| There are an extraordinary number and types of | | | | one of my very favorites Brazil (EWZ). The Brazil |
| exchange traded funds that are available to | | | | ETF is very liquid and represents a country that is |
| individual investors to meet any investment | | | | quickly turning into the economic powerhouse of |
| objective. There are so many, however, that it's | | | | Latin America in the Western Hemisphere. |
| useful to examine the categories so you can | | | | 5. Business sectors: these include specific market |
| make a wiser choice for your particular needs. | | | | segments such as semiconductors (SMH), |
| The following list is a simple summary of many of | | | | utilities(XLU, UTH), regional banks (KRE), US |
| the most popular categories along with a few | | | | residential real estate (RWR), biotechnology (BBH), |
| example ticker symbols seem able to look for | | | | medical devices (IHI) to name just a few. |
| when you go to Yahoo finance or MSN Money | | | | 6. individual commodities & baskets of |
| Central to do your due diligence. Remember, | | | | commodities: this is been a very hot sector over |
| investing is not child's play and you should consult | | | | the last year and the run may be done. |
| a financial professional before making any | | | | Commodities tend to be cyclical and very volatile |
| decisions. | | | | at the end of long trends. You can either buy |
| ETFs have useful variety. No matter what kind of | | | | baskets like the Deutsche Bank commodities |
| ETF you need for your trading or investing | | | | blend (DBC) or ETF that reflect individual |
| interests, you are sure to be able to find an ETF | | | | commodities such as gold (GLD, IAU) or grains |
| that's right for you. You can find ETFs that track: | | | | (DBA). |
| | | | 7. currencies & currency pair trades: the |
| 1. broad indices: these are indexes like the Dow 30 | | | | seven major currencies of the Forex market can |
| industrial average, the S&P 500 index, and | | | | now be purchased as ETF's including the US dollar |
| the NASDAQ 100. Their symbols are : DIA, | | | | n(USD). You could even get sophisticated pair |
| SPY,and QQQQ. There are other major indexes | | | | trade ETF's which play the difference between |
| like Japan Nikkei (EWJ), the European large-cap | | | | currency pairs. This is sophisticated trading that is |
| 350 (IEV) and the Morgan Stanley European and | | | | not for novices. |
| Asian mature company index (EFA). EFA is a | | | | 8. Morningstar style boxes: there are ETF's the |
| particular favorite of mine because it represents | | | | correspond to different styles according to them |
| the mature industrial world minus the US. | | | | and MorningStar style box framework such as |
| 2. major market sectors: these include ETF's for | | | | large-cap value or small-cap growth. |
| the nine sectors of the S&P 500 known as | | | | 9. proprietary fundamental screens: there are |
| the sector SPDRs or "Sector Spiders". These | | | | even ETF's that reflect specific investment |
| ETF's symbols begin with an ax and include | | | | strategies and hypotheses. These all tend to be |
| finance, industrial, consumer staples, utilities, and | | | | very sophisticated strategies and in order not to |
| technology among others. These are very high | | | | lead you astray I will refrain from reporting their |
| volume, very liquid and can be traded with options | | | | symbols. It is enough to know that any philosophy |
| as well as in direct trading. | | | | of investment or trading can be framed with an |
| 3. regions of the world: these correspond to | | | | appropriate set of ETF's |
| different regions of the world markets such as | | | | 10. varieties of bonds and income-generating |
| Asia less Japan (EPP), European and Asian mix | | | | dividend payers: a couple easy ones are long-term |
| (EFA), Latin America(ILF), and emerging markets | | | | treasuries (TLT) and aggregate income that |
| (EEM) | | | | mixes treasuries and corporate bonds (AGG) |
| 4. individual countries: there're over 30 separate | | | | 11. the entire world market.: a simple example is |
| countries with their own ETF. These typically | | | | the vanguard total market Index viper (VTI) |
| reflect the stock markets of each country | | | | With so many ETF to choose from you can be |
| comprising the largest capitalized companies. Just | | | | sure that there are some that will meet your |
| to name a few: Canada9EWC), Mexico(EWW) and | | | | every investment need. |