Replies to post #219 on ETFs, Leveraged ETFs, Sector Funds

[stiv]

I think Excel is a great tool for the type of ideas we have bounced back and forth.

I rely heavily on the AnalyzerXL add-in that I started working with years ago. They have a suite of products (each at a cost). But I rely only use the BulkQuotesXL Pro but it is $75

http://www.analyzerxl.com/products/data-download-tools/bulkquotesxl-pro

It allows you to set up multiple symbol portfolios and then update at anytime with a single click. I use two files in Excel on a weekly basis. One to keep and update the raw data and one to do the sorting. The sorting file I have created some simple macros to sort at different time frames.

I would call myself an above average Excel user, but in no way an advanced user.

There is a highly active yahoo group for the smf-addin. This addin does essentially the same function but it really takes up a lot more time to learn and to keep up with updates. The users love it. Randy Harmelink is the moderator.

Too much time for me so I stay with AnalyzerXL.

Also beware of changes that happened with Yahoo quotes servers a couple of months ago. It threw EVERYBODY off of center. Everyone from Analyzer XL to the smf-addin group was down. AnalyzerXL for almost two months. Randy found a workaround in two or three weeks. All seems stable again. Just be careful of any downloader sites that isn't dated within the last month or so.

Here's one of the Sector Surfer play portfolios that I set up to watch as of last Friday. It's got a history of 34% over three years, 25% over 10 years and 23% over 29 years. But not very safe and a 49% MDD (ouch). Just playing...

[stiv]

Over the long holiday period I have also been shaping my portfolio to incorporate more active sector performance management.

I closed my SP500 index fund FUSEX at a +4.5% and also my precious metals VGMPX at -1.8%.

I currently hold FSPHX (Healthcare), FRESX (Real Estate) and added a first lot of FLBAX (10 year treasury bond fund) two weeks ago (bad timing)

I am looking to add a second bite of FLBAX today being at the lower end of a channel.



For some reason the active link doesn't seem to work so img...




Another interesting tool that StockCharts just added is a seasonality view in their free charts section.




Treasury funds are a bit of a contrarian play at this point as it is perhaps something of a rising yield environment, but I think the channel may hold a slow build back after the Dec, Mar double bottoms. I look at the IEF 7 - 10 year ETF for an intraday view. Will see how it develops...