Wednesday, July 8, 2009

PowerShares Agiculture (DBA): Farm favorite (MOO)

This post is really just an excuse to tell a quick story. From BloggingStocks:
There are many reasons to like the PowerShares DB Agriculture (NYSE: DBA), an exchange-traded fund that tracks agricultural commodity prices," says fund expert Doug Fabian.

In The ETF Trader, he explains, "We like the technical picture. In addition, we believe commodities are a great hedge against inflation.

"Overall, we like the patterns taking shape in the world's key agricultural crops. The price charts of crops like corn, soybeans, sugar and wheat all have given us one compelling message, and that message is it's time to buy.

"This ETF that seeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum Yield Agriculture Excess Return.

"The index is composed of futures contracts on corn, soybeans, sugar and wheat, some of the most liquid and widely traded agricultural commodities.

"There are many reasons to like DBA besides just its technical picture. First off, commodities are a great hedge against inflation....MORE

I cut it there because fund expert Doug Fabian seemed to be getting a bit excited. Another play is the Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF (MOO). Top 10 Holdings.

And no, I don't like it just for the symbol. Here's a story:

I was at the track one day, patiently and persistently buying losing tickets when I ran into an acquaintance, a former finance guy who had left the business. With him were four of his eight kids. Did I mention he was a degenerate horseplayer?

Making small-talk with his 10 or 11-year old daughter I asked who she liked in the next race.

She answered "Little Boy Blue" (or somesuch, it was a while ago). Being the condescending know-it-all adult, I asked if she liked it because of his cute name.

Um-hmm she said, that, and he had an unpublished workout, five panels in :59 3/5.

The horse, of course, came in. Paid 6:1, made my day and taught me a lesson or two about assumptions and cute names (symbols) etc. And hey, MOO is a cute symbol!