ishares
ISHARES MSCI CHILE INVESTABLE MARKET INDEX FUND $46.03 (New York Exchange 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), 9.0%; Enersis SA (electricity), 8.8%; Empresas Copec SA (conglomerate), 8.5%; LATAM Airlines, 6.9%; Empresa Nacional de Electricidad (electricity), 6.7%; Cencosud SA (retailer), 5.2%; Banco Santander Chile (banking), 4.7%; Quimica y Minera de Chile (mining), 4.5%; Banco de Chile, 4.4%; and Empresas CMPC (pulp and paper), 4.0%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is: Utilities, 25.0%; Financials, 17.3%; Materials, 13.7%; Consumer Discretionary, 10.6%; Industrials, 9.9%; Consumer Staples, 9.9%; Energy, 8.5%; Telecommunications, 2.4%; and Information Technology, 2.0%.
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The fund’s top holdings are S.A.C.I. Falabella (retail), 9.0%; Enersis SA (electricity), 8.8%; Empresas Copec SA (conglomerate), 8.5%; LATAM Airlines, 6.9%; Empresa Nacional de Electricidad (electricity), 6.7%; Cencosud SA (retailer), 5.2%; Banco Santander Chile (banking), 4.7%; Quimica y Minera de Chile (mining), 4.5%; Banco de Chile, 4.4%; and Empresas CMPC (pulp and paper), 4.0%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is: Utilities, 25.0%; Financials, 17.3%; Materials, 13.7%; Consumer Discretionary, 10.6%; Industrials, 9.9%; Consumer Staples, 9.9%; Energy, 8.5%; Telecommunications, 2.4%; and Information Technology, 2.0%.
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ISHARES MSCI GERMANY FUND $31.68 (New York Exchange symbol EWG; buy or sell through brokers) tracks the stocks in the MSCI Germany Index.
This index aims to replicate 85% of the total 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), 8.8%; Siemens (engineering conglomerate), 8.5%; BASF (chemicals), 8.3%; Daimler (autos), 7.1%; Allianz (insurance), 6.2%; SAP (software), 5.8%; Deutsche Telekom, 3.7%; Deutsche Bank, 3.6%; and BMW, 3.3%.
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This index aims to replicate 85% of the total 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), 8.8%; Siemens (engineering conglomerate), 8.5%; BASF (chemicals), 8.3%; Daimler (autos), 7.1%; Allianz (insurance), 6.2%; SAP (software), 5.8%; Deutsche Telekom, 3.7%; Deutsche Bank, 3.6%; and BMW, 3.3%.
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ISHARES MSCI SOUTH KOREA INDEX FUND $62.55 (New York Exchange symbol EWY; buy or sell through brokers) aims to track the MSCI Korea Index.
The ETF’s top holdings are Samsung Electronics, 22.1%; Hyundai Motor Co., 5.8%; SK Hynix Semiconductor, 3.5%; Naver (Internet content), 3.4%; Hyundai Mobis (auto parts), 3.3%; Posco (steel), 3.1%; Shinhan Financial, 3.0%; Kia Motors, 2.4%; LG Chemical, 2.0%; and KB Financial, 2.0%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Information Technology, 32.9%; Consumer Discretionary, 19.1%; Financials, 14.2%; Industrials, 12.8%; Materials, 9.2%; Consumer Staples, 5.3%; Energy, 2.1%; Utilities, 1.8%; Telecommunication Services, 1.0%; and Health Care, 0.7%.
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The ETF’s top holdings are Samsung Electronics, 22.1%; Hyundai Motor Co., 5.8%; SK Hynix Semiconductor, 3.5%; Naver (Internet content), 3.4%; Hyundai Mobis (auto parts), 3.3%; Posco (steel), 3.1%; Shinhan Financial, 3.0%; Kia Motors, 2.4%; LG Chemical, 2.0%; and KB Financial, 2.0%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Information Technology, 32.9%; Consumer Discretionary, 19.1%; Financials, 14.2%; Industrials, 12.8%; Materials, 9.2%; Consumer Staples, 5.3%; Energy, 2.1%; Utilities, 1.8%; Telecommunication Services, 1.0%; and Health Care, 0.7%.
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ISHARES MSCI EMERGING MARKETS INDEX FUND $41.33 (New York symbol EEM; buy or sell through brokers) aims to track the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.
Its geographic breakdown includes China, 17.6%; South Korea, 16.0%; Taiwan, 11.9%; Brazil, 11.3%; South Africa, 7.8%; India, 6.7%; Russia, 4.7%; Mexico, 4.7%; Malaysia, 3.9%; and Indonesia, 2.7%.
The fund’s top holdings are Samsung Electronics (South Korea), 3.9%; Taiwan Semiconductor (computer chips), 2.5%; Tencent Holdings (China: Internet), 1.8%; China Mobile, 1.4%; China Construction Bank, 1.3%; Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, 1.2%; Itau Unibanco Holding (Brazil: banking), 1.1%; and Gazprom (Russia: gas utility), 1.1%.
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Its geographic breakdown includes China, 17.6%; South Korea, 16.0%; Taiwan, 11.9%; Brazil, 11.3%; South Africa, 7.8%; India, 6.7%; Russia, 4.7%; Mexico, 4.7%; Malaysia, 3.9%; and Indonesia, 2.7%.
The fund’s top holdings are Samsung Electronics (South Korea), 3.9%; Taiwan Semiconductor (computer chips), 2.5%; Tencent Holdings (China: Internet), 1.8%; China Mobile, 1.4%; China Construction Bank, 1.3%; Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, 1.2%; Itau Unibanco Holding (Brazil: banking), 1.1%; and Gazprom (Russia: gas utility), 1.1%.
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ISHARES MSCI JAPAN INDEX FUND $11.08 (New York Exchange symbol EWJ; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) is an ETF that tries to match the return of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Japan index.
The fund’s top holdings include Toyota, 5.8%; Softbank Corp., 2.8%; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, 2.7%; Honda Motor, 2.2%; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, 1.9%; Mizuho Financial Group, 1.7%; Japan Tobacco, 1.4%; Hitachi, 1.4%; Takeda Pharmaceutical, 1.4%; and Canon, 1.4%.
The fund’s industry breakdown includes: Consumer Discretionary, 20.8%; Industrials, 19.6%; Financials, 19.5%; Information Technology, 10.9%; Consumer Staples, 6.6%; Health Care, 6.4%; Telecommunication Services, 5.7%; Materials, 5.6%; Utilities, 2.5%; and Energy, 1.2%.
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The fund’s top holdings include Toyota, 5.8%; Softbank Corp., 2.8%; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, 2.7%; Honda Motor, 2.2%; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, 1.9%; Mizuho Financial Group, 1.7%; Japan Tobacco, 1.4%; Hitachi, 1.4%; Takeda Pharmaceutical, 1.4%; and Canon, 1.4%.
The fund’s industry breakdown includes: Consumer Discretionary, 20.8%; Industrials, 19.6%; Financials, 19.5%; Information Technology, 10.9%; Consumer Staples, 6.6%; Health Care, 6.4%; Telecommunication Services, 5.7%; Materials, 5.6%; Utilities, 2.5%; and Energy, 1.2%.
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We think most 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 high-quality stocks. Today we examine two international ETFs covered regularly in Canadian Wealth Advisor....
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 high-quality stocks. Here a look at six global ETFs:...
ISHARES AUSTRALIA INDEX FUND $26.45 (New York symbol EWA; buy or sell through brokers) is an ETF that holds the 72 largest Australian stocks. Its MER is 0.48%.
The fund’s top holdings include Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 11.1%; BHP Billiton, 10.5%; Westpac Banking Corp., 9.6%; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, 8.3%; National Australia Bank, 7.3%; Wesfarmers, 4.3%; Woolworths, 4.2%; CSL Ltd., 2.9%; Rio Tinto, 2.3%; Woodside Petroleum, 2.3%; Telstra Group, 1.9%, Westfield Group, 1.9%; and Macquarie Group, 1.4%.
Australia benefits from its stable banking and political systems....
The fund’s top holdings include Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 11.1%; BHP Billiton, 10.5%; Westpac Banking Corp., 9.6%; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, 8.3%; National Australia Bank, 7.3%; Wesfarmers, 4.3%; Woolworths, 4.2%; CSL Ltd., 2.9%; Rio Tinto, 2.3%; Woodside Petroleum, 2.3%; Telstra Group, 1.9%, Westfield Group, 1.9%; and Macquarie Group, 1.4%.
Australia benefits from its stable banking and political systems....
Tricon Capital Group, $7.36, symbol TCN on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 90.5 million; Market cap: $674.3 million; www.triconcapital.com), is focused on North American residential real estate development. It has about $1.9 billion of assets under management. Tricon manages limited partnerships that provide financing to developers, usually in the form of loans, mainly for single- and multi-family construction and retail developed in conjunction with residential projects. Since its inception in 1988, Tricon has financed about 160 transactions for over $11 billion worth of developments. The company currently owns 22,500 single-family lots and 6,300 apartment units, as well as over 3,300 single-family rental homes in the U.S....
Canada’s inflation rate is just 1.1%, well below the Bank of Canada’s 2% target. That lets the bank keep interest rates low, which holds down our dollar, making our exports cheaper in world markets. That’s good for Canada’s economic growth, but bad for income investors. We continue to advise against investing in bonds right now. Today’s low interest rates make them unattractive for income. Rising rates would push down their asset value....
