Low-fee ETFs for emerging-market growth

Article Excerpt

The long-term outlook is bright for emerging-market economies and companies that operate in them. One of the best ways to tap into that growth is through low-fee exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ISHARES S&P INDIA NIFTY 50 INDEX FUND $25.31 (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 Reliance Industries (conglomerate), 7.7%; Infosys Technologies (software), 7.4%; ITC Ltd. (conglomerate), 7.4%; ICICI Bank, 6.7%; Housing Development Finance, 5.9%; Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (conglomerate), 5.7%; HDFC Bank, 5.6%; State Bank of India, 3.4%; Tata Consultancy Services (information technology), 3.3%; and Bharti Airtel (wireless), 3.3%. The fund’s industry breakdown includes: Banks, 18.9%; Software, 12.5%; Refineries, 9.4%; Cigarettes, 7.4%; Finance: Housing, 5.9%; Engineering, 5.7%; Automobiles, 5.0%; Power, 4.5%; Pharmaceuticals, 4.0% and Steel, 3.9%. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.89%. India’s economy has grown by more than 9% annually in the past…