PowerShares Acting Responsibly; Closing 19 ETFs

Invesco PowerShares announced today that it plans to close 19 of its exchange traded funds (ETFs). The affected funds represent less than 1% of Invesco PowerShares’ total assets.

This type of action isn’t new to the ETF world as Claymore closed 11 ETFs last year representing less than 4% of their collective assets. Every ETF that comes to market, although well thought out, doesn’t always get traction. At one point the economics of keeping smaller funds open no longer makes sense.

I just got off the phone with Bruce Bond, president and CEO of Invesco PowerShares. “After carefully evaluating numerous factors including shareholder considerations, length of time on the market, asset levels and the potential for future growth, we proposed closing certain portfolios that have not gained sufficient acceptance with investors,” said Bond. “We remain fully committed to the ETF industry and expect to offer new, exciting products in the months ahead.”

As before, I’d expect the media to point to this event as a chink in the ETF industry’s armor. But the fact is, ETFs continue to show strength even during these trouble economic times and challenging market conditions. ETFs experienced $178 billion in net inflows in 2008 while conventional mutual funds had outflows in excess of $300 billion.

Bond expects the ETF industry to come out of this market and economic funk stronger than it was when it started. I look at this move by PowerShares as merely trimming the sails. With $4 trillion on the sideline, ETFs are poised to get more than their share of inflows when investor confidence comes back to the marketplace.

Here are the affected ETFs:

Name	Ticker Symbol
PowerShares Dynamic Aggressive Growth Portfolio	PGZ
PowerShares Dynamic Asia Pacific Portfolio	PUA
PowerShares Dynamic Deep Value Portfolio	PVM
PowerShares Dynamic Europe Portfolio	PEH
PowerShares Dynamic Hardware & Consumer Electronics Portfolio	PHW
PowerShares FTSE RAFI Asia Pacific ex-Japan Small-Mid Portfolio	PDQ
PowerShares FTSE RAFI Basic Materials Sector Portfolio	PRFM
PowerShares FTSE RAFI Consumer Goods Sector Portfolio	PRFG
PowerShares FTSE RAFI Consumer Services Sector Portfolio	PRFS
PowerShares FTSE RAFI Energy Sector Portfolio	PRFE
PowerShares FTSE RAFI Europe Small-Mid Portfolio	PWD
PowerShares FTSE RAFI Financials Sector Portfolio	PRFF
PowerShares FTSE RAFI Health Care Sector Portfolio	PRFH
PowerShares FTSE RAFI Industrials Sector Portfolio	PRFN
PowerShares FTSE RAFI International Real Estate Portfolio	PRY
PowerShares FTSE RAFI Telecommunications & Technology Sector Portfolio	PRFQ
PowerShares FTSE RAFI Utilities Sector Portfolio	PRFU
PowerShares High Growth Rate Dividend Achievers Portfolio	PHJ
PowerShares International Listed Private Equity Portfolio	PFP

In early May 2009, the Funds will begin the process of closing down and liquidating their respective portfolios. This process will cause each Fund’s holdings to deviate from the securities included in its underlying index and each Fund to increase its cash holdings, which may lead to increased tracking error. May 18th will be the final day of trading for the affected funds.

Shareholders may sell their holdings prior to May 19, 2009, and may incur typical transaction fees from their broker-dealer. Shareholders of record on the close of business on May 18, 2009 will receive cash equal to the amount of the net asset value of their shares as of May 22, 2009, which will include any capital gains and dividends, in the cash portion of their brokerage accounts

Disclosure None

The ETF Investing Toolbox: Top ETF Blogs, Newsletters and Tools by Miranda Marquit

One of the hottest investment trends is ETF investing. Exchange traded funds can be traded on the stock market like stocks, but they track index funds. ETFs bundle securities on an index, eschewing mutual funds. It is relatively easy to trade ETFs, and there are ETFs that track bond indexes, commodities and currencies. Because they track indexes, they are normally relatively low cost to trade since there are no load fees involved. ETFs can be incorporated into long-term investment portfolios, as well as used by day traders. If you are looking to learn more about ETF's, here are 50 blogs, newsletters and tools that can help you on your way.

ETF Information and Overview

Here are a number of ETF blogs and other article sources that offer insight into the world of ETFs. These include a number of useful articles aimed at beginners, as well as insights for more advanced traders.

1. Seeking Alpha "ETF Sector" provides a number of articles about exchange traded funds, ETF picks and news regarding the latest developments.

2. MorningStar's Exchange-Traded Funds section provides a number of tools for ETFs, including definitions, rankings, screenings and cost analyzers to help you figure out what will work best for you.

3. MarketWatch "ETF Investing" is written by John Spence, one of the MarketWatch columnists. It offers information about what is going on right now in the world of ETFs, providing information that can be used to help you make investing decisions right now.

4. About.com "Exchange Traded Funds" provides a number of helpful articles and news stories on ETFs, as well as links to resources related to exchange traded funds

5. The Motlety Fool "ETFs " has a number of informative articles on ETFs, as well as a handy "60-second guide."

ETF Blogs and Blog Posts

There are a number of blogs devoted to ETFs. And many investing blogs devote at least an article or two to ETFs. Here are some blogs and blog posts that can provide you with some commentary, news and analysis related to ETFs.

1. ETF Expert is a blog that offers daily commentary on ETFs, as well as a link to a radio show devoted to ETF investing.

2. The ETF Corner is a blog that specializes in technical analysis and ETF trading.

3. Rocket Science Investing is a blog that focuses mainly on ETFs, and includes investing news and ETF-specific news.

4. ETF Digest offers market comment in blog form, plus access to podcasts, and information on ETF hedge fund portfolios.

5. ETF Database has a library with articles particularly aimed at beginning ETF investors.

6. ETF Trends provides analysis, news and more regarding exchange traded funds.

7. My Wealth considers ETFs for the average investor.

ETF Newsletters

There are a number of newsletters put out periodically that cover ETF news, strategies and resources. You can usually have these newsletters directly delivered to your inbox in order to get fund news fresh every day. Many of these cost money, however, so consider carefully which you choose to subscribe to.

1. Forbes offers an ETF newsletter packed with the sort of information you would expect from one of the online leaders in investing information and analysis.

2. The ETF Review from Investors Intelligence is a weekly newsletter that offers fund picks, charts, trends and commentary.

3. ETF Investment Outlook is a newsletter that looks at advances and declines in ETFs, and provides insightful articles and information. Technical Talk and ETF Basics are highlights of this online newsletter.

4. ETF Investor Newsletter offers a look at news and information, as well as helpful ETF listings and personalized information aimed at your portfolio.

5. ETF Global Investor claims to help you find the best ETFs for your money.

6. ETF Expert provides a weekly newsletter that you can have delivered right to your inbox.

7. ETF Trading Signals is a newsletter focused on providing tips and signals on ETF news.

ETF Tools

There are many tools that you can use to improve your ETF investing strategy, or find ETFs that might fit into your portfolio.

1. Total Return Calculator from NYSE Amex allows you to enter purchase and sale information (including commission) to figure out total return on an ETF investment.

2. ETF Screener from NYSE Amex helps you screen prospective ETF investments, allowing you to choose a variety of parameters to help you choose the best ETF for you.

3. ETF Center from Schaeffers Reserch provides current quotes on ETF prices, most active ETFs and indicators for ETF trading.

4. ETF Desk helps you find ETFs, and develop strategies for them. It is an interactive online ETF community.

5. ETF Screen is a screener that lets you choose from a variety of views, as well as different sectors. There is also a performance comparison.

Miranda Marquit writes for Bankling, a new portal for personal finance information, which publishes a blog, and a resources section that contains tools like the best bank CD rates, the best savings account rates , online mortgage rate calculators and more.

This blog comes from the Etf Expert click here to view his site.

Dividend Increases - May 2, 2009

Finally, the log-jam has been broken. Last week several big-name, blue-chip companies increased their dividends in meaningful way. This is the type of week Dividend Investors look for. This week's dividend increases include:

• IBM (IBM) boosts qtr dividend 10%. Yield 2.11%
  
• Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) increased its qtr. dividend 2% to $0.43/share. Yield 3.54% (analysis)
• Donegal Group (DGICA) raised its qtr. dividend to $0.112/share. Yield: 3.07%
• Valmont Industries (VMI) ups its qtr. dividend 15.4% to $0.15/share, Yield: 0.95%
• Bemis (BMS) boosts qtr dividend to $0.225/share. Yield: 3.72%
• Costco Wholesale (COST) increased its qtr dividend to $0.18/share. Yield: 1.50%
• BOK Financial (BOKF) raised its qtr. dividend 6.7% to $0.24/share. Yield: 2.48%
• W.W. Grainger (GWW) ups its qtr. dividend 15% to $0.46/share. Yield: 2.22%
• Talisman Energy (TLM) boosts its semi-annual dividend 12.5% to $0.1125/share. Yield: 1.47%
• ExxonMobil (XOM) increased its qtr. dividend to $0.42/share. Yield: 2.45%
• UGI Corporation (UGI) raised its qtr dividend 4% to $0.20/share. Yield: 3.35%
• Safeway (SWY) ups qtr. dividend 21% to $0.10/share. Yield: 1.56%
• Occidental (OXY) boosts qtr. dividend 3.1% to $0.33/share. Yield: 2.23%

Hopefully, this is just the beginning and in the coming weeks we will continue to see more dividend increases. For more companies with a long string of consecutive dividend increases, see this list.

Full Disclosure: No position in the aforementioned securities.

This article was written by Dividends4Life. If you enjoyed this article, please vote for it by clicking the Buzz Up! button below.

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Chevron (CVX) Declares $0.65 Quarterly Dividend Forgoes Increase

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share, payable June 10, 2009, to holders of as of May 19, 2009. The ex-dividend date is May 15. Currently Yielding 3.89%

Disclosure I am long CVX shares

Marathon Oil Corporation Declares First Quarter 2009 Dividend

Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) announced that the Company's board of directors has declared a dividend of 24 cents per share on Marathon Oil Corporation common stock. The dividend is payable June 10, 2009, to stockholders of record on May 20, 2009. Currently Yielding 3.11%

Disclosure I am long MRO shares.

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) Approves $0.60 Per Share Quarterly Dividend

The board of directors of Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB - News) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 60 cents per share. The dividend is payable on July 2, 2009, to stockholders of record on June 5, 2009. Current annual dividend yield is 4.82%.

Disclosure I own KMB shares

Folio Additions Updates for the Week new picks

Hello a update on the weekend adjustments to my stock folios. First my Bond Folio I added 2 new etf's. HYD, Market Vectors High-Yield Municipal Index ETF. MBG,SPDR Barclays Capital Mortgage Backed Bond ETF. No other changes to the bond folio, currently up 2.99% YTD.

Commodities folio I will sell RJN,RJZ and PSAU. I have added MOO market vectors agribusiness Etf. My Commodities Folio is up 4.46% YTD.

Consumer Goods Folio added SJM smuckers. Gotta love that folgers coffee drink it daily, sure to add to sjm's bottom line. Seen a 181% increase in insider buying. Very low debt and just boosted its quarterly dividend to a lip smacking 0.35 cents a share from 0.32. I see book value at approx. 42.00 a share with a target price of 49.80. Has 3.05 of cash per share on hand and earnings growing next year, all around win in my book. Currently up 3.89% ytd in this folio.

Emerging/Foreign Etf folio is rocking in rolling. Leader is VWO up 24.28 YTD, and eem is up 21.49 YTD the entire 10 etf folio is up 9.56% YTD.

Financial Folio big shake up here Will sell UWBK and SAVB on monday. I added GS goldman sachs, BEP the S&P 500 covered call fund inc ETF. Also added PGF Powershars financial preferred ETF fund. RY royal bank of canada and MFC manulife life insureance of canada as well. This folio of 11 picks is up 4.54% YTD.

Healthcare folio 13 picks down .01% YTD, no changes. Added money.

Index Etf folio 11 picks Up 7.38% no changes. Added money.

Industrial Goods Folio 11 picks up 14.02% YTD, no changes added Money.

Oil N Gas Folio 13 picks up 8.43% YTD, no changes added money.

Railroad Folio 6 picks Up 11.04% YTD, no changes added money.

Reits Folio 11 picks up 1.60% YTD, no changes added money.

Services Folio 9 picks up 4.28% YTD, no changes added money.

Shipping folio 9 picks Will be selling GSL on monday and added TRMD, no going to spell name here no way. HAHAHA This folio is up 12.59% YTD. OSG is hitting it out of the park up 36378% YTD, and GMR 21.35%, NAT 18.43% YTD. Nice rebound in shipping sector.

Technology Folio 9 picks, added QQQX, sold 1/2 AMSWA for a nice 41.25% gain. Current folio is up 10.30% YTD. Tech is riding well for now.

Utilities Folio 10 picks, Added DUK duke energy. Debating on a sell of LNT but will hold it longer yet, sure watching it though. Folio is up 4.29% YTD.

Sector Etf's 16 picks Will sell IYM,XLB,ICF,IAI on monday. Currently up 5.01% YTD.

This is the rundown of what changes I made today for mondays Market open.
Total Current holdings as of this writing is 205 holdings up 6.10% YTD. The stocks i claim I will sell on monday will be moved to my buy no more folio there they will sit till they are profitable or have a good run then I will sell them and dispense the money back into the folio they came from. In order to stay diverse in all my folios. Thanks for your time and Hats off to another great week in the world of dividend investing. 31 dividends received and reinvested this week very nice bonus.

Till next post thanks for reading and following my fun in dividend investing.

Current Watchlist April 30th 2009

Pom, Pepco Holdings, Inc., Pepco Holdings, Inc. operates as a diversified energy company. It operates in two businesses, Power Delivery and Competitive Energy.

RTP, Rio Tinto plc.

Rio Tinto plc engages in mining and processing mineral resources. The company produces aluminum products, including bauxite, alumina, and aluminum; copper and diamonds, such as copper in concentrate, refined copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, magnetite, vermiculite, and diamonds; energy and mineral products that consist of coking and thermal coal, uranium, titanium dioxide, feedstock, borates, and talc; and iron ore products, including iron ore, pig iron, salt, and gypsum.

It also engages in the production and sale of cathode blocks, anodes, aluminum fluoride, and calcined coke; and provision of engineering services and sale of smelting equipment, as well as the sale of electricity. Rio Tinto plc has operations in North America; Europe; Japan, China, and other Asian countries; Australia; New Zealand; and internationally. The company was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Rio Tinto plc is a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group.

BG, Bunge Ltd. Bunge Limited engages in the agriculture and food business worldwide. It operates in three divisions: Agribusiness, Fertilizer, and Food Products. The Agribusiness division purchases, stores, transports, processes, and sells agricultural commodities, including grains and oilseeds, such as soybeans, rapeseed or canola, sunflower seeds, wheat, and corn; and commodity products. It sells its products to animal feed manufacturers, wheat and corn millers, and oilseed processors; livestock, poultry, and aquaculture producers; and edible oil processing companies. The Fertilizer division produces and supplies fertilizers to farmers. It engages in nutrients and retail operations, including mining and processing phosphate ore; and the production of intermediate phosphate-based products for sale to fertilizer blenders. This division's products include phosphate rock, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, single super phosphate, and dicalcium phosphate, and phosphate-based animal feed ingredients. It also produces, distributes, and sells blended NPK formulas and other fertilizer products directly to retailers, processing and trading companies, and farmers.

The Food Products division offers edible oil products and milling products for food processors, foodservice companies, and retail outlets. Its edible oil products include packaged and bulk oils, shortenings, margarines, mayonnaise, and other products derived from the vegetable oil refining process; and milling products comprise various wheat flours and bakery mixes, and corn-based products derived from the corn dry milling process consisting primarily of dry milled corn meal, flours, grits, soy-fortified corn meal, corn-soy blend, corn oil, and corn feed products. Bunge Limited was founded in 1818 and is headquartered in White Plains, New York.

Disclosure I don't own these stocks yet but watching them closely

Rogers International Commodities Elements ETN's added

Added international commodities to my commodities portfolio today. I added RJA,Rogers International Commodity Index - Agriculture Total Return. I added RJI,Rogers International Commodity Index - Total Return. Added RJN,Rogers International Commodity Index - Energy Total Return. Also added RJZ, Rogers International Commodity Index - Metals Total Return.

In bonds folio I picked up AGG, iShares Barclays Aggregate Bond Fund. Also added CFT, iShares Barclays Credit Bond Fund. No other changes in Bonds currently up 4.41% for the year in this folio.

No changes to Emerging/Forgien Etf's folio up currently 8.36% year to date.

No changes to Index Etf's folio up currently 10.23% year to date.

Disclosure I am long all Shares listed above

Recently Sold Items,Folio Changes, Dividends Collected

I been cleaning house and dumped, dsg,jkl,pagg,rwx,mxhp,dd,awf,pht,pet,pty.
As well made some changes added Commodities folio, Emerging/Forgien Etf's folio, Bond Folio, Index folio and Sector Etf's folio. Removed Powershares Etfs folio, Vanquard etf folio.

This should make it alot easier for me to keep track of specific sector's of intrest in my portfolio.I am in the process of weeding out some stocks as i wittle my holdings down lower, currently 205 holdings would like to get down to 150 for starts. Received Dividends from nly and ge.

Dicslosure I long NLY shares

Weekend Dividend Folio Recap 401K Week Ending 4-26-09

This week has been quite the hectic little week with all the earnings announcement, Dividend cuts. The new swine flu outbreak, Our tornado filled night last night. As well as the battle my wife is still having with cancer. Now she has to have the colonoscopy test done on may 7th and a camera down her throat to take pictures of he stomach. Then the gallbladder needs to be removed next she has gall stones. May have to pull the appendix to if its not right. As you read this please send a prayer out to my wife may she find the courage to win this battle and stand tall by our kids. My doctor put me on some new anxiety meds to hopefully help me work through this all.

Gets me to my point of this blog and investing in general. I love my wife with all my heart but I need to have a way to vent all my feeling and ramblings. I Jumped head first into investing in September 25 of 2008. My first purchase was COF, wow laughing out load, that was a waste of perfectly good money. Any how here I am today. Working at a medical place delivering/shipping cancer drugs to patients. Sorta Ironic when I think about it.

I started a 401k at Principal financial group, through my work I stash away just enough to me the company match when in my case is 6% they match 50% of the first 6% so that is all i put into it. Of which 1000% is going to my wife hint hint if you are reading this lol.

• 2% short term fixed income
• 4% fixed income
• 6% Balanced/Asset Allocation
• 42% Large U.S. Equity
• 26% Small/Mid U.S. Equity
• 18% International Equity
• 2% Employer Security

I lost 27.08% in the first year of the account. This year starts in 04/01/2009. Am up 8.04% for this month so far.

As for my personal trading account I first started with a ira then at the end of the year I got bombarded with all these k-1 stock mailings. So I switched my account over to a roth ira and using my broker folio showed me how to put a k-1 stock block on my account so I dont buy anymore of them K-1 stocks. Example would be tnh. Pays a great dividend by can not stand all the extra tax issues/exspense with the accountant.

So as of Janurary 1st of 2009 I jumped head first into my new roth ira. I have it broke down into 17 folios each folio is a basket of stocks that i like in that sector/folio. The folios are as follows.

1. Basic Materials.
   
2. Closed End Funds
3. Consumer Goods
4. Financial
5. Healthcare
6. Industrial goods
7. Commodities
8. Oil n Gas
9. Index Etf's
10. Railroads
11. Reits
12. Services
13. Shipping
14. Sector Etf's
15. Technology
16. Utilities
17. Emerging/Forgien Etf's
18. Bonds

So this will be the 17 folio's I would most typically be talking about on my blog when I post a blog I will sort it by the folio it belongs with. I typically hold around 10-15 holdings in each of the folios. Somewhere around 200 holdings at most times. I buy every single day the market is open, i buy $5.00 a day spread among the 10 best folios I pick for that day. Seems very little amount but it works out to a pretty good amount in time. I reinvest all the dividends back in the folio they were paid out of.

Currently holding 195 holdings. Up 5.21 percent right now year to date. Well this will get you are started I will be breaking down each folio sector with its holdings over the course of the next week. My goal is passive income I am in my mid 30's and relize most people will think I am nuts for wanting passive income since I am so young. But I love my money working for me and if anything every were to happen I could use the income instead of reinvesting.

I would classify myself as agressive but not scared to hold some income funds and bonds as well I like a solid mix of everything. Well enough for know feel free to comment if ya like.

Kellogg declares quarterly dividend of $0.34 per share, announces plan for 10% increase in dividend

Kellogg Company (NYSE:K - Quote) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of $.34 per share on the common stock of the Company, payable on June 16, 2009, to share owners of record at the close of business on June 1, 2009. The ex-dividend date is May 28, 2009. This is the 338th consecutive quarter that Kellogg Company has paid a dividend to owners of common stock since 1925.

In addition, the company's Board of Directors announced plans to increase the quarterly dividend by approximately 10% to $0.375 per share beginning with the third quarter of 2009.

The Company's brands include Kellogg's(r), Keebler(r), Pop-Tarts(r), Eggo(r), Cheez-It(r), All-Bran(r), Mini-Wheats(r) Nutri-Grain(r), Rice Krispies(r), Special K(r), Chips Deluxe(r), Famous Amos(r), Sandies(r), Carr's(r), Bear Naked(r), Kashi(r), Morningstar Farm(r), Gardenburger(r) and Stretch Island(r). Kellogg products are manufactured in 19 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries. For more information, visit http://www.kelloggcompany.com.

Disclosure I am long K shares.

Arch Coal's 1Q profits tumble; issues Sour outlook, Declares $0.09 cent dividend

Arch Coal(ACI) profits fell more than 60 percent in the first quarter with power demand from steelmakers and other manufacturers evaporating. The company warned Friday of a potentially "ugly, ugly year" and released guidance well below Wall Street expectations.

"We believe our outlook presents a sober view of this perfect storm," said Leer, warning that "this recession is going to be deeper and perhaps longer than any we've experienced in the last 20 or 30 years."

Arch Coal Inc., which in January withheld its full-year earnings guidance, said it now expects to earn 20 to 60 cents per share this year -- a forecast Dahlman Rose & Co. analyst Daniel Scott cast as "particularly troubling." Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters were expecting $1.67 per share.

Last year, Arch earned $2.45 per share.

Shares of Arch tumbled $1.32, or 8.9 percent, to close at $13.59 as analysts rethought earlier forecasts.

ACI declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable June 15, 2009 to shareholders of record on June 1, 2009. In order to receive the dividend, investors must own the stock at least one day prior to the ex-dividend date of May 28.

With shares of ACI closing at $13.59 today, the dividend yields 2.65%.

Disclosure I am long ACI shares.

Olin(oln) declares regualr Quarterly Dividend $0.20 cents per share

Olin Corp(OLN) has approved it regular quarterly dividend of $0.20 cents per share. The dividend is payable June 10,2009 to holders of record at the close of business on the May 11,2009. Oln is yielding approx. 5.90%.

This will be there 330th consective quarterly dividend paid.

Olin Corporation is a manufacturer concentrated in two business segments: Chlor Alkali Products and Winchester. Chlor Alkali Products manufactures chlorine and caustic soda, sodium hydrosulfite, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, potassium hydroxide and bleach products. Winchester products include sporting ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges.

Disclosure I am long OLN shares.