wise economists that will tell you that instead of the engine of global growth the United States is the caboose.  There are some not so surprising statistics pointing to the back of [...]

Read the full article →

Railroads, bridges, airports and ETFs

by Henry Becker 06.20.2009
Thumbnail image for Railroads, bridges, airports and ETFs

Countries worldwide are dedicating vast amounts of money to infrastructure spending over the next five years and there are easy avenues to prosper from this spending with ETFs. A recent white paper by Eric J. Gerritsen on The Journal of Commerce Online provides a brilliant snap shot of the infrastructure boom that awaits. Eye Popping [...]

Read the full article →

Is Your Portfolio Spanning The Globe

by Henry Becker 06.16.2009
Thumbnail image for Is Your Portfolio Spanning The Globe

“Spanning the globe” was not just a saying from Jim McKay’s opening to ABC’s Wide World of Sports.  It is also what you should be doing when researching positions for your portfolio.  The U.S. still has plenty to offer an investor.   As for the rest of the world, well it should not be ignored or [...]

Read the full article →
Henry Becker on TwitterBecker Advisory on Facebook HenryBecker on youtube HenryBecker on linkedinOccams Planner RSS FeedSubscribe by Email