etf

This month we look at two new bitcoin ETFs—one from Purpose Investment and the other from Evolve Funds. Due to U.S. regulatory restrictions, these Canadian-listed ETFs are among the first globally that directly hold bitcoin.


PURPOSE BITCOIN ETF $11.80 (Toronto symbol BTCC.B or BTCC.U) invests in the digital currency bitcoin....

The best exchange-traded funds offer investors well-diversified portfolios of high-quality stocks with low fees. Still, investors need to be aware of some potential pitfalls with ETF investing.


First, investors need to be sure they know all the ins and outs of what they are investing in....

South Korea has been one of the most impressive performers among emerging-market economies over the past 50 years. That’s especially so over the last year.


The country has managed the COVID-19 pandemic well, with the government implementing massive stimulus programs to boost the economy....

Many investors prefer to invest in securities listed on their home markets. Familiarity with the domestic environment and companies—and a lack of familiarity with foreign markets—are big reasons.


Canadian investors may also feel uncomfortable taking on the currency risk that comes with holding foreign securities—especially if they think the direction of the foreign currency is downward....

Commodity production is capital intensive with long development times. Producers face considerable costs to establish or replace mines, oilfields, and so on, or build processing, storage and transportation facilities. This means that the selling prices of their products can vary significantly from the time of their initial investment decisions....

BMO COVERED CALL UTILITIES ETF $12.37 (Toronto symbol ZWU) invests in Canadian and U.S. utility, pipeline, and telecommunications companies with what it sees as steady revenue streams; it also sells call options to enhance the yield on the portfolio.


The ETF, launched in October 2010, currently holds $1.0 billion of assets, and charges a somewhat high MER of 0.65%.


The fund has a very high 8.2% yield....

Last month we recommended some international ETFs—but at the same time, we noted that Canadian investors often have a bias for investing in their home markets. And we agree with that bias—we still recommend that most Canadians hold the bulk of their portfolios in Canadian stocks, or ETFs that hold those stocks.


Here we highlight two ETFs that invest in top Canadian stocks....

Most precious-metal stocks dropped, along with stock markets, in March 2020. They then quickly reversed that trend to soar for investors. In fact, In August 2020, gold jumped to over $2,000 U.S. an ounce for the first time ever. Gold stocks also jumped.


Gold prices have since drifted down to $1,711 as investor fears about many things have lessened....

INVESCO SOLAR ETF, $94.50, is a buy for aggressive investors. The ETF (New York symbol TAN; buy or sell through brokers) tracks solar-related companies (including technology firms and utilities) listed on global exchanges.


The fund’s top holdings are Enphase Energy (U.S.: home solar systems) at 11.1%; GCL-Poly Energy (China: solar panels), 8.4%; Daqo New Energy (China: silicon), 8.2%; SolarEdge Technologies (Israel: solar-power batteries), 8.1%; and Sunrun Inc....

VANECK VECTORS VIETNAM ETF, $17.60, is a buy for aggressive investors. This emerging-markets ETF (New York symbol VNM) lets you tap leading Vietnamese companies and foreign firms that get a significant share of their revenue from this Southeast Asian nation.


Your top holdings through this ETF are Vinhomes (real estate), 7.5%; No Va Land Investment, 7.5%; Vingroup (conglomerate), 7.3%; Vietnam Dairy, 7.3%; and the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam, 6.1%....