Thanks for all your input! I understand that ETFs are collections of stocks.
The idea is to reduce the number of positions so I have fewer variables to
monitor and ponder in these tumultuous times. In fact, that may be part of my
problem: too many positions at once.

"If you can keep your wits about you while others are losing theirs...the
world will be yours and everything in it."

I have nothing agains ETFs, but it is still a group of stocks. I understand
your frustration, but I don't get your strategy.

uyg

Rydex 2x S&P Select Sector Energy (REA)
Ultra Basic Materials ProShares (UYM )
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Long ETN (DXO)
PowerShares DB Commodity Dble Long ETN (DYY)

go her and look at whats bee hit the hardest last 3 months

http://finance.yahoo.com/etf/browser/mkt?c=0&k=6&f=0&cs=1&ce=20&o=a

the (UYG) the (XLF) the (XLE)

P.P.S. - You can avoid a commission by buying sector funds. Gotta hold it 90
days or so to avoid a redemption fee, but that's OK, you're keeping it.
Performance is similar to the ETF, just not as liquid.

P.S. - Altucher likes FXI and so do I. Check out Brazil, Latin America, emerging
markets. Compare their two year charts. Some are beat up more than others.
Diversify into several countries if you want.

If you have a long time horizon, the INTL ETF's are absolutely beat to hell.
Very volatile too. If the market turns up, you'll make as much there as any
other ETF.

I would look at the Ultra ProShares like: SSO, QLD

if stocks don't make sense, why would you even bother with ETF's?