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Nuclear Power ETF Launches

nuclearpowerplant.jpgThere has been tremendous interest in a nuclear/uranium focused ETF and now the wait is over.  Van Eck Global launched The Market Vectors Nuclear Energy ETF (NLR) on Wednesday and is trading on the Amex.  With opening liquidy around 80K shares already, it’s proving its popularity.  The ETF seeks to replicate the performance of the DAXGlobal Nuclear Energy Index, a basket of 38 nuclear related stocks maintained by Deutsche Borse.  About half of the index will be comprised of uranium mining and exploration companies while nuclear plant builders will make up about 32% of the index.  Nuclear power is already a major source of power in European countries and is expected to be an increasingly important source of energy in the coming decades here in the US.  The stock is currently about 10% off its opening price of 38.25.  

ETF Top 10 Gainers & Losers

Last Week’s ETF Winners & Losers – it looks to me like other than financials, no other industry really participated in the end of week bounce.  You also did well if you were leveraging short.

1. KBW Regional Banking (KRE) 6.33%
2. KBW Banking (KBE) 4.60%
3. HLDRS Regional Banks (RKH) 4.50%
4. ProShares UltraShort QQQQ ETF (QID) 3.92%
5. SPDR Financials (XLF) 3.45%
6. ProShares UltraShort MidCap (MZZ) 3.25%
7. PowerShares High Yield Equity Dividend (PEY) 3.15%
8. KBW Insurance (KIE) 2.60%
9. Proshares UltraShort Dow (DXD) 2.25%
10. ProShares UltraShort Oil & Gas (DUG) 2.00%

So much for the safe haven of gold when the market turns south – it was one of the hardest hit sectors.  Some of the stalwart countries like Brazil and Australia are breaking down but big declines can also create opportunity.  I’m liking the pullback in the clean energy funds like PBD and PBW and see it as an opportunity to add to long term positions.  Same goes for the Powershares Water ETF (PHO) which has also been hit hard.

1. Asa Gold (ASA) -11.89%
2. Latin America Discovery Fund (LDF) -11.77%
3. Market Vectors Gold Miners (GDX) -11.62%
4. Turkish Investment Fund (TKF) -10.95%
5. Ishares Brazil (EWZ) -10.79%
6. Malaysia Fund (MAY) -10.09%
7. Indonesia Fund (IF) -9.83%
8. PowerShares Global Clean Energy (PBD) -9.23
9. Ishares Home Construction (ITB) -9.01%
10. Ishares Australia (EWA) -8.85%