ISHARES MSCI EMERGING MARKETS INDEX FUND $41.85 - New York Exchange symbol EEM

ISHARES MSCI EMERGING MARKETS INDEX FUND $41.85 (New York Exchange symbol EEM; buy or sell through brokers), is an ETF that aims to track the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. The fund’s geographic breakdown includes: Brazil, 14.8%; South Korea, 12.4%; China, 11.2%; Taiwan, 10.4%; South Africa, 8.1%: Hong Kong, 6.8%; Russia, 6.3%; India, 6.0%; Mexico, 4.6%; and Israel, 3.3%. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund’s top holdings are Samsung Electronics, 3.9%; Taiwan Semiconductor (Taiwan: computer chips), 2.7%; Petrobras (Brazil: energy), 2.6%; Banco Itau Holding Finance (Brazil: banking), 2.5%; Posco (steel), 2.2%; China Mobile (China: wireless), 1.9%; Gazprom (Russia: gas utility), 1.8%; KB Financial Group Inc. (South Korea: banking), 1.8%; and Banco Brandesco (Brazil: banking), 1.7%. The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Financials, 25.3%; Energy, 15.4%; Information Technology, 14.5%; Materials, 14.2%; Telecommunication Services, 10.0%; Industrials, 5.4%; Consumer Discretionary, 4.3%; Consumer Staples, 4.2%; Utilities, 3.9%; and Health Care, 2.0%. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund was launched on April 7, 2003. The ETF has an expense ratio of 0.73%. The fund is up 110.7% from its March 2009 low of $19.86. Its wide diversification among emerging markets tones down its risk, but emerging markets are still far more volatile and vulnerable than markets in the developed world. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index Fund is a buy for aggressive investors.