etf
An ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is an investment fund that holds a collection of underlying assets, such as stocks or bonds, in a single pooled vehicle. ETFs allow investors to purchase a variety of different securities at once, providing greater diversification compared to owning individual assets. They are traded on stock exchanges like regular stocks, allowing for intraday trading at market prices. ETFs typically have lower fees than mutual funds and often passively track an index or sector, making them a popular choice for investors seeking a cost-effective way to invest in a diversified portfolio.
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Pennsylvania-based Vanguard Group is one of the world’s largest investment management companies. The group manages over $2 trillion U.S. in 170 mutual funds.
Vanguard, which went into business in 1975, offers low-fee index mutual funds. Generally speaking, Canadians can’t buy units of mutual funds that are registered in the U.S., because they aren’t registered with provincial securities commissions....
Vanguard, which went into business in 1975, offers low-fee index mutual funds. Generally speaking, Canadians can’t buy units of mutual funds that are registered in the U.S., because they aren’t registered with provincial securities commissions....
Most U.S. markets have risen lately, while Canada’s resource-heavy Toronto Stock Exchange has lagged. But as always, both remain subject to unexpected downturns. Even so, the long-term outlook is for higher stock prices.
One way to profit from rising markets is to add exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track major stock indexes to your portfolio.
ETFs trade on stock exchanges, just like stocks....
One way to profit from rising markets is to add exchange traded funds (ETFs) that track major stock indexes to your portfolio.
ETFs trade on stock exchanges, just like stocks....
ISHARES CDN REIT SECTOR INDEX FUND $17.10 (Toronto symbol XRE; buy or sell through brokers; ca.ishares.com) holds the 15 Canadian real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index. The weight of each REIT is limited to 25% of the ETF’s value.
iShares CDN REIT’s expenses are 0.60% of its assets. The fund yields 4.4%.
The ETF’s largest holding is RioCan REIT at 19.5%, followed by H&R REIT (10.7%), Dundee REIT (8.4%), Canadian REIT (7.2%), Calloway REIT (7.0%), Primaris REIT (6.3%), Cominar REIT (6.2%), Canadian Apartment REIT (6.0%), Boardwalk REIT (5.7%), Allied Properties REIT (5.2%), Chartwell REIT (4.5%), Artis REIT (4.5%), Granite REIT (4.3%), Northern Property REIT (2.6%) and Crombie REIT (1.8%).
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iShares CDN REIT’s expenses are 0.60% of its assets. The fund yields 4.4%.
The ETF’s largest holding is RioCan REIT at 19.5%, followed by H&R REIT (10.7%), Dundee REIT (8.4%), Canadian REIT (7.2%), Calloway REIT (7.0%), Primaris REIT (6.3%), Cominar REIT (6.2%), Canadian Apartment REIT (6.0%), Boardwalk REIT (5.7%), Allied Properties REIT (5.2%), Chartwell REIT (4.5%), Artis REIT (4.5%), Granite REIT (4.3%), Northern Property REIT (2.6%) and Crombie REIT (1.8%).
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GUGGENHEIM CHINA SMALL CAP ETF $22.80 (New York Exchange symbol HAO; buy or sell through brokers; www.guggenheimfunds.com) aims to track the AlphaShares China Small Cap Index, which is made up of all Chinese stocks that are legal for foreign investors and have market caps between $200 million and $1.5 billion.
The $266.7-millon fund’s top holdings are Youku Tudou, 1.3%; Sino Biopharmaceutical, 1.2%; China Resources Gas Group, 1.2%, Air China, 1.1%; Tsingtao Brewery Co., 1.1%; Guangzhou R&F Properties, 1.0%; BYD Co., 1.0%; Nine Dragons Paper Holdings, 1.0%; China Everbright International, 1.0%; and China Communications Services Corp., 1.0%.
As China’s economy matures and wages rise, domestic spending should continue to increase. As well, China’s leaders will likely need to spend more on programs to ease the growing gap between the rich and poor. Guggenheim China Small Cap ETF is well positioned to benefit from both of these trends.
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The $266.7-millon fund’s top holdings are Youku Tudou, 1.3%; Sino Biopharmaceutical, 1.2%; China Resources Gas Group, 1.2%, Air China, 1.1%; Tsingtao Brewery Co., 1.1%; Guangzhou R&F Properties, 1.0%; BYD Co., 1.0%; Nine Dragons Paper Holdings, 1.0%; China Everbright International, 1.0%; and China Communications Services Corp., 1.0%.
As China’s economy matures and wages rise, domestic spending should continue to increase. As well, China’s leaders will likely need to spend more on programs to ease the growing gap between the rich and poor. Guggenheim China Small Cap ETF is well positioned to benefit from both of these trends.
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SPDR S&P CHINA ETF $68.23 (New York Exchange symbol GXC; buy or sell through brokers; www.spdrs.com) is an ETF that aims to track the S&P China BMI Index, which is made up of all publicly traded Chinese stocks that are available to foreign investors. Right now, SPDR S&P China ETF holds 184 stocks.
The $1.1-billion fund’s top holdings are China Construction Bank, 7.9%; China Mobile, 6.7%; Industrial & Commercial Bank, 6.2%; Tencent Holdings, 4.1%; Bank of China, 4.0%; CNOOC Ltd., 3.9%; PetroChina, 3.5%; Baidu, 2.9%; China Petroleum & Chemical, 2.5%; and China Life, 2.5%;
The fund’s breakdown by industry is as follows: Financials, 34.9%; Oil and Gas, 14.0%; Information Technology, 11.4%; Industrials, 9.2%; Telecommunication Services, 8.6%; Consumer Discretionary, 6.2%; Consumer Staples, 5.6%; Basic Materials, 4.8%; Utilities, 3.2%; and Health Care, 2.1%.
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The $1.1-billion fund’s top holdings are China Construction Bank, 7.9%; China Mobile, 6.7%; Industrial & Commercial Bank, 6.2%; Tencent Holdings, 4.1%; Bank of China, 4.0%; CNOOC Ltd., 3.9%; PetroChina, 3.5%; Baidu, 2.9%; China Petroleum & Chemical, 2.5%; and China Life, 2.5%;
The fund’s breakdown by industry is as follows: Financials, 34.9%; Oil and Gas, 14.0%; Information Technology, 11.4%; Industrials, 9.2%; Telecommunication Services, 8.6%; Consumer Discretionary, 6.2%; Consumer Staples, 5.6%; Basic Materials, 4.8%; Utilities, 3.2%; and Health Care, 2.1%.
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ISHARES MSCI EMERGING MARKETS EASTERN EUROPE INDEX FUND $24.07 (New York symbol ESR; buy or sell through brokers), is an ETF that aims to track the MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index. The fund’s geographic breakdown is as follows: Russia, 75.4%; Poland, 18.4%; Czech Republic, 3.2%; and Hungary, 2.6%.
The fund’s top holdings are Gazprom (Russia: gas utility), 15.4%; Sberbank (Russia: bank), 11.5%; Lukoil (Russia: oil), 11.1%; Magnit OJSC (Russia: retailing), 4.0%; Mobile TeleSystems (Russia: wireless), 3.6%; Novatek (Russia: natural gas), 3.3%; Uralkali (Russia: potash), 3.3%; Rosneft Oil Company (Russia: oil and gas), 3.3%; Tafneft (Russia: oil and gas), 3.2%; and PKO Bank Polski SA (Poland: banking), 3.1%.
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund’s expense ratio is 0.69%.
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The fund’s top holdings are Gazprom (Russia: gas utility), 15.4%; Sberbank (Russia: bank), 11.5%; Lukoil (Russia: oil), 11.1%; Magnit OJSC (Russia: retailing), 4.0%; Mobile TeleSystems (Russia: wireless), 3.6%; Novatek (Russia: natural gas), 3.3%; Uralkali (Russia: potash), 3.3%; Rosneft Oil Company (Russia: oil and gas), 3.3%; Tafneft (Russia: oil and gas), 3.2%; and PKO Bank Polski SA (Poland: banking), 3.1%.
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund’s expense ratio is 0.69%.
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ISHARES S&P INDIA NIFTY 50 INDEX FUND $23.61 (Nasdaq symbol INDY; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) is an ETF that aims to track the S&P CNX Nifty Index, which represents the 50 largest, most liquid Indian securities.
The fund’s top holdings are ITC Ltd. (conglomerate), 9.3%; Infosys Technologies (software), 7.6%; Housing Development Finance, 7.1%; Reliance Industries Ltd. (conglomerate), 7.0%; ICICI Bank, 6.7%; HDFC Bank, 6.4%; Tata Consultancy Services (information technology), 4.4%; Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (conglomerate), 4.1%; Oil & Natural Gas Corp., 3.0%; and State Bank of India, 3.0%.
The fund’s industry breakdown includes Banks, 20.4%; Computers, 14.5%; Cigarettes, 9.3%; Refineries, 7.5%; Housing, 7.1%; Pharmaceuticals, 5.3%; Engineering, 4.1%; Oil Exploration and Production, 3.9%; Automobiles, 3.1%; and Utilities, 2.8%; The ETF has a 0.92% expense ratio.
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The fund’s top holdings are ITC Ltd. (conglomerate), 9.3%; Infosys Technologies (software), 7.6%; Housing Development Finance, 7.1%; Reliance Industries Ltd. (conglomerate), 7.0%; ICICI Bank, 6.7%; HDFC Bank, 6.4%; Tata Consultancy Services (information technology), 4.4%; Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (conglomerate), 4.1%; Oil & Natural Gas Corp., 3.0%; and State Bank of India, 3.0%.
The fund’s industry breakdown includes Banks, 20.4%; Computers, 14.5%; Cigarettes, 9.3%; Refineries, 7.5%; Housing, 7.1%; Pharmaceuticals, 5.3%; Engineering, 4.1%; Oil Exploration and Production, 3.9%; Automobiles, 3.1%; and Utilities, 2.8%; The ETF has a 0.92% expense ratio.
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iShares Diversified Monthly Income Fund ETF, $12.52, symbol XTR on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 57.2 million; Market cap: $716.1 million; ca.ishares.com), holds units of nine different iShares exchange traded funds. Among these holdings are units of four bond funds that add up to 60.0% of the iShares Diversified Monthly Income Fund ETF’s assets. These include the iShares DEX Hybrid Bond Index Fund and the iShares DEX All-Corporate Bond Index Fund, both of which hold corporate bonds. As a general rule, the safest bonds are issued by or guaranteed by the federal government. Next are provincial issues or bonds with provincial guarantees. After that come corporate bonds....
Chinese stocks are down 12% since the start of this year. The markets have been reflecting investor worries that the country’s economic growth will continue to lag along with its exports to Europe and the U.S. China’s inflation rate is also rising, which could make it more difficult to spur growth through stimulus spending or lower interest rates. Still, the long-term outlook is bright....
Emerging markets continue to have sound longterm outlooks. A good way to profit from their growth with less risk is through low-fee exchange traded funds (ETFs). Here are two we see as buys.
ISHARES S&P INDIA NIFTY 50 INDEX FUND $23.61 (Nasdaq symbol INDY; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) is an ETF that aims to track the S&P CNX Nifty Index, which represents the 50 largest, most liquid Indian securities.
The fund’s top holdings are ITC Ltd....
ISHARES S&P INDIA NIFTY 50 INDEX FUND $23.61 (Nasdaq symbol INDY; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) is an ETF that aims to track the S&P CNX Nifty Index, which represents the 50 largest, most liquid Indian securities.
The fund’s top holdings are ITC Ltd....