ishares
ISHARES FTSE/XINHUA CHINA 25 INDEX FUND $38.31 (New York symbol FXI; buy or sell through brokers) is an ETF that aims to track the FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index, which is made up of the 25 largest and most liquid Chinese stocks. All of the stocks in the index trade on the Hong Kong exchange. Some also trade as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the New York exchange. The fund’s top holdings are China Mobile, 10.3%; China Construction Bank, 8.7%; Industrial & Commercial Bank, 7.9%; CNOOC, 6.9%; Bank of China, 6.0%; Ping An Insurance, 4.2%; Petrochina, 4.1%; China Merchants Bank, 4.1%; and China Life Insurance, 4.1%. The fund’s holdings give it the following industry breakdown: Financials, 53.9%; Telecommunications, 18.0%; Oil and Gas, 14.8%; Basic Materials, 10.3%; and Industrials, 2.2%; The ETF has an expense ratio of 0.72%....
In September 2011, gold hit an all-time high of $1,900.30 U.S. an ounce. It now trades at around $1,654.00. Silver reached an all-time high in April 2012, when it reached $49.76 U.S. an ounce. It has since pulled back to today’s price of $30.32. Gold and silver could well regain their highs and move up even further over the longer term, although they will likely remain volatile. Higher prices would arise from investor fears that inflation or global political and economic instability will weaken key currencies, such as the euro or the U.S. dollar. If you want to hold a number of gold or silver stocks, these two exchange traded funds offer top-quality global miners and low fees....
ISHARES DEX UNIVERSE BOND INDEX FUND $31.01 (CWA Rating: Income) (Toronto symbol XBB; buy or sell through brokers) mirrors the performance of the DEX Universe Bond Index. The 591 bonds in the portfolio have an average term to maturity of 9.45 years. The fund’s MER is 0.32%.
The bonds in the index are 69.2% government and 30.8% corporate.
The fund yields 3.2%, compared to the Short Term Bond Fund’s 2.9%. Its yield to maturity is 2.51%, 0.76% above the Short Term Fund. That reflects the added risk of holding long-term bonds.
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The bonds in the index are 69.2% government and 30.8% corporate.
The fund yields 3.2%, compared to the Short Term Bond Fund’s 2.9%. Its yield to maturity is 2.51%, 0.76% above the Short Term Fund. That reflects the added risk of holding long-term bonds.
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ISHARES DEX SHORT TERM BOND INDEX FUND $28.94 (CWA Rating: Income) (Toronto symbol XSB; buy or sell through brokers) mirrors the performance of the DEX Short Term Bond Index.
This index consists of a wide range of investment-grade federal, provincial, municipal and corporate bonds with between one- and five-year terms to maturity. The fund holds 295 bonds with an average term to maturity of 2.85 years. The bonds in the index are 64.2% government and 35.8% corporate. The fund’s MER is 0.26%.
iShares DEX Short Term Bond Index Fund yields 2.9%. However, this high yield is due to the fact that some of the fund’s bonds pay above-market interest rates. But as a result, they trade above their face value. When these bonds mature, holders will only get the bonds’ face value, which means the portfolio will incur predictable capital losses. These losses will offset some of the appeal of the above-market yields.
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This index consists of a wide range of investment-grade federal, provincial, municipal and corporate bonds with between one- and five-year terms to maturity. The fund holds 295 bonds with an average term to maturity of 2.85 years. The bonds in the index are 64.2% government and 35.8% corporate. The fund’s MER is 0.26%.
iShares DEX Short Term Bond Index Fund yields 2.9%. However, this high yield is due to the fact that some of the fund’s bonds pay above-market interest rates. But as a result, they trade above their face value. When these bonds mature, holders will only get the bonds’ face value, which means the portfolio will incur predictable capital losses. These losses will offset some of the appeal of the above-market yields.
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The Bank of Canada is holding interest rates steady, even though the current inflation rate of 2.6% is above the bank’s 2% target. The bank doesn’t want to slow Canada’s economic growth with higher rates, or push the dollar any higher. Still, the long-term outlook is for higher interest rates. The heavy deficit spending of the past few years and the expansion of the money supply, which is still underway, increase the potential for higher inflation. We continue to advise against investing in bonds right now. Today’s low interest rates make them unattractive now, and rising interest rates would push down their future value....
ISHARES AUSTRALIA INDEX FUND $23.75 (New York symbol EWA; buy or sell through brokers), is an ETF that holds the 73 largest Australian stocks. Its MER is 0.52%.
The fund’s top holdings include BHP Billiton, 13.7%; Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 9.2%; Westpac Banking Corp., 7.5%; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, 6.9%; National Australia Bank, 6.1%; Woolworths, 3.6%; Rio Tinto, 3.5%; Wesfarmers, 3.5%; Newcrest Mining, 3.0%; and Woodside Petroleum, 2.8%.
Australia benefits from its stable banking and political systems. It is also rich in natural resources, and its exports are in high demand in Asian markets, including India and China.
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The fund’s top holdings include BHP Billiton, 13.7%; Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 9.2%; Westpac Banking Corp., 7.5%; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, 6.9%; National Australia Bank, 6.1%; Woolworths, 3.6%; Rio Tinto, 3.5%; Wesfarmers, 3.5%; Newcrest Mining, 3.0%; and Woodside Petroleum, 2.8%.
Australia benefits from its stable banking and political systems. It is also rich in natural resources, and its exports are in high demand in Asian markets, including India and China.
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ISHARES MSCI BRAZIL INDEX FUND $69.18 (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), 10.2%; Cia Vale do Rio Doce (mining) preferred, 8.7%; Itau Unibanco Multiplo SA (banking), 8.1%; Petrobras common, 7.7%; and Banco Brandesco (banking) preferred, 5.7%.
The fund’s concentration in certain stocks, such as Petrobras and Cia 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 a rate of 4.5% in 2012.
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The fund’s top holdings are Petrobras preferred shares (energy), 10.2%; Cia Vale do Rio Doce (mining) preferred, 8.7%; Itau Unibanco Multiplo SA (banking), 8.1%; Petrobras common, 7.7%; and Banco Brandesco (banking) preferred, 5.7%.
The fund’s concentration in certain stocks, such as Petrobras and Cia 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 a rate of 4.5% in 2012.
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ISHARES MSCI CHILE INVESTABLE MARKET INDEX FUND $67.90 (New York Exchange symbol ECH; buy or sell through brokers), is an ETF that aims to track the MSCI Chile Investable Market Index. This index consists of stocks that are mainly traded on the Santiago Stock Exchange.
The fund’s top holdings are Empresas Copec SA (conglomerate), 10.3%; Quimica y Minera de Chile (mining), 7.7%; Cencosud SA (retailer), 7.6%; Empresa Nacional de Electricidad (electric power), 7.4%; Enersis AS (electric power), 6.7%; Banco Santander Chile (banking), 6.6%; Empresas CMPC (pulp and paper), 5.2%; LAN Airlines SA (Chilean national airline), 4.8%; S.A.C.I. Falabella (retail), 4.7%; and CAP SA (iron mining and steel), 4.6%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Utilities, 22.4%; Materials, 18.3%; Industrials, 18.0%; Financials, 17.4%; Consumer Staples, 13.0%; Consumer Discretionary, 6.1%; Telecommunications, 2.7%; and Information Technology, 1.3%.
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The fund’s top holdings are Empresas Copec SA (conglomerate), 10.3%; Quimica y Minera de Chile (mining), 7.7%; Cencosud SA (retailer), 7.6%; Empresa Nacional de Electricidad (electric power), 7.4%; Enersis AS (electric power), 6.7%; Banco Santander Chile (banking), 6.6%; Empresas CMPC (pulp and paper), 5.2%; LAN Airlines SA (Chilean national airline), 4.8%; S.A.C.I. Falabella (retail), 4.7%; and CAP SA (iron mining and steel), 4.6%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Utilities, 22.4%; Materials, 18.3%; Industrials, 18.0%; Financials, 17.4%; Consumer Staples, 13.0%; Consumer Discretionary, 6.1%; Telecommunications, 2.7%; and Information Technology, 1.3%.
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ISHARES MSCI GERMANY FUND $22.95 (New York Exchange symbol EWG; buy or sell through brokers) is an ETF that aims to track 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 fund’s top holdings are Siemens AG (engineering conglomerate), 9.2%; BASF (chemicals), 8.9%; SAP (software), 6.9%; Bayer (diversified chemicals), 6.4%; Daimler AG (automobiles), 6.4%; Allianz (insurance), 6.2%; Deutsche Bank AG, 4.9%; E.ON (energy), 4.6%; Deutsche Telekom, 3.7%; and BMW AG (automobiles), 3.5%.
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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 fund’s top holdings are Siemens AG (engineering conglomerate), 9.2%; BASF (chemicals), 8.9%; SAP (software), 6.9%; Bayer (diversified chemicals), 6.4%; Daimler AG (automobiles), 6.4%; Allianz (insurance), 6.2%; Deutsche Bank AG, 4.9%; E.ON (energy), 4.6%; Deutsche Telekom, 3.7%; and BMW AG (automobiles), 3.5%.
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ISHARES MSCI SOUTH KOREA INDEX FUND $59.87 (New York Exchange symbol EWY; buy or sell through brokers), is an exchange traded fund that aims to track the MSCI Korea Index.
The fund’s top holdings are Samsung Electronics, 20.8%; Hyundai Motor Co., 5.3%; Posco (steel), 4.4%; Hyundai Mobis (auto parts), 3.0%; LG Chemical, 3.0%; Shinhan Financial, 3.0%; Kia Motors, 2.7%; KB Financial, 2.4%; Hynix Semiconductor, 2.4%; and Hyundai Heavy Industries, 2.1%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Information Technology, 30.8%; Consumer Discretionary, 16.3%; Industrials, 14.7%; Financials, 13.9%; Materials, 13.0%; Consumer Staples, 4.5%; Energy, 3.3%; Telecommunication Services, 0.9%; Utilities, 1.2%; and Health Care, 0.6%.
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The fund’s top holdings are Samsung Electronics, 20.8%; Hyundai Motor Co., 5.3%; Posco (steel), 4.4%; Hyundai Mobis (auto parts), 3.0%; LG Chemical, 3.0%; Shinhan Financial, 3.0%; Kia Motors, 2.7%; KB Financial, 2.4%; Hynix Semiconductor, 2.4%; and Hyundai Heavy Industries, 2.1%.
The fund’s industry breakdown is as follows: Information Technology, 30.8%; Consumer Discretionary, 16.3%; Industrials, 14.7%; Financials, 13.9%; Materials, 13.0%; Consumer Staples, 4.5%; Energy, 3.3%; Telecommunication Services, 0.9%; Utilities, 1.2%; and Health Care, 0.6%.
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