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.
Read More
Close
In September 2011, gold hit an all-time high of$1,900.30 U.S. an ounce. It now trades at around$1,686.50. Silver rose to an all-time high in April2011, when it reached $49.76 U.S. an ounce. It hassince pulled back to today’s price of $31.00.
Gold and silver could well regain their highs andmove up even further over the longer term, althoughthey will likely remain volatile....
Gold and silver could well regain their highs andmove up even further over the longer term, althoughthey will likely remain volatile....
GLOBAL X COPPER MINERS ETF $13.59(New York symbol COPX; buy or sell through brokers;www.globalxfunds.com) tracks the Solactive GlobalCopper Miners Index, which includes between20 and 40 international companies that mine,refine or explore for copper. Germany-basedStructured Solutions AG created this index.
Canadian companies make up 43.3% of thefund’s holdings....
Canadian companies make up 43.3% of thefund’s holdings....
Pennsylvania-based Vanguard Group is one of theworld’s largest investment management companies.The group manages over $1.7 trillion U.S. in 170mutual funds.
Vanguard, which went into business in 1975,offers low-fee index mutual funds. Generally speaking,Canadians can’t buy units of mutual funds thatare registered in the U.S....
Vanguard, which went into business in 1975,offers low-fee index mutual funds. Generally speaking,Canadians can’t buy units of mutual funds thatare registered in the U.S....
ISHARES MSCI EMERGING MARKETS EASTERN EUROPE INDEX FUND $24.70 (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, 72.2%; Poland, 18.6%; Czech Republic, 3.7%; and Hungary, 3.7%.
The fund’s top holdings are Gazprom (Russia: gas utility), 16.9%; Lukoil (Russia: oil), 11.0%; Sberbank (Russia: bank), 8.7%; Uralkali (Russia: potash), 3.5%; Rosneft Oil Company (Russia: oil and gas), 3.4%; Novatek (Russia: natural gas), 3.4%; Magnit OJSC (Russia: retailing), 3.3%; Tafneft (Russia: oil and gas), 3.2%; Mobile TeleSystems (Russia: wireless), 3.1%; and PKO Bank Polski SA (Poland: banking), 2.9%.
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund’s expense ratio is 0.68%.
...
The fund’s top holdings are Gazprom (Russia: gas utility), 16.9%; Lukoil (Russia: oil), 11.0%; Sberbank (Russia: bank), 8.7%; Uralkali (Russia: potash), 3.5%; Rosneft Oil Company (Russia: oil and gas), 3.4%; Novatek (Russia: natural gas), 3.4%; Magnit OJSC (Russia: retailing), 3.3%; Tafneft (Russia: oil and gas), 3.2%; Mobile TeleSystems (Russia: wireless), 3.1%; and PKO Bank Polski SA (Poland: banking), 2.9%.
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund’s expense ratio is 0.68%.
...
ISHARES S&P INDIA NIFTY 50 INDEX FUND $23.67 (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), 8.8%; Reliance Industries Ltd. (conglomerate), 7.2%; HDFC Bank, 6.9%; Housing Development Finance, 6.8%; ICICI Bank, 6.7%; Infosys Technologies (software), 6.4%; Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (conglomerate), 4.8%; Tata Consultancy Services (information technology), 3.7%; Hindustan Unilever (consumer goods), 3.1%; and State Bank of India, 3.1%.
The fund’s industry breakdown includes Banks, 20.7%; Computers, 12.2%; Cigarettes, 8.8%; Refineries, 7.6%; Housing, 6.8%; Pharmaceuticals, 5.1%; Engineering, 4.8%; Automobiles, 3.6%; and Oil Exploration/Production, 3.6%. The ETF has an expense ratio of 0.89%.
India’s economy likely slowed to a 5.5% growth rate in the third quarter of 2012 from 6.9% a year earlier. But that could rise to over 7.0% next year.
...
The fund’s industry breakdown includes Banks, 20.7%; Computers, 12.2%; Cigarettes, 8.8%; Refineries, 7.6%; Housing, 6.8%; Pharmaceuticals, 5.1%; Engineering, 4.8%; Automobiles, 3.6%; and Oil Exploration/Production, 3.6%. The ETF has an expense ratio of 0.89%.
India’s economy likely slowed to a 5.5% growth rate in the third quarter of 2012 from 6.9% a year earlier. But that could rise to over 7.0% next year.
...
GUGGENHEIM CHINA SMALL CAP ETF $22.33 (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 $231.4-millon fund’s top holdings are Great Wall Motor Co., 2.4%, Shimao Property Holdings, 1.8%; Sino-Ocean Land Holdings, 1.8%; Longfor Properties, 1.7%; China Railway Group, 1.6%; Guangdong Investment Ltd., 1.4%; China Railway Construction Corp., 1.3%; Zoomlion Heavy Industry, 1.3%; China State Construction International Holdings, 1.3%; and Agile Property Holdings, 1.2%.
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.
...
The $231.4-millon fund’s top holdings are Great Wall Motor Co., 2.4%, Shimao Property Holdings, 1.8%; Sino-Ocean Land Holdings, 1.8%; Longfor Properties, 1.7%; China Railway Group, 1.6%; Guangdong Investment Ltd., 1.4%; China Railway Construction Corp., 1.3%; Zoomlion Heavy Industry, 1.3%; China State Construction International Holdings, 1.3%; and Agile Property Holdings, 1.2%.
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.
...
SPDR S&P CHINA ETF $68.92 (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 $919.1-million fund’s top holdings are China Mobile, 7.6%; China Construction Bank, 7.5%; Industrial & Commercial Bank, 6.1%; CNOOC Ltd., 4.4%; Tencent Holdings Limited, 4.4%; PetroChina Corp., 3.7%; Bank of China, 3.7%; Baidu, 3.3%; China Life, 2.8%; and China Petroleum & Chemical, 2.4%.
The fund’s breakdown by industry is as follows: Financials, 33.4%; Oil and Gas, 14.9%; Information Technology, 11.4%; Telecommunication Services, 9.7%; Industrials, 9.5%; Consumer Discretionary, 6.1%; Consumer Staples, 5.8%; Basic Materials, 4.9%; Utilities, 2.6%; and Health Care, 1.8%.
...
The $919.1-million fund’s top holdings are China Mobile, 7.6%; China Construction Bank, 7.5%; Industrial & Commercial Bank, 6.1%; CNOOC Ltd., 4.4%; Tencent Holdings Limited, 4.4%; PetroChina Corp., 3.7%; Bank of China, 3.7%; Baidu, 3.3%; China Life, 2.8%; and China Petroleum & Chemical, 2.4%.
The fund’s breakdown by industry is as follows: Financials, 33.4%; Oil and Gas, 14.9%; Information Technology, 11.4%; Telecommunication Services, 9.7%; Industrials, 9.5%; Consumer Discretionary, 6.1%; Consumer Staples, 5.8%; Basic Materials, 4.9%; Utilities, 2.6%; and Health Care, 1.8%.
...
ISHARES CDN REIT SECTOR INDEX FUND $16.40 (Toronto symbol XRE; buy or sell through brokers; ca.ishares.com) holds the 13 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 4.5%.
The ETF’s largest holding is RioCan REIT at 20.8%, followed by H&R REIT (11.6%), Dundee REIT (9.1%),Canadian REIT (7.4%), Calloway REIT (7.3%), Cominar REIT (6.7%), Boardwalk REIT (6.6%), Canadian Apartment REIT (6.0%), Primaris Retail REIT (5.5%), Allied Properties REIT (4.9%), Chartwell Seniors REIT(4.6%), Artis REIT (4.6%), Northern Property REIT (2.6%) and Crombie REIT (2.0%).
...
iShares CDN REIT’s expenses are 0.60% of its assets. The fund yields 4.5%.
The ETF’s largest holding is RioCan REIT at 20.8%, followed by H&R REIT (11.6%), Dundee REIT (9.1%),Canadian REIT (7.4%), Calloway REIT (7.3%), Cominar REIT (6.7%), Boardwalk REIT (6.6%), Canadian Apartment REIT (6.0%), Primaris Retail REIT (5.5%), Allied Properties REIT (4.9%), Chartwell Seniors REIT(4.6%), Artis REIT (4.6%), Northern Property REIT (2.6%) and Crombie REIT (2.0%).
...
ISHARES AUSTRALIA INDEX FUND $24.58 (New York symbol EWA; buy or sell through brokers) is an ETF that holds the 71 largest Australian stocks. Its MER is 0.52%.
The fund’s top holdings include BHP Billiton, 12.1%; Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 10.1%; Westpac Banking Corp., 8.6%; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, 7.5%; National Australia Bank, 6.5%; Woolworths, 4.0%; Wesfarmers, 3.8%; Rio Tinto, 2.7%; CSL Ltd., 2.6%; and Westfield Group, 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 with vast potential, including India and China.
...
The fund’s top holdings include BHP Billiton, 12.1%; Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 10.1%; Westpac Banking Corp., 8.6%; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, 7.5%; National Australia Bank, 6.5%; Woolworths, 4.0%; Wesfarmers, 3.8%; Rio Tinto, 2.7%; CSL Ltd., 2.6%; and Westfield Group, 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 with vast potential, including India and China.
...
ISHARES MSCI BRAZIL INDEX FUND $53.35 (New York Exchange symbol EWZ; buy or sell through brokers) is an exchange traded fund that is designed to track the Brazilian stock market. The fund’s top holdings are Petrobras preferred shares (energy), 9.8%; Vale do Rio Doce (mining) preferred, 7.9%; Petrobras common, 7.3%; Cia Itau Unibanco Holding (banking), 7.1%; Banco Brandesco (banking) preferred, 6.4%; and Vale SA, 3.9%.
The fund’s concentration in certain stocks, such as Petrobras and Vale do Rio Doce, adds risk, as does its focus on the resource sector. However, both are high-quality stocks.
Brazil’s economy is forecast to grow at just 1.5% this year. Domestic consumption remains strong, but exports have slowed. Still, growth could rebound to as high as 4.0% next year.
...
The fund’s concentration in certain stocks, such as Petrobras and Vale do Rio Doce, adds risk, as does its focus on the resource sector. However, both are high-quality stocks.
Brazil’s economy is forecast to grow at just 1.5% this year. Domestic consumption remains strong, but exports have slowed. Still, growth could rebound to as high as 4.0% next year.
...