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ISHARES MSCI EMERGING MARKETS EASTERN EUROPE INDEX FUND $17.39 (New York symbol ESR; buy or sell through brokers) has 65.6% of its assets invested in Russia, followed by Poland at 27.2%; Czech Republic, 3.6%; and Hungary, 3.2%.

The fund’s top holdings are Gazprom (Russia: gas utility), 13.4%; Lukoil (Russia: oil), 11.2%; Magnit PJSC (Russia: retailing), 5.7%; Sberbank (Russia: bank), 5.3%; MMC Norilsk Nickel (Russia: mining), 4.5%; and Novatek (Russia: natural gas), 3.5%.

The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund’s expense ratio is 0.67%.

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ISHARES MSCI BRAZIL INDEX FUND $33.26 (New York symbol EWZ; buy or sell through brokers) is an ETF that is designed to track the Brazilian stock market.

Its top holdings are Cia Itau Unibanco Holding (banking), 10.3%; AmBev SA (beer and beverages), 8.6%; Banco Brandesco SA, 8.0%; Petrobras (oil and gas), 6.3%; Vale do Rio Doce (mining), 5.6%; BRF SA (food), 4.6%; and Cielo SA (payment processing), 3.4%.

The ETF was launched on July 10, 2000. It has a 0.62% expense ratio.

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ISHARES MSCI CHILE INVESTABLE MARKET INDEX FUND $40.95 (New York symbol ECH; buy or sell through brokers) is an ETF that aims to track the MSCI Chile Investable Market Index, which consists of stocks that mainly trade on the Santiago Stock Exchange.

The fund’s top holdings are S.A.C.I. Falabella (retail), 10.6%; Enersis SA (electricity), 9.6%; Empresas Copec SA (conglomerate), 7.9%; Empresa Nacional de Electricidad (electricity), 7.2%; LATAM Airlines, 5.0%; Banco Santander Chile (banking), 4.9%; Empresas CMPC (pulp and paper), 4.9%; Banco de Chile, 4.4%; Cencosud SA (retailer), 4.2%; and Quimica y Minera de Chile (mining), 4.1%.

The fund’s industry breakdown is: Utilities, 28.3%; Financials, 18.1%; Materials, 11.8%; Consumer Discretionary, 11.4%; Consumer Staples, 9.3%; Industrials, 8.2%; Energy, 7.7%; Telecommunications, 2.2%; and Information Technology, 2.2%.

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ISHARES MSCI GERMANY FUND $29.42 (New York symbol EWG; buy or sell through brokers) tracks the stocks in the MSCI Germany Index.

This index aims to replicate 85% of the market capitalization of the German stock market. The remaining 15% is unavailable for investment, partly due to limitations on foreign ownership.

The ETF’s top holdings are Bayer (diversified chemicals), 9.9%; Daimler (autos), 7.5%; BASF (chemicals), 7.3%; Siemens (engineering conglomerate), 7.9%; Allianz (insurance), 8.2%; SAP (software), 5.3%; Deutsche Telekom, 4.7%; Deutsche Bank AG, 3.7%; BMW AG, 3.4%; and Volkswagen AG, 3.1%.

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iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF, $6.99, symbol FIE on Toronto (Units outstanding: 45.0 million; Market cap: $314.6 million; www.blackrock.com), is a balanced fund with 16% of its assets in bonds and 16% in preferred shares. The other 68% is in common stocks. We don’t generally recommend balanced funds, as bonds are unlikely to perform well over the next few years, if only because interest rates will likely hold steady or rise. That means the fund would only earn interest income on its bonds; instead of capital gains, its bond holdings could produce capital losses. The iShares Canadian Financial Monthly Income ETF holds mostly corporate bonds, which expose you to varying levels of risk. Some are almost as safe as government bonds and offer only slightly higher yields. Others offer higher yields but are much riskier....

We think conservative investors could hold up to 10% of their portfolios in foreign stocks. One way to do that is to buy carefully chosen exchange traded funds (ETFs) that have an overseas focus. The best ETFs offer very low management fees and well-diversified, tax-efficient portfolios of highquality stocks. Here’s a look at six international ETFs:...

ISHARES MSCI AUSTRALIA ETF $23.58 (New York symbol EWA; buy or sell through brokers) is an ETF that holds the 72 largest Australian stocks. Its MER is 0.49%. The fund’s top holdings include Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 11.8%; Westpac Banking Corp., 9.3%; BHP Billiton, 8.5%; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, 7.7%; National Australia Bank, 7.1%; Wesfarmers, 3.9%; CSL Ltd., 3.5%; Woolworths, 3.1%; Rio Tinto, 2.2%; Telstra Group, 2.2%; Woodside Petroleum, 2.1%; Macquarie Group, 1.7%; and Scentre Group, 1.6%. Australia benefits from its stable banking and political systems. It’s also rich in natural resources, and while low commodity prices have hurt its economy lately, its close proximity to Asian markets with vast potential, including India and China, gives it strong long-term prospects....

ISHARES INDIA 50 ETF $33.02 (Nasdaq symbol INDY; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) is an ETF that invests in the 50 largest, most liquid Indian securities. Indian stocks have moved up 34%, to record highs, since the May 2014 election of Narendra Modi as prime minister. The government has just introduced its first full-year budget, and the $290-billion spending plan includes an additional $12 billion to address one of the country’s most pressing needs—modernizing its transportation, communications and electrical infrastructure....

In 2011, gold shot up to a high of $1,950 U.S. an ounce, and silver reached a high of $48.48. Gold prices then fell steadily and in late 2014 dropped below $1,200 for the first time since mid-2010. The metal now trades at $1,203. Silver also fell, hitting a five-year low of $15.35 an ounce in late 2014. It now trades at $16.21. In the longer term, gold and silver could well regain their 2011 highs. This will simply reflect the vast expansion in the U.S. money supply that has taken place since the financial crisis struck in 2008....

ISHARES MSCI SOUTH KOREA INDEX FUND $57.04 (New York symbol EWY; buy or sell through brokers) aims to track the MSCI Korea Index.

The ETF’s top holdings are Samsung Electronics, 21.0%; SK Hynix Semiconductor, 4.3%; Hyundai Motor Co., 4.0%; Shinhan Financial, 3.1%; Naver (Internet content), 3.0%; Posco (steel), 2.8%; Hyundai Mobis (auto parts), 2.7%; KB Financial, 2.6%; Kia Motors, 1.9%; and Korea Electric Power, 1.9%.

The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Information Technology, 38.2%; Consumer Discretionary, 16.6%; Financials, 14.3%; Industrials, 10.6%; Materials, 7.6%; Consumer Staples, 6.2%; Utilities, 2.1%; Energy, 1.6%; Telecommunication Services, 1.2%; and Health Care, 0.7%.

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