Buy Hold Sell Buy and Hold to buy or not to buy

Hello all,

Just here with the daily wrap, life is going on as is the case each day. I am having a most difficult time trying to figure out my strategy I thought by now I would be much better off. I currently have 18 folios(sectors) of stocks each containing at least 7 stocks/etf's in each folio. For a current total holdings of 233, with 30 stocks on the axe block meaning when they are close to profit or a strong day they are gone. My 233 holdings are up 7.8% as of this writing.

I some winners up 55.00 % and bunch in the 30% range and 20,10% ranges too. I planned to use buy and hold style to collect dividends. So I just sit back and watch , I keep fighting myself saying i should have no more than 100 holdings tops, heck maybe only 50. So I try to ween the holdings down over the weekend. Ever so hard i can get down to 175 then i get stuck as I see value in these other stocks and don't want to get rid of them.




I hear buy and hold is dead, never make money like that. I am 34 years old, used to blow all the money at tourneys and casinos, So if when the smoke clears i have nothing so be it. I get down to 175 holdings then i find through the next week many more stocks undervalued or attractive. Don't ask me why I find them attractive I could not tell you yet. Cash on hand, low pe, no debt, low payout ratio. Hundreds of things i look out for, however, none of my stocks have all the areas i look at.

I am diversified to the max forex, commodities, oil, gas, reits almost everything but options. Which I am not interested in at this time. I quess you must push and pull till you find your happy medium. 200 holdings for some may be hard to keep a eye on but for me it seems to be were I need to be know. I spend approx. 6-10 hours each day researching, reading, watching, listening or discussing my opinion's. Almost like a drug cant seem to get enough. HA!HA!HA! but it is so true.

So here I am just broke 4,000 in 401k since sept 08, and 2637 in roth since jan. 1st this year. Still trying to find my strategy style,. I know i like dividends, I like etf's, I like some risk, as well as some small companies (heck i work for a small cap(PSSI). I have bought each and every single day the market is open, no matter what i buy something, or sell something.

So my goals/plan for the next month is to try to define a more definite strategy to weed out some of my listings as I try to move down to a much smaller group of holdings to work with. I have small capital now so to make it grow I should have fewer stocks correct? Although I love the big basket picture too. So goes another day in the world of investing. Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts rambled misspelled and thrown up on the blog.

Thanks Dividend Basket

Forex Etfs Added new Folio

Hello all been a nice long weekend not much happening here. Sorta took a vacation from my computer and all these ho hum for a few days to let the brain relax, or at least give it time to catch up. Now working on day 6 NOT SMOKING, geez be nice to kick that monkey off my back.

I set up a forex/currency folio this week. Time to place some funds in other countries currency. Now that commodities are taking off many of the other forex plays will be stronger and I need the diversification. Picked out 12 decent plays in this folio. Not going to give them all away now till my buy order goes in this morning.

I had 3 sells for this morning, I sold APD, KALU and MFC. Sold for a combined 21.34% profit on all 3.

I added 2 New picks to my reits folio, IYR and RWX. Added Home Depot (HD) in my services folio. Needed some pipes for the washing machine and couldn't believe the amount of people planting gardens and do things to their house either to sell it , fix it up, or save money growing garden. They all lead me to readded HD, which we did sell in the past for a profit, regardless we are running it again. I also added smg to my watch list for the same reason.

With all the talk around blackrock potentially buying Ishares, I started a small postion in BLK, and also added IAI to my financial folio, IAI has all the other broker dealers, GS,CME, MS, and so on.

Added CTL to my technology folio they should be closing on Embarq soon. Which should give them some amazing earnings growth. CTL pays a 9.52% dividend, trading at .93 on price to book, less then book price.

In my index funds I added QAI, IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF. This is my play on the hedge fund sector or as close as I can get from a retirement account. With a expense ratio of .75 its a tad bit high but nothing compared to mutual funds. This etf will go long and short with other etfs. According to IQ website:

The Fund seeks investment results that correspond before fees and expenses generally to the price and yield performance of the IQ Hedge Multi Strategy Index. The Fund is a fund of funds as it invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in the investments included in its Underlying Index, which includes underlying funds.

Biggest changes in Basic Material folio Where we added coal back into the mix, Both ACI, and KOL the etf. Also added 2 other etfs the I shares basic materials(IYM) and MXI the global one.

In my emerging markets folio I added 4 new plays. EWG germany, EWS singapore, EWN Netherlands, and EWY south Korea. Some areas I seem to think there will be growth.

Disclosure I am long ewg,ewy,ews,ewn,aci,kol,iym,mxi,qai,ctl, blk,iai,iyr,rwx,hd,

This is not a reccomendation to buy any of these stock without doing your own homework. I am not a licensed broker and only have a few months of trading under my belt, however, profitable they have been still do your own research.

Thanks Dividend Basket

Coal, Infrastructure, Added Bank Folio , added Shipping Picks and Duh stopped smoking again

Hello ev1 hope all is having a good day. My nerves are shot I have started to stop smoking again this is Officially day #2 yahoo!! Any way I will do the best I can and will beat this monkey off my back soon I know I can do this with everyone's help. So enough about me on with my recent changes in to my holdings.

I picked up 2 coal stocks ACI, arch coal and picked up the etf KOL from Market Vectors added to my basic material folio. In my shipping folio I added TNK, DHT, and HRZ sold trmd.

Added PXR (PowerShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure Portfolio )to my emerging markets folio.

Sold MCD mcdonalds for 15.2% profit let it go. Have not found a service stock to replace mcd in my services folio yet.

I then took all my sector etfs and split them up into their own folios. Started a Bank Folio, containing approx. 13 picks.

Seems I am out of time for today off to take the wife to the doctor and then to work so have a good day all and thanks for reading my blog.

Top 50 Buy and Hold Investing Blogs By ETF Database

Very proud to see my blog getting around the investor world. Just click the title to view the article wrote by the fine guys over at ETF Database, etfdb.com. I am very happy that my dividend news is getting out and helping some people. Be sure to spread the word and get my blog passed around. I am here to help all that I can, as I can only learn what I try. Your comments or suggestions are always welcome on my site. Again thanks for viewing my Blog and don't forget to visit our new Dividend Basket book/ electronics shop.

Small plug from article be sure to click title to view the whole article some very nice investing research sites.

"When it comes to investing, there is still a solid core of gurus and bloggers that maintain that buy and hold is the way to go. Indeed, even as some pundits declare buy and hold dead, there are those who maintain themselves as buy and hold, or at least long term, investors. For the average Joe investor, long term can be a good idea. It allows you to make long term gains that are often more than enough to beat inflation and provide you with income in your later years. Here are 50 blogs and blog posts that can help you develop a long term investing plan:"


Again thanks.

Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (CRT) Declares May 12 cent Cash Distribution

U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, as Trustee of the Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (NYSE: CRT), today declared a cash distribution to the holders of its units
of beneficial interest of $0.124749 per unit, payable on June 12, 2009, to unitholders of record on May 29, 2009. The following table shows underlying oil and gas sales and average prices attributable to the current month and prior month distributions.

XTO Energy Inc. (XTO Energy) has advised the trustee that increased oil prices for March production led to the partial recovery of excess costs on properties underlying the Texas and Oklahoma Working Interests. However, there were not enough proceeds from the properties underlying the Texas and Oklahoma Working Interests to be included in this month's distribution.

Disclosure I am long Shares of CRT in my Oil and Gas Folio, I do not OWN xto shares at this time. I will be selling CRT shares this afternoon into this rally, purchased around $16.00 and will sell at $22.50.

Update just got stopped out at $22.50 on CRT.

Permian Basin Royalty Trust (PBT)Announces May Cash Distribution

U.S. Trust, as Trustee of the Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: PBT), today declared a cash distribution to the holders of its units of beneficial interest of $.050173 per unit,
payable on June 12, 2009, to unit holders of record on May 29, 2009.

This month's distribution increased due primarily to higher oil prices and increased production due to market demand. This would primarily reflect production for the month of March.

The worldwide market conditions continue to affect the pricing for domestic production. It is difficult to predict what effect these conditions will have on future distributions.

Disclosure I am long PBT shares in my Oil and Gas folio.

American Software's (AMSWA) Board Approves the Quarterly 9 cent Cash Dividend

American Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMSWA) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved the Company's quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share. The Company's regular
quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share of American Software common stock is payable on September 25, 2009 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 21, 2009.

In other News :

ATLANTA (Mau 15, 2009) American Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMSWA) announced today that it has agreed to increase the price of its offer to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Logility, Inc. (NASDAQ: LGTY) not currently owned by American Software to $7.02 per share net to the seller in cash, without interest. The $7.02 offer price represents a premium of 40.4% when compared to the closing price on March 18, 2009 (the last trading day prior to the initial announcement of the tender offer) and a 37.6% premium over American Software’s original proposal of $5.10, which was also the closing price on May 14, 2009. The tender offer is expected to commence as soon as reasonably practicable. American Software currently owns approximately 88% of the outstanding common stock of Logility.

Disclosure I am long AMSWA Shares in my technology folio

Safe Bulkers, Inc. (SB) Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.15 per Share

Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE:SB - Quote), an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share for the first quarter of 2009.

The Company today declared a cash dividend on its common stock of $0.15 per common share payable on or about May 29, 2009 to shareholders of record at the close of trading of the Company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on May 22, 2009. The Company has 54,508,907 shares of common stock outstanding as of today.

This is the fourth consecutive cash dividend the Company has declared since its initial public offering on May 28, 2008. The dividend for the first quarter of 2009 was maintained at the same level as that for the previous quarter.

The Board is continuing a policy to pay out a portion of the Company's free cash flow at a level it considers prudent in light of the current economic and financial environment. The declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will always be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company, and will depend on, among other things, the Company's earnings, financial condition and cash requirements and availability, the Company's ability to obtain debt and equity financing on acceptable terms as contemplated by the Company's growth strategy, the restrictive covenants in the Company's existing and future debt instruments and global economic conditions.

Disclosure I am long SB shares in my shipping Folio

Union Pacific Corporation(UNP) Declares Quarterly Dividend of 27 Cents a Share

The Board of Directors of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP - Quote) has declared a quarterly dividend of 27 cents per share on its common stock, payable July 1, 2009 to stockholders of record May 29, 2009.

Union Pacific has paid dividends on its common stock for 110 consecutive years.

Union Pacific operates the largest railroad in North America, covering 23 states in the western 2/3rds of the country. The ex-dividend date is may 27th, you must on the stock one day prior to ex-dividend date to receive the dividend.

In other UNP news :

Union Pacific Railroad plans to spend $15 million on track improvements to its line from St. Louis to Poplar Bluff, Mo.

When the project is complete, crews will have removed and installed 90,000 ties, spread 28,000 tons of rock ballast to ensure a stable roadbed, renewed the road surfaces at 60 crossings and nearly three miles of rail in various curves, Union Pacific said Tuesday. Crews replaced the crossing surfaces January through April.

The tie replacement project began April 25 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of July.

Disclosure I am long UNP shares in my Railroad Folio.

Sysco(SYY) Declares 158th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend

Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY - Quote) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share, payable on July 24, 2009, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on July 2, 2009.

The ex-dividend date is June 30. The date you must own the share to collect this dividend.

With record sales of $37.5 billion, a 7.1% increase and record net earnings on $1.1 billion, a 13.1% increase (FY08), Sysco continues to be the global leader in the foodservice industry.

Sysco expected to earn 1.80 a share next year EPS, putting a fair P/E of 13.00, makes it a great buy at 23.40, however Sysco has $1.52 a share in cash as well. I placed my target at $28.00, as I do believe that they should be able to easily obtain the 1.80EPS they are aiming for. We are for sure not going to stop eating today, tommorow and anytime in the future.

Disclosure I am long shares of SYY in my Services Folio.

Double Hull Tankers(DHT) misses by $0.03, reports revs in-line Declares .25 Cent Dividend

Double Hull Tankers (DHT-Quote) Reports Q1 (Mar) earnings of $0.26 per share, excluding non-cash expenses, $0.03 worse than the First Call consensus of $0.29; revenues rose 19.8% year/year to $29.8 mln vs the $29.6 mln consensus.

The Board of Directors of DHT has decided to pay a dividend of $0.25 per share for the first quarter 2009. The dividend will be paid on June 16, 2009 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 3, 2009.

About DHT

On 18 October 2005, DHT Maritime, Inc. (formerly Double Hull Tankers, Inc.) (NYSE: DHT) commenced operations as an independent tanker company. The Company acquired seven double hull crude oil tankers from Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG), a market leader in global energy transportation services with a fleet of more than 100 crude tankers and petroleum product carriers. In December 2007 and January 2008, DHT took delivery of two Suezmax tankers. DHT's modern fleet consists of three Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), two Suezmax tankers and four Aframax tankers.

The seven vessels acquired from OSG in 2005 were chartered to OSG on October 18 2005 for periods ranging from five to six and one-half years. OSG has options to extend the charters for an additional five to eight years depending on vessel. In return, DHT receives a base charter hire and expects, through a profit sharing agreement, to benefit from earnings over and above the base charter hire rates. The vessels are operated in the largest commercial tanker pools in their segments: Tankers International and Aframax International, respectively. The vessels are technically operated (crewing, maintenance, repairs, drydockings etc.) by a subsidiary of OSG at fixed cost to DHT. The two Suezmax tankers are on seven and ten year bareboat charters to OSG.

On Janaury 4, 2008, DHT announced a dividend policy of a fixed quarterly dividend of $0.25 per common share. DHT intends to pursue a strategy of providing shareholders with a stable and visible distribution and also position the Company to use its incremental cash flow to fund future growth opportunities.

Disclosure I am long DHT shares, in my shipping Folio.

Illinois Tool Works reiterates 2Q profit forecast

Illinois Tool Works Inc. backed its second-quarter guidance Friday, saying its total revenue should grow 5% to 11% when compared to the prior quarter. The Glenview, Ill., manufacturer expects earnings from continuing operations to be in the range of 25 cents to 37 cents a share. For the three months ended April 30, Illinois Tool Works said operating revenue fell 25%. Base revenues appear to be stabilizing, the company said. Shares of Illinois Tool Works fell 1.3% in premarket trading to $33.09.

Disclosure I am long ITW shares.

Dividend Stock analysis of China Mobile(CHL) adr emerging stock

Ok my analysis of China Mobile Limited (CHL), This is a emerging market place on wireless mobile phones. Based in Hong Kong, more than 160 million phones were sold in China in 2008! China mobile has a 75% market share in China. Currently has 470 million subscribers, 50 larger than the entire US population. Where is the buy button, ha ha ha.

Currently traded at just a tad over 11 times earnings. Has $7.86 cash on hand per share., pays a twice a year dividend of 3.93%, and growing at a alarming pace with the dividends per year. Expected to increase sales by 5% even in these times. Carry's next to nothing in debt. Insiders own 75.25% of current 4.01 billion shares. Leaving less than 1 billion share to purchase on open market, that in itself could be considered a premium.

I have set a fair target price with earnings of $4.06 per share with a fair 15 P/E comes to a target price of $60.90 per share. Closed Friday night at %46.06. Now if you add the cash that drops the P/E way down to 4 to 5 range which makes this stock a steal. This is a technology play with a emerging market twist.

Disclosure I will be going long on Chl shares Monday order is in.

Thanks Dividend Basket

Buy and Hold is Dead? 401k? Roth Ira? Cool so what we do now?

Hello i cant help but, get mad when I see buy and hold is dead, gone a waste of time. Anyway you get my picture. So what is a 401k then why we need it if buy and hold is dead. Why would they allow roth ira accounts to grow tax free for life. You sure not going to trade everything every single day. No way you could make money like that.

I am 34 and I play the buy and hold game in my 401k , simply cause that is what the 401k is supposed to be. My company matchs 50% of the first 6 percent I put in, so I put in 6 percent. I buy what i want of what is there maybe 12 funds in all, personally really only like maybe 2 of them. Want a commodity fund so on and so on. Point is that i am forced to buy and hold.

I have a roth ira too, I put 6% percent in myself. I have 17 folios with approx. 10 picks per folio, either stocks, etfs, or closed ended funds. Personally picked by me As my buy and hold stocks. Plan to hold them for at least 5 years. You will hear me talk about my different folios, I own and will post articles and comments on the stocks in the folio's I have put together. This is in no way a recommendtion to buy these stocks without you personally doing your own research. This is where my money is and what I do.

I also have a traders folio, which based on this new market violity, I pick stocks to buy and play merely for a quick buck or two. Pinch 5 or 10 percent of the top here and there. This is my scalpers, trend pickers and all assorted other styles I am expermineting with. I am not sure what to do with these traders but I am slowly posting a profit from this folio, approx 5.6% so far. I will not play the inverse etf's, as I believe they are just not built right. Can't be that dumb with my money.

I still buy at least $5.00 per day spread between my 17 buy and hold folios. I reinvest all dividends daily. In my 17 buy and hold folios. They are all dividend paying holdings, typically I like 4 to 10 % dividend range. If a company cuts its dividend I look over holding, in most cases it is moved to my traders folio and held for a good profit release point. I typically target at least 5% profit on short term trade. Just what ever feels good, since in roth there is no taxes.

I am new want investing want to build a investment style I feel comfortable with. So feel free to follow me and one of the many ways you can be sure to comment on these articles. I work full time and have kids so I only blog when I can. Enjoy the ability to share my experience so that it may help all the Self Directed investor's out there. Thanks

CME Group Inc. Declares Quarterly Dividend

CME Group, the world's largest and most diverse derivatives exchange, today declared a
second-quarter dividend of $1.15 per share, payable June 25, 2009, to shareholders of record June 10, 2009.

CME Group (http://www.cmegroup.com) is the world's largest and most diverse
derivatives exchange. Building on the heritage of CME, CBOT and NYMEX, CME
Group serves the risk management needs of customers around the globe. As an
international marketplace, CME Group brings buyers and sellers together on
the CME Globex electronic trading platform and on trading floors in Chicago
and New York.

By acting as the buyer to every seller and the seller to
every buyer, CME Clearing virtually eliminates counterparty credit risk.
CME Clearing also offers financial safeguards to help mitigate systemic
risk, providing the security and confidence market participants need to
operate, invest and grow.

CME Group offers the widest range of benchmarkproducts available across all major asset classes, including futures and options based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, and alternative investment products such as weather and real estate.

CME Group is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "CME."

Disclosure : None

Molson Coors Announces 20% Quarterly Dividend Increase

Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE: TAP) announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a 20% increase in the quarterly dividend rate on its Class A and Class B common shares from US$0.20 per share to US$0.24 per share, payable June 15, 2009, to shareholders of record on May 29, 2009. The quarterly dividend increase raises the annual dividend rate from US$0.80 per share to US$0.96 per share.

Molson Coors Brewing Company, through its subsidiaries, brews, markets, sells, and distributes beer and other beverages. It offers its products under the Coors Light, Canadian, Molson Dry, Export, Creemore, Rickard's Red and other Rickard's brands, Carling, and Pilsner brand names in Canada; the Coors Light and Miller Lite, Coors Banquet, Miller Genuine Draft, MGD 64, Miller Chill, Sparks, Miller High Life, Keystone Light, Icehouse, Mickey's, Milwaukee's Best Light, Old English 800, Blue Moon brands, Henry Weinhard's, George Killian's Irish Red, the Leinenkugel's brands, the Molson brands, Foster's, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell, Coors Non-Alcoholic, and Sharp's brand names in the United States; and the Carling, C2, Coors Light, Worthington's, Caffrey's, Kasteel Cru, as well as Grolsch brand names in the United Kingdom.

The company also brews or distributes Amstel Light, Heineken and Murphy's, Asahi and Asahi Select, Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft, Milwaukee's Best, Milwaukee's Best Dry, Foster's, and Tiger brands under license. Molson Coors distributes its products through a three-tier system consisting of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in the United States, as well as through a two-tier system consisting of manufacturers and retailers in the United Kingdom.

It has a joint venture with Grupo Modelo, S.A.B. de C.V. to import, distribute, and market the Modelo beer brand portfolio, including the Corona, Coronita, Negra Modelo, and Pacifico brands in Canada; and with Royal Grolsch N.V. to market Grolsch branded beer in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The company was formerly known as Adolph Coors Company and changed its name to Molson Coors Brewing Company in February 2005. Molson Coors was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Disclosure None

Realty Income Declares 467th Consecutive Common Stock Monthly Dividend

Realty Income Corporation (Realty Income), The Monthly Dividend Company®, (NYSE:O - News) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a common stock dividend of $0.1420625 per share, payable on June 15, 2009 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2009. The dividend represents an annualized amount of $1.70475 per share.

We have been paying monthly distributions throughout our 40-year operating history. Since becoming a public company and being listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1994, we have regularly increased the amount of the dividend. Currently the annualized dividend rate is $1.70475 per share.

Disclosure I am long shares of "O".

The Cushing MLP Total Return Fund Announces Quarterly Dividend

The Cushing MLP Total ReturnFund (NYSE: SRV) declared its quarterly dividend of $0.225 per common share for the quarter ending May 31, 2009. The dividend will be payable on June
10, 2009 to shareholders of record on May 29, 2009. The ex-date for thedividend is May 27, 2009.

The investment objective of the Fund is to obtain a high after tax total return from a combination of capital appreciation and current income. The Fund intends to focus its investments in Master Limited Partnerships with operations in the development, production, processing, refining, transportation, storage and marketing of natural resources. The Fund may generally seek to invest in 20 to 30 issuers with generally not more than 10 percent of Managed Assets in any one issue.

Currently trading at a 27.62% premium to nav. Charges a horrible 2.56% expense ration, and a 15.99% dividend.

Disclosure: None

Assurant Raises Quarterly Dividend from $.14 to $.15 per Common Share

Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), a premier provider of specialty insurance and
insurance-related products and services, today announced that its board of
directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.15 per share of common stock.
This represents a seven percent increase above the quarterly dividend of
$.14 per share, declared on Jan. 23, 2009. The dividend will be payable on
June 9, 2009 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May
26, 2009.

About Assurant

Assurant's businesses provide a unique variety of products and services that assure opportunity, security and peace of mind for our customers. We provide creditor-placed homeowners insurance; manufactured housing homeowners insurance; debt protection administration; credit insurance; warranties and extended services contracts; individual health and small employer group health insurance; group dental insurance; group disability insurance; group life insurance; and pre-funded funeral insurance. Assurant's strategy is to manage a select portfolio of specialty businesses that are leaders in their markets.

Assurant's U.S. headquarters office, located in New York's financial district, provides strategic management and key resources for its U.S. operating companies, including asset management, employee benefits, tax, accounting, legal and communications. Assurant also has offices in Syracuse, New York; West Des Moines, Iowa; and in Woodbury, Minnesota; which provide service support for its operating companies in such areas as information technology, financial and human resources systems management, and New York State policy administration.

Disclosure:None

Old Republic Announces Regular Second Quarter Dividend of 17 Cents

Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE: ORI) announced today that its Board of Directors approved the payment of the regular quarterly cash dividend of 17 cents per
common share. The dividend is payable on June 15, 2009 to shareholders of
record on June 5, 2009.

Old Republic traces its beginnings to 1923, although several acquired subsidiaries began operations much earlier. The Company is one of America's 50 largest shareholder-owned insurance businesses. Its subsidiaries market, underwrite, and provide risk management services for a wide variety of coverages, predominantly in the general (property and liability), mortgage guaranty, and title insurance fields. The Company is primarily a commercial lines underwriter serving the insurance needs of a large number of organizations, including many of America's leading industrial and financial services institutions.

Disclosure : None

Tyson Foods, Inc. Announces Quarterly Dividend

The Board of Directors of Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), at a meeting on May 8, 2009, declared the quarterly dividend of $.04 per share on Class A common stock and $.036 per share on Class B common stock, payable on September 15, 2009 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 1, 2009.

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world's largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The Company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 90 countries.

The company has approximately 107,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The Company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.


Disclosure None

Huntsman Announces Second Quarter 2009 Common Dividend

Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) today announced that the company's board of
directors has declared a $0.10 per share cash dividend on its common stock. The dividend is payable on June 30, 2009, to stockholders of record as of June 15, 2009.

Huntsman is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals. Its operating companies manufacture products for a variety of global industries, including chemicals, plastics, automotive, aviation, textiles, footwear, paints and coatings, construction, technology, agriculture, health care, detergent, personal care, furniture, appliances and packaging.

Originally known for pioneering innovations in packaging and, later, for rapid and integrated growth in petrochemicals, Huntsman today has more than 12,000 employees and operates from multiple locations worldwide. The company had 2008 revenues exceeding US $10 billion.

Disclosure None

Curtiss-Wright Declares Dividend of $0.08 Per Share for Common Stock

Martin R. Benante,Chairman and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW), announced today that on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, the Board of Directors declared a dividend
of eight cents ($0.08) per share for Common Stock, payable July 16, 2009 to
stockholders of record as of July 2, 2009.

Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) has a long history with its roots dating back to the Wright brothers' first flight in 1903. We have continued on the path of innovation and advanced engineering, and have applied that expertise to a number of critical applications in high-performance markets. Our success has resulted in a world-renowned reputation for performance, long-standing customer relationships and significant growth and profitability in the markets in which we compete.

Today, we are a diversified, multinational provider of highly engineered, technologically advanced products and services. We operate through three segments: Motion Control, Flow Control and Metal Treatment, which support several of the largest, most vital industries in the world, including defense, commercial aerospace and energy. We have been a publicly traded company for more than 75 years and our highly engineered, innovative products are recognized for their advanced technology and unsurpassed reliability.

We have achieved balanced growth through the successful application of our core competencies in engineering and precision manufacturing, while adapting these competencies to new markets through internal product development and a disciplined program of strategic acquisitions. Our overall strategy is to be a globally competitive company with established market leadership in profitable, niche markets.

Disclosure None

Vulcan (VMC) Declares Quarterly Dividend on Common Shares

The Board of Directors of Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC - News) at a regular meeting held today declared a quarterly dividend of 49 cents per share on its common stock payable June 10, 2009, to shareholders of record May 26, 2009.

Vulcan Materials Company, based in Birmingham, Alabama, provides infrastructure materials that are required by the American economy. Vulcan is the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates, a major producer of other construction materials including asphalt and ready-mixed concrete and a leading producer of cement in Florida.

Vulcan produces aggregates, primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel, that are used in nearly all forms of construction. In particular, large quantities of aggregates are used to build roads and nonresidential properties.

Disclosure None

SL Green Realty Cuts Dividend more than 60%, Shares Fall

The company announced that it cut its quarterly dividend to 10 cents a share, or 40 cents on an annual basis, from 37.5 cents a share, or $1.50 a year, following the completion of the public offering of its common stock.

The news sent shares falling 5% in after-market trading to $22.02.

SL Green Realty Corp. is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT, that predominantly acquires, owns, repositions and manages Manhattan office properties. The Company is the only publicly held REIT that specializes in this niche. The Company owns more than 30 New York City office properties totaling over 22 million square feet, making it New York's largest office landlord.

In addition, SL Green holds investment interests, among other things, in retail properties encompassing approximately 400,000 square feet, development property (one) encompassing approximately 85,000 square feet and land interests (two), along with ownership of over 30 suburban assets totaling more than 7.5 million square feet in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Westchester County, Connecticut and New Jersey.

Disclosure None

FactSet Research (FDS) boosts quarterly dividend 11 pct

FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) said on Tuesday that it is raising its quarterly dividend 11%, to 20 cents a share from 18 cents a share. The cash dividend will be paid on June 16, 2009 to holders of record of FactSet's common stock on May 29, 2009.

FactSet offers instant access to financial data and analytics to thousands of analysts, portfolio managers, and investment bankers at the world’s financial institutions.

FactSet’s business is built on the creative use of technology and an unwavering dedication to client service. We remain on the cutting edge by continually developing and refining our software. Our tools enable clients to perform investment research at the most sophisticated level. We offer individual consultant contacts, 24-hour personal support, and dedication to our users for client service that is unsurpassed in the industry.

FactSet has been listed as one of Forbes’ “200 Best Small Companies” for 12 consecutive years.

Disclosure None

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. Announces Pumped UP Quarterly Dividend

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (AFSI - News) today announced that its Board of Directors approved an increased quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on July 15, 2009 to shareholders of record as of July 1, 2009.

AmTrust is a multinational property and casualty insurer specializing in coverage for small businesses. We offer workers’ compensation insurance, extended warranty coverage, specialty middle-market property and casualty insurance and a host of related products and services.

Disclosure None

Monday Sells Portfolio Updates Dividends received

Hello well for monday the 11th I sold POT,SCJ,JJG,MDD,MON,ICI,NL,MT,ACI,EWST,PSSI,
Sold for a 24.53% gain on those 11 stocks. Added no new purchases of any stocks, other than the ones I already own.

I received dividends from DIA,JNK and TFI.

G&K Services Declares Regular Cash Dividend

G&K Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: GKSR), a market leader in branded identity apparel programs and facility services, announced today that the company has declared a quarterly dividend of seven cents per share payable in cash on June 18, 2009 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 4, 2009.

For more information on G&K Services, visit the company’s website.

Disclosure None and I do not recommend buying this stock either.

Energy company Avista(AVA) declares increased quarterly dividend of 21 cents per share

The energy company Avista Corp. said Thursday its board has declared a quarterly dividend of 21 cents per share on its common stock, an increase of 3 cents per share, or about 17 percent. The dividend will be paid June 15 to shareholders of record on May 21.

Current Yield 5.31% Been raising dividends since 2004 here is dividend history.

Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses.

Avista affiliate companies include:

Avista Utilities: Efficient, reliable electricity and natural gas Advantage IQ: E-Business facility intelligence Our strategy is on track. Our solid, stable and reliable energy business provides a strong foundation, and we are building an equally solid energy-related affiliate. We are seeing the results of our efforts. At the core of our strategies is a focus on reliably building value for our customers, investors, communities and employees. We are Avista. We improve life’s quality… with energy.

Disclosure I am long AVA Shares

Equifax (EFX) Board of Directors Declares Quarterly Dividend

Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) today announced that the Equifax Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share, payable on June 15, 2009, to shareholders of record as
of the close of business on May 26, 2009.

Equifax has paid cash dividends for 96 consecutive years.

About Equifax.

Disclosure None

Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS) Board Declares Quarterly Dividend

Cohen & Steers, Inc. (NYSE: CNS) announced that its
Board of Directors declared the company's cash dividend for the second
quarter of 2009 in the amount of $0.05 per share of common stock. The
dividend will be payable on June 26, 2009 to stockholders of record at the
close of business on June 4, 2009.

Cohen & Steers is a manager of income-oriented equity portfolios specializing in U.S. and international real estate securities, large cap value stocks, utilities and listed infrastructure, and preferred securities. The company also offers alternative investment strategies such as hedged real estate securities portfolios and private real estate multimanager strategies. Headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Brussels, Hong Kong and Seattle, Cohen & Steers serves individual and institutional investors through a broad range of investment vehicles.

Our passionate belief that dividends provide an important part of an investment's total return and overall diversification has been the foundation for our portfolio strategies. We believe the significant growth in our assets under management over the past two decades reflects the growing demand for dividend-paying equity investments.

Disclosure None

Dividend Basket Joins the thediv-net.com of Dividend News blogs

This blog has joined The Div-Net Group of Dividend Investing news and strategies blog roll. We have joined as a Associate Member, We ask the you be sure to visit the other members sites and get their RSS feeds added to the reader of your choice. Below I will list the members and their feeds so you can add them.

1. the moneygardener
2. Stock Market Prognosticator
3. The Div Guy
4. Disciplined Approach to Investing
5. Living Off Dividends and Passive Income
6. Old School Value
7. Triaging My Way To Financial Success
8. Dividend Money
9. Bullish Dividends
10. Everyday Finance
11. Contrarian Value Investing
12. Wide Moat Investing
13. Dividend Basket (OUR SITE)

This are 13 Perfect RSS feeds for dividend investing and the world of passive income Be sure to visit all our sister sites and help support us all as we help your investments grow. This article was written by Dividend Basket. Be sure to visit our New Dividend Basket shop help keep our site up and turning out new material. Thanks for your support.

Dividend Basket Audio Podcast's 20 Pick's Investing on the go

Here are some links to some of my favorite podcast programs. Keep you up on the news of the market and dividends while on the go, at work or pumping iron at the gym. They can be loaded on Ipod, Sandisk Sansa(like the one I use), or most any other major mp3 player.

1. Airelon’s Investing and Trading Podcast
2. Dave Ramesy Show
3. Sound Investing Fund Advice
4. Hardassetsinvestor.com Common Sense on Commodities
5. Howstreet.com The Source for Market Opinions
6. InvestTalk.com
7. TheOpeningBell.net Jim Lacamp and Pat Reddell
8. The Ray Lucia Show
9. Sector Exchange with Jim Farrish
10. The Disciplined Investor with Andrew Horowitz
11. The ETF Expert with Gary Gordon
12. The Index Investing Show with Ron Delegge
13. The MoneyMan Report with Daniel Frishberg
14. The Real Story with Frank Curzio
15. TheJackBouroudjianShow
16. Through a Trader's Eyes with Karl Eggerss
17. Wall Street Confidential with Jim Cramer
18. Wall Street Unspun with Peter Schiff
19. Dh Unplugged with Horowitz and Dvorak
20. Doug Fabian's Wealth Strategies Radio Show

All these podcasts are free as of the time of this writing. I listen to each and every one of them at work each night Many useful tips and tricks of the trade. The provide hours of solid investing and dividend news. Each has their own strategy and I use bits and pieces of all of them to understand this market we are in. Feel free to listen to any of them and pass this website on to your friends. Be sure to browse our new Dividend Basket Shop helps support this website so I can continue to provide valuable info on dividends for free. This article written by Dividend Basket.

New Dividend Basket Shop

Dover Corporation Declares Regular Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.25 cents per share

The Board of Directors of Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV) today declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 (twenty-five cents) per share, payable on June 15, 2009 to shareholders of record as of May 31, 2009.

Dover Corporation, with over $7 billion in annual revenues, is a global portfolio of manufacturing companies providing innovative components and equipment, specialty systems and support services for a variety of applications in the industrial products, engineered systems, fluid management and electronic technologies markets.

SOURCE: Dover Corporation

Dover Corporation is a world-wide, diversified manufacturer of Industrial products. Our goal is to be the leader in every market we serve, to the benefit of our customers and our shareholders.

Currently Dover is paying out a mere 29.15% on its dividend payout. Dover annually generates strong free cash flow at 8 to 10% of revenue to fund its strategic growth initiatives.

Dover has rewarded shareholders with an annually increased dividend for over 50 years (the fourth-longest record on the NYSE).

Dover's capital allocation strategy includes opportunistic share repurchases. I have been very impressed with my Dover holding and will continue to hold it as a portion of my industrial goods folio.

Disclosure I am Long VERY HAPPLY shares of Dover. (DOV)

Barnes (B) declares regular quarterly dividend 16 cents a share

Barnes (B) today declared its regular quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share of common stock. The stock currently yields 4.08%. Carrying a P/E ratio of 9.50 forward P/E of 10.89 the stock is a good value compared to its competitors. A nice low payout ration of only 34.39% plenty of room to raise the dividend in the future, Now that is what I am talking about.

Has raised the dividend in 2005 it stood at .10 cents a share and today is is .16 cents a share. With a 2 for 1 split in 2006.

Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE:B) is a diversified global manufacturer and logistical services company that provides precision component manufacturing and operating service support and solutions to nearly every industry around the world. With more than 70 locations on four continents worldwide, our 5,700 employees deliver on our promise to our customers, ensuring exacting performance, superior support and service, and dynamite results.

Disclosure I am long B shares. Written By Dividend Basket.

Bunge Limited (BG) Pumps Up Dividend 10.5%

Bunge Limited (BG) Board of Directors has approved a 10.5% increase in the regular quarterly cash dividend, from $0.19 to $0.21 per common share. The new dividend is payable on September 2, 2009 to shareholders of record on August 19, 2009.

The dividend has grown from .095 cents a share in Feb.2002 to $0.21 cents a share with this new announcement. I place a book value on this company at approx. $59.60 a share with $4.08 a share cash on hand. Low debt.

Disclosure I am long BG shares at this time. This article Was written by Dividend Basket.

Is your Dividend Ready to be Whacked Many left to go

12 of the top 50 S&P 500 have rasied their dividends in trhe last 6 months

Watch more AOL Personal Finance videos on AOL Video

In Dividends We trust 14 year raiser and growing Rated A

Dividends to Trust @ Yahoo! Video

Sycso (SYY)Leading Foor Supplier to resturants

Sysco Serves Up Value @ Yahoo! Video

Southern Co. CEO(SO) on 1Q Earnings 61 years of dividends!

Southern Co. CEO on 1Q Earnings @ Yahoo! Video

Rough all Around down and out Day, New JPM Etf MLP and New Currency x-US dollar etf

Sorry haven't been on to do much of a post lately the wife was in hospital today all day and till tomorrow at least I hope. She had her gallbladder removed, which was a huge success. She was very drowsy and out of it I pray I can bring her back home tomorrow. Thanks to all those that sent their letters of encouragement much needed in times like this.

As far as yesterday's action I sold PMD all around ugly earnings report for sure dividend cut coming soon. This stock was purchased for the growth and dividend. I sold for a 21% gain and let is go.

I sold bvf on its dividend cut as well. I sold for 2.01% profit squeaked by on this one. Also sold span it was bought merely for capital gains purchased in march 09 around 7.85 and sold for $10.21 money made ring the register it done its job.

Wisdomtree launched a new currency non us etf that I will be buying soon as my broker can get some shares for me. WisdomTree Dreyfus Emerging Currency Fund (CEW) on the NYSE Arca with an expense ratio of 0.55%. The following quote form wisdomtree:

“Our new Emerging Currency fund fills an important void in the ETF landscape by giving investors the first currency basket product delivered in the 1940 Act fund structure. CEW should be attractive to investors interested in diversifying outside the U.S. Dollar or accessing a less correlated asset class.

“The ETF provides investors exposure to both money market rates across 11 Emerging Market countries, as well as movements in these currencies relative to the U.S. Dollar. Our clients asked us for a basket strategy to complement our individual country currency income funds and we are happy to deliver that today.”

Set to be equally weighted and rebalanced monthly, with no us dollar exposure.

Jpm morgan launched a new MLP etf, tyvm I can not stand getting all thos K-1 forms in the mail each year so this will play the mlp industry without all the hassle of K-1 forms. According to Avi Morris over at seekingalpha.com.


"The ticker symbol is AMJ . AMJ has a limited track record, just over one month, which tracked the spectacular rise of the Alerian MLP Index in April. More information on the fund is available here.

This ETF tracks a portfolio of MLPs aimed at emulating the Alerian MLP Index. But it has advantages others don't because MLPs are master limited partnerships. Partnership ownership is measured in units, not shares. Their quarterly payments are called distributions, not dividends. Distributions are typically 80-90% tax free (which really means tax deferred bringing tax hassle). Some accountants handle the hassle better then others, although ordinary computer tax packages are supposed to do the tax work very well. MLPs send K-1 tax packages around March 15, but they are trying to speed up distribution of the statements.

However, an ETF is a corporation which issues shares. Taxable dividends are reported on 1099s, unless they are paid as stock dividends in which case there is no need for tax statements. As stocks, they are also IRA (retirement account) friendly.

The ETF gives an averaging effect of many MLPs. Those who want to invest in MLP growth but are afraid because of tax issues from distributions, may want to take a look at this ETF."

Tomorrow will be a big day in my roth I am buying a slight step into many new stocks and etfs. I plan to buy a super small take tomorrow approx. 1/20th of a full position then I can dollar cost average into them all in the new few months.

On the list to purchase are, IJH,IWB,PFF,RPV,VB,VOWE,VV, for my index fund folio.

Emerging markets folio is adding, CWI,EFA,GWL,JSC,MDD,SCJ,MEU.

Consumer goods Folio is adding, PM,VGR,KO,LEG and UL.

Commodities folio adding, GAZ,GSC,JJC,JJG,LSC and PTM.

Basic Materials folio is adding, CMC,CMP,NL and POT.

Bonds folio is adding CWB, CFT and EMB.

Financial Folio is adding, WFC,JPM,BAP,BRK-B,UBS and WBK.

This will all be real small starts to just sorta dip my toes in the water. I am pretty sure I am buying most if not all of these stocks on a higher than I would like to do basis. However being on 34 and having loads of time to dollar cost average my way in I am sure in 20 to 30 years I can produce sizable positions in each of these stocks.

Midweek portfolio check-up shows me with 194 holdings up 8.68% year to date, not including dividends. I have rung the register and locked in a profit from sales this year to date of 6.52% percent. So even if the rest of the year is a flop for me I can still come out smelling like a rose.

My dividends for the month of March Rose 130.1059 % try to get that at the bank.

Thats it for now gotta run to bed hope to post more soon. Thanks for your patronage.

Chesapeake Energy(CHK) posts 1Q $6B loss

Chesapeake Energy on Monday posted a nearly $6 billion loss for the first quarter as tumbling natural gas prices forced one of the nation's largest gas producers to write down the value of its gas and oil properties.

Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake said it lost $5.7 billion, or $9.63 per share, for the quarter ended March 31 compared with a loss of $132 million, or 29 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter.

Excluding special charges, Chesapeake recorded profit of $277 million, or 46 cents, a share for the quarter. Excluding a $704 million charge in the year-ago quarter, Chesapeake would have been made $561 million, or $1.09 per share.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected Chesapeake to report profit of 49 cents a share. Those estimates typically exclude charges.

Chesapeake shares hit $74 last summer as prices rose, but then tumbled all the way to $9.84 in December, the lowest level in more than five years.

Disclosure I am long CHK shares

Corp Exec Bd (EXBD)beats by $0.15, beats on revs; lowers FY09 guidance, cuts dividend

The Company is decreasing its quarterly dividend from $0.44 per share to $0.10 per share, which will preserve approximately $46 million cash for the Company on an annualized basis. The Company will fund its dividend payments with cash on hand and cash generated from operations. The dividend is payable on June 30, 2009 to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 15, 2009. Mr. Monahan commented, “We remain committed to returning excess cash to shareholders while at the same time maintaining operating flexibility in these uncertain economic times.”

Corporate Executive Board Co (EXBD) posted a drop in quarterly profits hurt by a fall in the value of its contracts, slashed quarterly dividend and cut its outlook for 2009, sending its shares down as much as 10 percent in extended trading.

For 2009, the company expects to earn 90 cents a share to $1.40 a share. It had previously forecast earnings to range between $1.30 and $1.60 a share.

Revenue for 2009 is expected to be $410 million to $450 million, down from its previous forecast of $445 million to $475 million.

For the first quarter, the company posted earnings of $13.1 million, or 38 cents a share, compared with $14.8 million, or 42 cents a share.

Analysts were expecting earnings of 25 cents a share, excluding items, on revenue of $112.8 million, according to Reuters Estimates.

Shares of the company fell 10 percent to $15.98 in trading after the bell. They closed at $17.69 Monday on Nasdaq.

Disclosure None

Neenah Paper(NP) sets 10-cent quarterly dividend

Neenah Paper, Inc. (NYSE: NP - News) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable on June 2, 2009 to stockholders of record as of close of business on May 15, 2009.

Disclosure None

Legg Mason posts fifth straight loss, cuts dividend 88%

Asset manager Legg Mason(LM) on Tuesday cut its regularly quarterly dividend by 88 percent to 3 cents per share.

Legg Mason had previously paid a dividend of 24 cents per share. The new dividend will be paid July 13 to shareholders of record as of June 16.

The company cut the dividend as it reported a fiscal fourth-quarter loss of $325.1 million, or $2.29 per share. Many financial firms have been cutting their dividends in recent quarters to help preserve capital amid the credit crisis and ongoing recession.

The results were close to expectations. Analysts surveyed by Reuters Estimates were expecting the Baltimore company to lose $2.33 per share. Revenues fell 42 percent to $617.2 million, against the average analysts' forecast of $611.5 million.

The company's shares fell to $20.08 from their close of $22.53 on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.

Disclosure None

Beware of the DEADLY leveraged ETF'S Can wipe you out

Leveraged exchange-traded funds are, in theory, an excellent way to harness that conviction you have about the future direction of a particular index. Some of these funds will reward investors with two-times or even three-times the daily moves of the underlying investment – so if the S&P 500 rises 1 per cent, you could gain 3 per cent. In theory.

In practice, these ETFs have received a lot of criticism recently because investors have realized that the actual returns, on a longer-term basis, don't come close to reflecting the moves of the underlying indexes. Birinyi Associates listed a number of fine examples on their web site.

The Ultra S&P 500 ProShares, which aims to give investors twice the daily performance of the S&P 500, has fallen 66 per cent since June 21, 2006. However, its opposite – the ETF that gives investors twice the inverse performance of the S&P 500 – has risen just 12 per cent. In other words, if you had made an astute bet against U.S. blue-chip stocks during one of the greatest equity meltdowns in history, your return wouldn't have beaten the dividend on a high-yielding tobacco stock.

Same goes for a bet on energy. The Ultra Oil & Gas ProShares, which aim to deliver twice the daily return of the Dow Jones oil and gas index, has fallen 67 per cent since Feb. 1, 2007. However, the inverse ETF (again: twice the inverse daily return of the index) has fallen 56 per cent. In other words, a bet for or against energy stocks has resulted in similarly dismal returns.

“When leveraged and inverse ETFs were first released they were touted as wonderful new innovations,” Birinyi Associates said. “As they have developed, more and more investors have caught on to the fact that they don't perform as expected.”

Disclosure None

Filings: Foreign Sector ETFs Planned By iShares

In a move expected to round out its lineup, iShares has filed to launch 10 international sector exchange-traded funds.

The firm already has some 38 sector ETFs for the U.S. and North America. It also has 11 different global funds focused on industries covering U.S. and foreign markets.

Now, iShares wants to boost its coverage to just non-U.S. developed and emerging markets divvied up by sectors.

No expense ratios were mentioned in the filings. The proposed iShares international sector ETFs will face several competitors, including a full lineup tracking S&P indexes sponsored by State Street Global Advisors. Most have tiny asset bases and charge 0.50% in annual expense ratios.

The proposed ETFs would be:

• iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Consumer Discretionary Index Fund
• iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Consumer Staples Index Fund
• iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Energy Index Fund
• iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Financials Index Fund
• iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Health Care Index Fund
• iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Industrials Index Fund
• iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Information Technology Index Fund
• iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Materials Index Fund
• iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Telecom Services Index Fund
• iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Utilities Index Fund

Disclosure None

Why Emerging Market ETFs Are Outpacing Developed Markets

While developed countries are left to grow at a crawl, if at all these days, emerging economies and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) are dashing forward.

So far this year, emerging economies have performed quite well compared to developed economies that are trying to get out of their holes, writes Gary Gordon for ETF Expert.

Emerging economies are still very much tied to those of developed countries and the stabilizing effect of the financial systems will have developed countries looking to consume.

The success of businesses in emerging markets is tied to inexpensive labor, easy access to capital, good cash flow, potential for growth and sustainability in rougher times. More notable emerging markets, like China and Brazil, have domestic revenue surpluses, trade surpluses and they provide cheap labor.

As long as developed countries still use emerging market commodities and labor, emerging markets may continue growing at its impressive rates.

Disclosure I am long EEM,VWO and ADRE.

Emerging-Market Stocks Rally to 7-Month High on Metals, China

Emerging-market stocks, bonds and currencies rallied as higher commodity prices and the first expansion in Chinese manufacturing in nine months boosted speculation the worst of the economic crisis may be over.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index surged 5.5 percent to a seven-month high of 699.28 at 11 a.m. in New York. Brazil’s Bovespa jumped 5 percent, also reaching its highest level since October. In Eastern Europe, Poland’s WIG20 Index and Russia’s Micex added 4 percent. Taiwan’s Taeix index advanced 5.6 percent, extending its two-day gain to 13 percent, the biggest back-to-back rally in more than 18 years.

China’s manufacturing expanded after declines in export orders moderated and investment surged because of the government’s 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus package. Copper and zinc futures climbed by the exchange-imposed 6 percent daily limit in Shanghai, helping boost revenue for emerging economies sustained by exports.

“The worst-case scenario is now on the backburner, and the future doesn’t seem as gloomy anymore,” said Rabih Sultani, hedge fund manager at Duet Mena Ltd., part of a group managing $2 billion globally. “Liquidity is slowly returning to the market as China proved more resilient.”

Emerging-market bonds gained, with Brazil’s 11 percent notes maturing in 2040 rising the most in almost two weeks. The yield to the 2015 call date on Brazil’s bond, one of the most widely traded emerging-market securities, fell 15 basis points to 5.57 percent, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. A basis point equals 0.01 percentage point. The bond’s price rose 0.90 cent on the dollar to 128.40 cents.

Currencies Rally

Mexico’s peso paced gains in emerging-market currencies, climbing 3.7 percent to 13.2687 per dollar. Peru’s sol rose 2.6 percent, while Chile’s peso strengthened 2.1 percent. South Africa’s rand jumped 2.7 percent.

Stocks from developing nations may “break out” into a bull market at the end of the year as falling interest rates and easing inflation make equities more attractive, Templeton Asset Management Ltd.’s Mark Mobius said yesterday in an interview.

Gerdau SA, Latin America’s biggest steelmaker, rose 7.3 percent to 16.84 reais. Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA, Brazil’s second-biggest steelmaker, rose 4.7 percent, while third-biggest Cia. Siderurgica Nacional SA added 5.4 percent to 42.07 reais.

In Eastern Europe, KGHM Polska Miedz SA, Poland’s only copper producer, rose 6.2 percent gain, while OAO GMK Norilsk Nickel gained 4.2 percent.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, together with Japan, China and South Korea, said they will start a $120 billion foreign-currency reserve pool by the end of the year to help revive investor confidence. The pledge was agreed upon at a weekend meeting in Bali, Indonesia.

Disclosure None

Closed-end funds offer MASSIVE PROFIT opportunities

Investors looking for higher yields in today's low interest rate market might consider closed-end funds, said Marc Rappaport, senior managing director of Alpine Woods Capital Investors LLC, especially those that offer unique strategies that fare better when executed in a closed pool/architecture/framework.

Even though closed-end funds have been around for more than 100 years -- since 1893, according to the Closed-End Fund Association, more than 30 years before the first U.S. mutual fund appeared on the scene -- the average investor is not familiar with them.

Mutual funds are open-end, which means they offer to sell their shares to investors on a continuous basis, and to buy them back, or redeem, when shareholders want to reduce or liquidate their holdings.

Closed-end funds are not offered continuously. They are offered to the public in a manner similar to a stock offering -- through an initial public offering; of course, additional shares can be sold to investors in subsequent offerings. A closed-end fund shareholder cannot present a redemption request to the fund; instead, he has to sell his shares in the market like he would sell a stock.

As a result, the investment manager of a closed-end fund has a distinct advantage over a mutual fund manager.

The closed-end manager works with a fixed pool of capital. In contrast, a mutual fund manager has to react to inflows of cash, when shareholders buy shares, and outflows, when shareholders redeem their shares.

Cash flows can and do affect the manager's decisions over when and what to buy and sell for the portfolio.

"In a time of heightened investor fear, mutual fund redemptions rise and managers are forced to sell portfolio holdings when the managers would rather do just the opposite," Rappaport said.

In contrast, the closed-end fund manager has the advantage of buying and selling based on his convictions, rather than cash flow management. Theoretically, his performance should reflect this management edge.

If you're used to investing in mutual funds, you won't be able to apply the same selection criteria to closed-end funds. There are some major differences.

First, be aware that there are two sets of share prices.

One is net asset value, which is the end-of-day value of all the holdings of the fund, less expenses. Open-end funds and closed-end funds calculate NAV the same way.

The other is market price or market value. Shareholders buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the stock market throughout the trading day.

Since no one is interposed between the shareholder and the fund -- in contrast to exchange traded mutual funds -- the price at which the closed-end fund trades is set by supply and demand, in the same way that a stock's price is determined. More buyers bid up the price; more sellers drive down the price.

Because of that dynamic, investors buy shares at or below or above net asset value. Remember that net asset value is the underlying value of all the holdings in the fund, representing the value of the fund if it were liquidated or liquidation value.

That means that investors who buy funds at a price below net asset value are buying at a discount.

Now, here's the interesting point for income investors.

If you buy a dividend-paying closed-end fund at a discount from net asset value, your yield will be higher than the fund's yield.

Let me give you an example:

Consider a closed-end fund with a net asset value per share of $10 that you bought for $10 and that the net asset value per share and market price both remained $10 for a year. In real life, the net asset value and market price will fluctuate. Assume that the fund paid a monthly dividend that totaled 30 cents per year for a 3 percent annual dividend yield.

Now assume that you were able to buy the same fund for only $8 a share. You would still receive your 30 cent per share dividend. But your yield would not be 3 percent -- it would be higher, reflecting the lower price you paid for the shares -- in this case, 3.75 percent.

Here's the math: You paid $8 a share for a fund whose net asset value is $10 a share. Your dividend was 30 cents. Thirty cents divided by 8 equals 3.75 percent, which is your annualized distribution yield. The annualized dividend yield reflects the price at which you bought the shares; the yield at net asset value is referred to as the dividend yield.

(Be alert to the fact that some closed-end funds' distributions may also include return of capital, meaning some of YOUR principal may be paid out as part of the distribution -- a subject we'll discuss next week).

On the other hand, if you paid more than net asset value when you bought shares, your annualized distribution yield would be less than 3 percent. If you paid $12 a share, for example, your yield would be only 2.5 percent. Thirty cents divided by 12.

In today's market, you can find funds to buy at discounts as high as 70 percent, turning that same hypothetical 30-cent dividend in my example into a 10 percent yield to the investor -- not to suggest that a prudent investor would buy such as fund solely based on the discount, but you get the idea.

Nonetheless, you can't deny that yield advantages are plentiful for income-conscious investors who buy well-selected closed-end funds at a discount.

Disclosure I am long 10 different Closed End funds

Nuveen Closed-End Funds Declare Monthly Distributions

Distributions Increase for 80 Municipal Closed-End Funds

Nuveen Investments, a leading global provider of investment services to institutions and high-net-worth investors, today announced that 106 Nuveen closed-end funds had declared regular monthly distributions. These funds represent a broad range of tax-exempt, taxable fixed and floating rate income investment strategies for investors seeking to build sophisticated and diversified long-term investment portfolios for cash flow. The funds' monthly distributions are listed below.

Monthly distributions from Nuveen's municipal closed-end funds and portfolios are generally exempt from regular Federal income taxes, and monthly distributions of single-state municipal funds and portfolios are also exempt from state and, in some cases, local income taxes for in-state residents. Unless otherwise stated in the funds' objectives, monthly distributions of the municipal funds and portfolios may be subject to the Federal Alternative Minimum Tax for some shareholders.

Nuveen funds generally seek to pay stable distributions at rates that reflect each fund's past results and projected future performance. During certain periods, each fund may pay distributions at a rate that may be more or less than the amount of net investment income actually earned by the fund during the period. If a fund cumulatively earned more than it has paid in distributions, it holds the excess in reserve as undistributed net investment income (UNII) as part of the fund's net asset value (NAV). Conversely, if a fund has cumulatively paid distributions in excess of its earnings, the excess constitutes negative UNII that is likewise reflected in the fund's NAV. Each fund will, over time, pay all of its net investment income as distributions to shareholders. The funds' positive or negative UNII balances are disclosed from time to time in their periodic shareholder reports, and are also on www.nuveen.com/cef.

JFP, the Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Floating Rate Fund, has implemented a managed distribution policy which permits it to include as part of its monthly distributions supplemental amounts from sources other than net investment income. This fund currently expects that any supplemental amounts would represent anticipated portfolio price appreciation over time once financial market conditions stabilize and prospects begin to improve for the middle market financial companies in which the fund primarily invests. Because the timing and extent of any such recovery is presently difficult to assess in light of continued market volatility and the negative effects on financial companies of the on-going credit crisis, the fund's latest monthly distribution is estimated to contain only net investment income and does not include any supplemental amounts.

Because a managed distribution program permits regular distributions from sources other than net investment income, it is important to understand the components of a managed distribution and the fund's NAV performance relative to its distribution rate. JFP posts information and estimates on www.nuveen.com/cef regarding the sources of distributions and total return performance over various time periods. In addition, at least in any month in which fund distributions include supplemental amounts from sources other than net investment income, the fund will also send this information directly to shareholders. Estimates are for informational purposes only, and the final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions paid in 2009 will be made in early 2010 and reported to shareholders on Form 1099-DIV at that time.

In addition, distributions for certain funds investing in real estate investment trusts (REITs) may later be characterized as capital gains and/or a return of capital, depending on the character of the dividends reported to each fund after year-end by REIT securities held by each fund. The Nuveen preferred securities funds, JTP, JPS and JHP may invest in REITs; a list of funds that are likely to be affected by re-characterization is posted to www.nuveen.com each January, and updated tax characteristics are posted to the web site and mailed to shareholders via form 1099-DIV during the first quarter of the year.

The following dates apply to today's distribution declarations:

Record Date        May 15, 2009
Ex-Dividend Date   May 13, 2009
Payable Date       June 1, 2009

                                        Monthly Tax-Free Distribution Per Share
                                                      Change From
                                       Amount         Previous Month
Ticker  Closed-End Portfolios
NXP     Select Portfolio                $.0570         -
NXQ     Select Portfolio 2              .0555          -
NXR     Select Portfolio 3              .0535          -
NXC     CA Select Portfolio             .0555          -
NXN     NY Select Portfolio             .0510          -
       Closed-End Funds
       Non-Leveraged Funds
NUV     Municipal Value                 .0390          -
NUW     Municipal Value 2               .0750          -
NCA     CA Municipal Value              .0380          -
NNY     NY Municipal Value              .0355          -
NMI     Municipal Income                .0445          -
NIM     Select Maturities               .0350          -
       Leveraged Funds
       National
NPI     Premium Income                  .0680          .0060
NPP     Performance Plus                .0680          .0035
NMA     Advantage                       .0715          .0035
NMO     Market Opportunity              .0690          .0045
NQM     Investment Quality              .0635          .0010
NQI     Insured Quality                 .0625          .0010
NQS     Select Quality                  .0740          .0070
NQU     Quality Income                  .0685          .0035
NIO     Insured Opportunity             .0605          .0015
NPF     Premier                         .0630          .0040
NIF     Premier Insured                 .0635          .0035
NPM     Premium Income 2                .0690          .0055
NPT     Premium Income 4                .0615          .0040
NPX     Insured Premium 2               .0595          .0080
NAD     Dividend Advantage              .0715          .0060
NXZ     Dividend Advantage 2            .0730          -
NZF     Dividend Advantage 3            .0735          .0055
NVG     Insured Dividend Advantage      .0645          .0045
NEA     Insured Tax-Free Advantage      .0620          .0030
NMZ     High Income Opportunity Fund    .0835          -
NMD     High Income Opportunity Fund 2  .0800          -
       California
NCP     Performance Plus                .0655          .0055
NCO     Market Opportunity              .0675          .0060
NQC     Investment Quality              .0685          .0065
NVC     Select Quality                  .0710          .0055
NUC     Quality Income                  .0735          .0080
NPC     Insured Premium Income          .0615          .0010
NCL     Insured Premium Income 2        .0650          .0070
NCU     Premium Income                  .0570          .0015
NAC     Dividend Advantage              .0665          .0035
NVX     Dividend Advantage 2            .0695          .0035
NZH     Dividend Advantage 3            .0675          .0035
NKL     Insured Dividend Advantage      .0695          .0060
NKX     Insured Tax-Free Advantage      .0630          .0040
       Florida
NQF     Investment Quality              .0610          .0020
NUF     Quality Income                  .0550          .0010
NFL  Insured Premium Income         .0575         .0020
NWF  Insured Tax-Free Advantage     .0540         .0010
    New York
NNP  Performance Plus               .0645         .0050
NQN  Investment Quality             .0615         .0055
NVN  Select Quality                 .0595         .0050
NUN  Quality Income                 .0590         .0050
NNF  Insured Premium Income         .0550         .0045
NAN  Dividend Advantage             .0635         .0045
NXK  Dividend Advantage 2           .0645         .0065
NKO  Insured Dividend Advantage     .0620         .0070
NRK  Insured Tax-Free Advantage     .0545         -
    Other State Funds
NAZ  AZ Premium Income              .0540         .0010
NFZ  AZ Dividend Advantage          .0525         -
NKR  AZ Dividend Advantage 2        .0585         -
NXE  AZ Dividend Advantage 3        .0545         -
NTC  CT Premium Income              .0535         .0035
NFC  CT Dividend Advantage          .0570         .0015
NGK  CT Dividend Advantage 2        .0590         .0040
NGO  CT Dividend Advantage 3        .0510         .0010
NPG  GA Premium Income              .0525         .0010
NZX  GA Dividend Advantage          .0560         .0010
NKG  GA Dividend Advantage 2        .0530         -
NMY  MD Premium Income              .0580         .0020
NFM  MD Dividend Advantage          .0600         .0015
NZR  MD Dividend Advantage 2        .0600         .0015
NWI  MD Dividend Advantage 3        .0580         .0045
NMT  MA Premium Income              .0610         .0055
NMB  MA Dividend Advantage          .0600         .0020
NGX  Insured MA Tax-Free Advantage  .0565         .0010
NUM  MI Quality Income              .0585         .0030
NMP  MI Premium Income              .0565         .0035
NZW  MI Dividend Advantage          .0565         .0010
NOM  MO Premium Income              .0545         -
NQJ  NJ Investment Quality          .0600         .0055
NNJ  NJ Premium Income              .0580         .0065
NXJ  NJ Dividend Advantage          .0590         .0040
NUJ  NJ Dividend Advantage 2        .0620         .0045
NNC  NC Premium Income              .0550         .0045
NRB  NC Dividend Advantage          .0620         .0020
NNO  NC Dividend Advantage 2        .0585         .0020
NII  NC Dividend Advantage 3        .0565         .0010
NUO  OH Quality Income              .0645         .0070
NXI  OH Dividend Advantage          .0620         .0050
NBJ  OH Dividend Advantage 2        .0580         .0035
NVJ  OH Dividend Advantage 3        .0635         .0045
NQP  PA Investment Quality          .0630         .0045
NPY  PA Premium Income 2            .0590         .0025
NXM  PA Dividend Advantage          .0610         .0025
NVY  PA Dividend Advantage 2        .0635         .0030
NTX  TX Quality Income              .0620         .0040
NPV  VA Premium Income              .0605         .0050
NGB  VA Dividend Advantage          .0620         .0045
NNB  VA Dividend Advantage 2        .0620         .0025
                                   Monthly Taxable Distribution Per Share
                                                 Change From
       Closed-End Funds:                      Amount  Previous Month
Ticker  Taxable Funds
       Preferred Securities
JTP     Quality Preferred Income Fund          .0520   -
JPS     Quality Preferred Income Fund 2        .0620   -
JHP     Quality Preferred Income Fund 3        .0540   -
       Floating Rate: Corporate Loans
NSL     Senior Income Fund                     .0335   -
JFR     Floating Rate Income Fund              .0410   -
JRO     Floating Rate Income Opportunity Fund  .0500   -
       Floating Rate: Tax Advantaged
JFP     Tax-Advantaged Floating Rate Fund      .0345*  -

* This represents a managed distribution amount. A description of the fund's managed distribution program appears in the text preceding the tables.

Nuveen Investments provides high quality investment services designed to help secure the long-term goals of institutions and high net worth investors as well as the consultants and financial advisors who serve them. Nuveen Investments markets its growing range of specialized investment solutions under the high-quality brands of HydePark, NWQ, Nuveen, Santa Barbara, Symphony, Tradewinds and Winslow Capital. In total, the Company managed $119 billion of assets on December 31, 2008. For more information, please visit the Nuveen Investments website at www.nuveen.com.

Disclosure None