- Index Changes Scheduled to Take Effect with the Market Open on Monday, May 19th -

- Pipeline Update Conference Call and Webcast on March 14 at 8:00 a.m. PDT -

Here's the ETF Professor's ETF Watchlist for Tuesday November 3, 2009.

Financials, financials, finacials. Always in play. let's roll with the ProShares Ultra Financials ETF (NYSE:UYG) and of course the UltraShort Financials ProShares (NYSE: SKF) from the bearish side.

Also keep an eye the Financial Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLF), which saw some unusual bearish options trade on Monday.

With the market treading water for the past week or two, and some negative economic news being released many are wondering if this is a start of at least a short term market downturn. The following 5 ETFs should help insulate your portfolio from market weakness without exposure to highly leveraged and poorly constructed 2x or 3x short ETFs.

SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD) This ETF invests directly in gold bullion and provides a "safe haven" when investors become nervous. Also with interest rates very low, the investor is not giving up much interest income.

We've all been waiting on pins and needles to see what kind of health care reform comes out of Washington. Aside from the fact that we're all patients of one kind or another, health care is a huge part of the economy.[More...]

Biotechnology is a notoriously volatile industry. Shares of individual firms often skyrocket or plummet based on clinical test results. Because biotechs tend to march to the beat of their own drum--share prices are much more sensitive to clinical trial results and merger activity within the sector than they are to the economic backdrop—they can be an interesting small addition to a satellite portfolio.[More...]

Today’s tickers: JOYG, PRX, POT, IOC, QLGC, CAT & IBB

JOYG - Joy Global, Inc. – The manufacturer of mining equipment used to extract coal, copper, and other minerals, realized a 6% improvement in shares today to $55.13. Large-volume options trading took place just ahead of the closing bell as one investor banked gains and extended a bullish position on the stock. It appears the trader originally purchased 15,000 calls at the January 50 strike on August 4, 2009, for a premium of between 2.00 to 2.55 per contract. Today, he seems to have sold all 15,000 calls for 8.10 apiece. Net profits received on the closing sale amount to a minimum of 5.55 each up to a maximum of 6.10 per contract. Depending on the price the investor paid to initially purchase the calls, he reeled in at least $8,325,000, and could have banked as much as $9,150,000, by selling the now deep in-the-money call options today. Perhaps hoping to accumulate additional profits by expiration in January 2010, the trader doubled up on call options by purchasing 30,000 lots at the higher January 60 strike for an average premium of 3.30 per contract. The investor may add to his profits if shares rally another 15% to surpass the breakeven point at $63.30 by expiration day.

PRX - Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. – The distributor of branded and generic pharmaceuticals in the U.S. appeared on our ‘hot by options volume’ market scanner due to bearish options trading. Shares of PRX fell more than 5% to $22.51 after receiving a downgrade to ‘neutral’ from ‘buy’ at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. One pessimistic option trader initiated a credit spread on PRX using call options in the November contract. The transaction involved the sale of 2,500 calls at the November 22.5 strike for 1.47 apiece, spread against the purchase of 2,500 calls at the higher November 25 strike for 55 cents each. The investor receives a net credit of approximately 92 cents per contract. The full 92 cent credit is retained by the trader as long as the November 22.5 strike call options land out-of-the-money by expiration.

POT - Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Inc. – Shares of Canada-based Potash Corp. surged more than 5.5% to $102.90 today on speculation that BHP Billiton Ltd. – the world’s largest mining company – may be interested in acquiring the fertilizer producer. Option traders exchanged more than 85,000 contracts on POT…

“With the market treading water for the past week or two, and some negative economic news being released many are wondering if this is a start of at least a short term market downturn. The following 5 ETFs should help insulate your portfolio from market weakness without exposure to highly leveraged and ...

<font> Below are links and descriptions for stock indexes I have created, revised, and tracked over the past few years which are now featured at the website Investars YOU. This site includes automated index tracking and allows investors to link their brokerage accounts to create custom stock portfolios based on their individual preferences from the stock indexes at the site. </font>

<font> http://www.mikehavrx.com/2009/09/new-indexes-to-track-healthc... </font>

<font> However, unregistered users have the ability to generate stock ideas from any of the free indexes (including all of mine listed below) by following these steps: 1) Click 'Add to You' at top third of page at left column; 2) Choose the front/center option (in white inside a divided circle) to add all of the index stocks to your portfolio; 3) Click 'expand section' at lower/right column of page that appears with the stocks generated from the index that was originally chosen, which are sorted alphabetically. </font>

<font> Cosmetic and Restorative Medicine Index </font>

<font> The Cosmetic and Restorative Medicine Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies that derive over 50% of revenue from any of the following activities: (1) prescription skin care therapeutics; (2) medical devices, products, services, OR equipment for procedures which are intended to enhance appearance; (3) medical devices, products, services, OR equipment for use as joint replacements, tissue repair agents, tissue reconstruction agents, surgical adhesives, and cardiovascular procedures; and (4) regenerative medicine products, services, and/or an active clinical pipeline which seeks to restore or repair the functionality of lost or damaged organ, tissue, cellular, and genetic material. </font>

<font> Cancer Diagnostic & Therapeutic (Dx/Tx) Micro-Cap Index </font>

<font> The actively managed Cancer Diagnostic & Therapeutic (Dx/Tx) Micro-Cap Index constituents reflect a cross-section of emerging cancer companies with market caps below $250 million at the time of index inclusion, encompassing the following categories: (1) diagnostics (molecular diagnostics and device-based diagnostics), (2) lab services (personalized medicine applications to guide and track the effectiveness of cancer treatments), (3) drug discovery (screening and modifying compounds to achieve anti-cancer effects during the early stages of preclinical and Phase 1 clinical studies), (4) immunotherapy (a.k.a. cancer vaccines which are designed to stimulate the immune system to eradicate cancer), and (5) commercial or late-stage (Phase 2-3) clinical development therapeutics, devices, or diagnostics intended for use by cancer patients. </font>

<font> Emerging Diagnostics Index </font>

<font> The Emerging Diagnostics Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies with market caps below $250 million at the time of inclusion. The index includes diabetes monitoring device makers, laboratory services, clinical diagnostics, diagnostic imaging, diagnostic equipment makers, and molecular diagnostics. </font>

<font> Global Airline Index </font>

<font> The Global Airline Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies with market caps over $200 million upon inclusion that derive over 50% of revenue from passenger airline services. </font>

<font> Global Carbon Trading Index </font>

<font> The Global Carbon Trading Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies which generate carbon credits through their business operations, are involved with the trading of carbon credits, and/or reduce carbon emissions through their business activities. Examples of these activities include the following: waste-to-energy, landfill or methane gas collection, financial exchanges for carbon credits, carbon credit investment firms, and renewable energy projects that result in the generation of carbon credits (e.g. hydro-power, farming, industrial). </font>

<font> Global Generic Drug Index </font>

<font> The Global Generic Drug Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies which meet any of the following three requirements: (1) Derive either $500 million (USD) OR more than 50% of trailing 12-month revenues from the manufacture and sale of any type of generic (off-patent) prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drug product intended for use by humans, including contract manufacturing services for drug products and biological agents; (2) Have one or more compound(s) in active clinical development OR have a pending ANDA with the FDA for a generic drug candidate; (3) As an alternative to the revenue requirement, companies may also qualify by receiving FDA approval for an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) within the past 12 months. </font>

<font> Global Health Information Technology (Health IT) Index </font>

<font> The Global Health Information Technology (Health IT) Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies with market caps below $10 billion that derive over either $50 million or 50% of their trailing 12-month revenue from products and services for the following activities: (1) electronic transmission, storage, and processing of prescriptions; (2) secure e-mail transmission for healthcare facilities; (3) electronic transmission, storage, and processing of medical imaging and diagnostic information; (4) electronic storage and systems for administrative functions of healthcare facilities and medical records; (5) electronic transmission, storage, and systems for healthcare market data and clinical trial data; (6) electronic systems, devices, and services for remote, real-time monitoring of patient health parameters; (7) medical transcription services, products, and systems for conversion into electronic medical records. </font>

<font> Global Metal Mining Index </font>

<font> The Global Metal Mining Index is actively managed and tracks the top-rated companies with market caps over $1 billion upon inception that derive over 50% of revenue from the exploration, mining, extraction, processing, and sale of all types of precious metals, minerals, and industrial metals. The top rated companies are chosen based on their trailing 12-month stock price performance, market cap weighting, and net income weighting. </font>

<font> Global Railroad Index </font>

<font> The Global Railroad Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies that derive either more than 50% OR $100 million of trailing 12-month revenue from any of the following activities: (1) passenger or freight rail transport services; (2) railcar and locomotive leasing; (3) railcar and locomotive fleet management; (4) rail infrastructure, railcar, locomotive, and railcar/locomotive component parts manufacturing; (5) railcar, locomotive, and component parts repair or refurbishment. </font>

<font> Global Stem Cell Index </font>

<font> The Global Stem Cell Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of regenerative medicine companies (with stock prices of at least 15 cents at the time of inclusion) which derive over 50% of revenue or have compound(s) in active pre-clinical or clinical development which are designed to restore, replace, repair, or enhance the functionality or appearance of tissue and organ systems, including all types of embryonic and adult stem cell therapeutics. In addition, all types of products and services for stem cell banking are included in this index. </font>

<font> Global Telecom Services Dividend Index </font>

<font> The Global Telecom Services Dividend Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies with market caps over $1 billion at the time of inclusion that meet the following requirements: (1) All such companies must derive at least 50% of their trailing 12-month revenue from any types of voice and data telecom services such as fixed line communications, wireless communications, and internet access provider services and (2) All such companies must have a trailing 12-month dividend yield of at least 1.5%. </font>

<font> Global Tobacco Index </font>

<font> The Global Tobacco Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies which derive over 50% of their revenue from the distribution or manufacturing of any type of tobacco product (e.g. cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco) or any related tobacco supplies (e.g. wrapping papers, tobacco leafs, filters). </font>

<font> Global Trucking & Logistics Index </font>

<font> The Global Trucking & Logistics Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies with market caps over $100 million at the time of inclusion that derive at least 50% of trailing 12-month revenue from any of the following activities: logistics and management support services for all types of transportation companies; all types of land-based, roadway freight forwarding freight transportation services; mail package delivery, transportation, and logistics services; and logistics management support services for roadway transportation companies. </font>

<font> Health Benefit Providers Index </font>

<font> The Health Benefit Providers Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of retail pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers, managed care companies, health insurers, hospital pharmacy operators, workers compensation insurers, and specialty health benefit providers. </font>

<font> Highly Defensive Index </font>

<font> The Highly Defensive Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of 35 companies based in the Americas, Canada, and Europe which are market cap leaders from the following industry groups: (A) Mass Merchant Discount Retailer (1); (B) Consumer Staples (11); (C) Telecom Services (3); (D) At-Home Services (2): Cable TV/Internet Provider (1), Internet Portal/Search Provider (1); (E) Electric Utilities – Domestic (U.S. based) (2); (F) Fast Food Restaurants (1); (G) Commodities (2): Gold Mining (1) Agri-Biotech (Seeds & Fertilizers) (1); (H) Healthcare (11); (I) Aerospace (Non-Commercial) & Defense (1); (J) Energy (1). </font>

<font> Nation Cap Leaders Index </font>

<font> The Nation Cap Leaders Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies that are market cap leaders from each nation (at least $5 billion), including developed, emerging, and frontier markets. </font>

<font> NordiCaps Region Index </font>

<font> The NordiCaps Region Index is actively managed and tracks the top-rated companies with market caps over $1 billion upon inception that are based in the Nordic Region countries of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway. The top rated companies are chosen based on their trailing 12-month stock price performance, market cap weighting, and revenue weighting. </font>

<font> Preventative Medicine Index </font>

<font> The Preventative Medicine Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies with market caps over $100 million at the time of inclusion that derive over either 50% or $100 million in trailing 12-month revenue from any of the following activities: (1) human vaccines which are already on the market or in active clinical development; (2) diagnostics and lab services; (3) diabetes care; and (4) vitamins, health supplements, functional foods, and weight loss products or services. </font>

<font> Regulatory Catalyst Index </font>

<font> The actively managed Regulatory Catalyst Index tracks the performance of healthcare companies with pending new drug, biological agent, or medical device/diagnostic product decisions at the FDA. </font>

<font> Pet Care & Animal Farma Index </font>

<font> The Pet Care & Animal Farma Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies with market caps below $5 billion at the time of inclusion that are active in the following business segments: animal breeding, animal `pharming`, veterinary stem cells, veterinary services, pet retailers, animal feeds nutrition, and veterinary medicine diagnostics. Favorable growth trends for the pet and animal care industry include (1) pet spending in the U.S. is estimated at $43.4B in 2008, up from $32.4B in 2003; (2) about 63% of U.S. households have a pet, which equals over 71M homes; and (3) the worldwide market for animal healthcare, excluding bulk feed and nutrition products, is expected to reach just under $20B in 2008, experiencing growth of 26% from $15.6B in 2003. </font>

<font> Emerging Bio-Pharma Index </font>

<font> The Emerging Bio-Pharma Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of top-rated companies with market caps between $100 million to $2.5 billion at the time of inclusion. The rating system reflects the following factors: (1) the number of innovative clinical pipeline and marketed products, (2) the market cap weighting, (3) the historical stock price return, and (4) the revenue weighting. </font>

<font> Global Hospital Index </font>

<font> The Global Hospital Index is actively managed and tracks the performance of companies which derive over 50% of revenue from the following activities: hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, dialysis facilities, hospice providers, inpatient behavioral healthcare facilities, and ambulatory surgery centers. The revenue requirement for this index excludes the following activities: home healthcare, outpatient medical services, and senior living centers. </font>

Tom Dorsey and Tammy DeRosier - Portfolio Management Ideas and Strategies

Enough already about Biotechnology, but today was a big day for Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) up 12% after some positive news on their bone drug.  If all we are doing is chasing momentum, then go with iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (ETF) (AMEX:IBB).

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Kevin Depew, executive editor at Minyanville.com brought the spotlight on iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (ETF) (AMEX:IBB) yesterday. Shares of IBB are up 3% since Tuesday and trade at $83, so let's take a further look.

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