Proximity to Asia is a big plus

Article Excerpt

ISHARES AUSTRALIA INDEX FUND $22.18 (New York symbol EWA; buy or sell through brokers) is an ETF that holds the 73 largest Australian stocks. Its MER is 0.52%. The fund’s top holdings include BHP Billiton, 12.2%; Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 10.1%; Westpac Banking Corp., 7.8%; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, 7.0%; National Australia Bank, 6.4%; Woolworths, 4.0%; Rio Tinto, 3.0%; Westfield Group, 2.5%; and CSL Ltd., 2.5%. Australia benefits from its stable banking and political systems. It is also rich in natural resources, and it’s close to key Asian markets, including India and China. iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund is a buy for aggressive investors. investors…