Benzinga

Here is the ETF Professor's ETF Watch List for Wednesday July 20, 2011. The Market Vectors Coal ETF (NYSE: KOL) looks ready to rally. Tech earnings plays: Technology Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLK) and the First Trust NASDAQ CEA Smartphone Index Fund (Nasdaq: FONE). The Guggenheim Global Shipping ETF (NYSE: SEA) continues to struggle. Emerging markets plays of the day: Market Vectors Russia ETF (NYSE: RSX), iShares MSCI Thailand Investable Market Index Fund (NYSE: THD) and the Market Vectors Indonesia ETF (NYSE: IDX). Forex play of the day: CurrencyShares Australian Dollar Trust (NYSE: FXA).

Book retailer Borders Group Inc. is facing a possible liquidation of its operations, as the bankrupt company received no offers before the Sunday bidding deadline, The Wall Street Journal is reporting. Citing people familiar, The Journal noted that no offers were received before the 5 p.m. EST Sunday deadline. A bankruptcy court auction is scheduled for Tuesday. Borders sells books, music, and movies online and in retail stores across the U.S. The company is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan and was founded in 1971. In February 2011, Borders filed for bankruptcy protection.

Here is the ETF Professor's ETF Watch List for Monday July 18, 2011. After big moves higher on Friday, keep an eye on the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (NYSE: XOP) and the Oil Services HOLDRs (AMEX: OIH). Other commodities plays to consider: iShares Silver Trust (NYSE: SLV) and the U.S.

Genesee & Wyoming (NYSE: GWR) today reported traffic volumes for June 2011 and the second quarter of 2011. GWI's traffic in June 2011 was 84,999 carloads, an increase of 10,071 carloads, or 13.4 percent, compared with June 2010. GWI's traffic in the second quarter of 2011 was 249,508 carloads, an increase of 28,315 carloads, or 12.8 percent, compared to the second quarter of 2010. The table below sets forth consolidated carloading information for June 2011 and June 2010. Additional carload information for our North American and Australian operations is included as an exhibit to this press release.

Kinetic Concepts Inc (NYSE: KCI) agreed to be bought for $6.3 billion by a consortium of private equity firm Apax Partners, as well as affiliates of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board. The consortium is paying $68.50 per share in cash for the company, representing a 6.2% premium to Tuesday's closing price.

PowerShares S&P SmallCap Health Care (NYSE: PSCH) is up nearly 22% year to date. The investment seeks to replicate the S&P SmallCap 600 Capped Health Care index, which is comprised of common stocks of U.S. health care companies. Top holdings include Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: REGN), Amerigroup (NYSE: AGP) and Cooper Companies (NYSE: COO). SPDR S&P Biotech (NYSE: XBI) is up more than 19% since the beginning of the year. The underlying index represents the biotechnology subindustry portion of the S&P Total Market index. Top holdings include Theravance (NASDAQ: THRX) and Savient Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SVNT). PowerShares Dynamic Healthcare (NYSE: PTH) is up nearly 19% year to date. The underlying index consists of U.S. companies engaged in providing health care-related products and services, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, supplies and facilities. Top holdings include Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB), Humana (NYSE: HUM) and St. Jude Medical (NYSE: STJ). First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX (NYSE: FXH) is up more than 18% year to date. The investment seeks...

According to a New Bank of New York Mellon/Strategic Insight Report, assets in exchange-traded funds "ETFs" in the U.S. are expected to double to $2 trillion before the end of 2015. This comes according to a new whitepaper from Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK) and Strategic Insight.

Below are the top general building materials stocks on the NYSE in terms of operating margin. The trailing-twelve-month operating margin at LSB Industries Inc (NYSE: LXU) is 13.04%. LXU's PEG ratio is 1.27. The trailing-twelve-month operating margin at Valspar Corporation (The) (NYSE: VAL) is 11.08%. VAL's ROE for the same period is 14.05%. The trailing-twelve-month operating margin at Martin Marietta Materials Inc (NYSE: MLM) is 10.96%. MLM's revenue for the same period is $1.80 billion. The trailing-twelve-month operating margin at MDU Resources Group Inc (NYSE: MDU) is 10.21%.

UK retailer Marks & Spencer Group PLC (OTC: MAKSF) reported that its total group sales, excluding value added tax, increased 3.2% in its fiscal first quarter. The group's comparable UK sales rose 1.7%. Analysts were expecting a 1.5% rise in same-store sales. MAKSF shares gained 1% to close at $6.08 yesterday.

Here is the ETF Professor's ETF Watch List for Monday July 11, 2011. Oil plays: WisdomTree International Energy ETF (NYSE: DKA) and the Energy Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLE). The Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (NYSE: FAZ) will be in play this week. Additional sector plays: Guggenheim Global Solar Energy ETF (NYSE: TAN) and the Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF (NYSE: MOO). Emerging markets plays of the days: iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund (NYSE: EWT), the Market Vectors Indonesia ETF (NYSE: IDX) and the Direxion Daily China Bear 3x Shares (NYSE: YANG). Forex play of the day: PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish (NYSE: UUP). Bond play of the day: Market Vectors LatAm Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSE: BONO).