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Exchange Traded Funds: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
A List of Gold ETFs
If you are considering adding a gold ETF to your portfolio, here are some of the main ETFs and ETNs you should be watching.
GLL - a Short Gold ETF
The UltraShort Gold ProShares ETF (GLL) inversely tracks twice the performance of the gold bullion. As the index falls in price, the gold ETF increases.
List of Inverse ETFs and ETNs
Inverse ETFs are a way to put on a short ETF position by buying an exchange traded fund. You can use them to inversely track an underlying index or investment product, hedge downside risk, or open your portfolio to downside exposure. How you use them is up to you, however this list of inverse ETFs may help you decide which ones to use.
List of Currency ETFs
Here is a of currency ETFs and ETNs. Currency ETFs can be used as an easy way to enter the currency market, hedge inflation, portfolio risk, and foreign risk, gain foreign investment exposure, emerging market exposure, exposure to domestic currencies, and diversify a portfolio.
List International Bond ETFs
A list of international Bond ETFs for investors looking to gain exposure to foreign markets, hedge foreign interest rates, or create a revenue stream in their portfolios.
Gold ETFs
Gold ETFs are commodity exchange traded funds made up of gold backed contracts and derivatives. The purpose behind a gold ETF is to track and reflect the price of gold.
Five ETF Disadvantages
There are some reasons an ETF might not be the best fit for your investment portfolio. Here are five ETF disadvantages.
List of Bond ETFs
A list of bond ETFs for those who want to diversify a portfolio, hedge interest rates, protect against inflation, invest in international markets or create a revenue stream.
ETF vs. Mutual Fund
Is an ETF better than a mutual fund? It depends on who you ask. However if you analyze the pros and cons as well as your portfolio, you might just get your answer.
Eleven Types of ETFs
ETFs are generally categorized into the eleven most common types of ETFs. Style ETFs, Market ETFs, Sector and Industry ETFs, Country and region ETFs, foreign currency ETFs, ETNs, Inverse ETFs, bond ETFs, commodity ETFs, derivative ETFs, and innovative ETFs
International Bond ETFs
Use international Bond ETFs to diversify a portfolio, gain exposure to foreign markets, hedge foreign risk, control interest rate risk, or create a monthly revenue stream.
Invest in China ETFs
For investors looking to invest in China, look no further than China ETFs. Chinese ETFs are great way to gain exposure to China markets through bond currency and foreign market ETFs.
6 Questions About Inverse ETFs
Inverse ETFs are created using derivatives in order to generate profits when the correlating index declines in value. A nice tool to have during bear markets.
13 Types of Energy ETFs
There are different types of energy ETFs investors can utilize to gain exposure to the energy sector, hedge energy investment risk, diversify their portfolio, or control inflation exposure.
What is an ETF?
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are funds consisting of a combination of stocks or derivatives that track an market, sector, commodity, currency, or industry index or product.
Nine ETF Benefits
Take advantage of ETFs by diversifying your investments, hedging against risk, or gaining exposure to certain market sectors with ETFs. Exchange traded funds can be the perfect asset for your portfolio. Investors who include ETFs as part of their trading strategy reap many of these benefits and advantages.
14 Types of Bond ETFs
Fourteen different types of bond ETFs to utilize for hedging inflation, playing interest rates, entering foreign and emerging markets, or creating a revenue stream.
Buying ETF Considerations
Five things you should consider before making an investment in ETFs. Look before you leap.
ETF Tax Advantages
ETFs hold some tax advantages over mutual funds, which may make them a beneficial asset to add to an investment portfolio.
Getting Started With ETFs
Before you can get started trading ETFs, it is important to understand the investment vehicle before you add them to your portfolio. Therefore it is important to understand the basics about Exchange Traded Funds.
ETF vs. Mutual Funds
Mutual funds vs. ETFs. Here are five reasons to consider an ETF over a mutual fund.
6 Types of Gold ETFs
There are 6 different types of gold ETFs to consider when including gold investments in your portfolio. Use these types of gold ETFs to hedge downside risk, increase exposure to gold, or diversify a portfolio.
ETNs vs. ETFs
ETNs are structured investment products that are issued by a major bank or provider as senior debt notes. This differs from an ETF which consists of an actual security or sometimes commodity derivative.
Foreign Currency ETFs
Currency ETFs are a simple way to gain exposure to foreign currencies without all the complexities. Currency ETFs are pre-packaged investments that track a certain currency, similar to how a normal ETF tracks an index.
Commodity ETF Basics
Commodity ETFs allow investors to hedge risk and gain exposure to physical goods such as agriculture products, precious metals, and energy resources.
Invest in Commodities with ETF
Investing in commodities can create exposure to different investment products, reduce risk, hedge inflation, and diversify your overall investing strategy. One good way to invest in commodities is to use commodity ETFs.
Foreign ETF Pros and Cons
There are many advantages and disadvantages when trading foreign ETFs.
A List of OIL ETFs and ETNs
A list of the major oil ETFs and ETNs for consideration when adding an oil ETF to your portfolio.
Seven ETF Investing Strategies
Including ETFs in your investment strategy, can help you hedge risk, increase market exposure, and diversify your portfolio. ETF trading strategies can and should be a part of your portfolio.
Bond ETF Basics
Bond ETFs seek to emulate a correlating bond index and consist of only the largest and most liquid bonds in the underlying bond index in order to be more liquid, active, and transparent. Three qualities not typical of traditional bonds.
Six Reasons to Sell an ETF
Selling ETFs might be a sound strategy for your investment portfolio, but as with any investment, make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.
Leveraged ETFs
While leveraged ETFs are an aggressive new ETF innovation, they are also a very controversial ETF innovation. However before you can formulate an opinion on whether these new funds are good or evil, you need to know the basics.
Basic ETF Option Strategies
Four Basic ETF Option Trading Strategies
China ETF List
China has become a potential market for new business so once you decide the best way to utilize China ETFs in your portfolio, it’s only a matter of picking the right funds from this list of China ETFs and ETNs.
Paying Taxes on ETF Dividends
ETFs have tax advantages over mutual funds. However, when it comes to paying taxes on ETF dividends, things are different. ETFs issue two kinds of dividends, qualified dividends and unqualified dividends.
Market ETF Basics
A market ETF is a single investment product that consists of equities in the exchange index it is designed to track. The goal of a market ETF is to emulate an exchange index, not outperform it.
List of Energy ETFs
Looking for an energy ETF to add to your portfolio? Look no further. Broad energy ETFs, Solar Energy ETFs, Oil, Gas, and Coal. We even have wind, clean, alternative, biofuel and nuclear energy ETFs on this list.
Investing in Gold with ETFs
Gold ETFs, a simple way to invest in gold, without actually owning any gold products. Gold ETFs consist of futures and derivative contracts in order to track the price of gold, or in some cases gold-related indexes.
List of Emerging Markets ETFs
If you’re looking to invest in some emerging markets, you’ve come to the right place. Emerging market ETFs are a great way to gain exposure to up-and-coming markets while at the same time take advantage of the benefits ETFs have over other investments such as mutual funds.
Invest in Oil with Oil ETFs
There is an alternative to investing in oil without buying actual barrels of oil. They are called oil ETFs and are are a simple way to expose your investment strategy to the price and performance of oil, without actually owning any oil itself. Oil ETFs consist of either oil company stocks or futures and derivative contracts in order to track the price of oil, or in some cases oil-related indexes.
UDN - Inverse Currency ETF
PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bearish ETF (UDN) tracks the performance of the Deutsche Bank Short US Dollar Futures index. The goal is to create a position equal to being short the US Dollar against other foreign currencies.
GLD, a Major Gold ETF
GLD is the SPDR Gold Shares ETF. The gold ETF tracks the price performance of the gold bullion.
IAU, A Gold ETF
The iShares COMEX Gold Trust ETF (IAU) is designed to track the price of gold. The Trust receives gold deposits for the creation of baskets in order to sell gold as needed to cover the trust's liabilities and for redemption.
List of SPDRs
If you're looking for a list of SPDR ETFs, look no further. A full list of SPDRs for your portfolio.
Actively Managed ETFs
Actively Managed ETFs are designed to combine the advantages of ETFs and the benefits of mutual funds in one investment product. In the battle of ETFs vs. Mutual Funds, a winner may have emerged.
Industry ETFS
Industry ETFs track industry indexes, but the goal is not to outperform them. Industry ETFs usually consists of the same securities as their correlating indexes.
SCO - an Oil ETF
SCO is the UltraShort DJ-AIG Crude Oil ProShares ETF. It tracks the inverse performance of the Dow Jones AIG Crude Oil Sub-Index. If the price of the index goes up, SCO will fall.
BWX - International Bond ETF
BWX - the Barclays Capital International Treasury Bond ETF emulates the Lehman Brothers Global Treasury Ex-US Capped index.
UCO - an Oil ETF
The Ultra DJ-AIG Crude Oil ProShares ETF (UCO) seeks to track the Dow Jones AIG Crude Oil Sub-Index at twice the rate.
Invest in Foreign Markets
Investors who are looking to increase their international exposure to foreign countries should look no further than foreign ETFs. Here are 6 ways to use international ETFs in your portfolio.
BWZ - International Bond ETF
The SPDR Barclays Cap Short Term International Treasury Bond ETF (BWZ) tracks the Barclays Capital 1-3 Year Global Treasury ex-United States Capped Index.
List of Large-Cap ETFs
Here is a list of mega-cap and large-cap style ETFs for investors looking to include these funds in their portfolio.
Emerging Market ETFs
Emerging market ETFs are a great way to increase profit potential in a portfolio by investing in up-and-coming foreign markets. An emerging market ETF offers instant access, so if you want exposure to emerging markets, here are seven ETF strategies to utilize for your portfolio.
SPDR ETF
A SPDR ETF is a mini-portfolio of stocks and derivatives with the goal of emulating an investment like an index or commodity.
ETF Arbitrage
it is important to understand that arbitrage keeps ETF prices in line with their correlating indexes and the equities in the fund.
Coal ETF
Coal ETFs are a great way to gain exposure to the energy and alternative energy sector as well as hedge risk and diversify your portfolio
List of Mid-Cap ETFs
If you're looking for mid-cap investments, look no further than this list of mid-cap blend, value, and growth investment style ETFs.
Types of ETNs
There are many different types of ETNs to utilize in your portfolio. Commodity ETNs, Currency ETNs, Strategy ETNs, and Emerging ETNs may provide the investment vehicle you need to accomplish your investing goals.
DGL, A Gold ETF
The PowerShares DB Gold ETF (DGL) tracks the performance of the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum Yield Gold Excess Return.
ETF Earnings Season Strategies
ETFs are a great addition to your earnings season investing strategy. Whether you need to hedge downside risk, gain exposure to certain industries, or increase volatility, exchange traded funds can be the best tool in your investing arsenal. Here’s how ETFs can be a part of your earnings season investing strategy.
Style ETFs
The purpose of style ETFs is to track a specific investment strategy or style. They are created with the purpose of tracking a specific style index, but not to outperform it.
ETF Short
Putting on a short ETF position either by selling an ETF or buying an inverse ETF might be just as profitable as a long position if an investor does so for the right reasons.
6 Mutual Fund Disadvantages
There are many disadvantages of mutual funds, so they may not be the best fit for your investment strategy. It may be time to consider ETFs.
5 Reasons for Energy ETFs
Energy ETFs can provide a portfolio with exposure to the energy sector and provide protection against energy investment risk or even general inflation risk.
UGL - a Gold ETF
The ProShares Ultra Gold ETF (UGL) seeks to emulate twice the daily performance of gold bullion.
DZZ - A Gold Commodity ETN
The PowerShares DB Gold Double Short ETN (DZZ) inversely follows the price of the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity index - Optimum Yield Gold Excess Return.
The History of ETFs
The first ETF showed up in Canada as the Toronto Index Participation Fund (TIP 35). Flash forward to 1993 when the first ETF appeared in the United States as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Depository Receipts. Asia followed suit in 1999 with its first ETF, the Hong Kong Tracker Fund. And last but not least (not really last either) was Europe’s Euro STOXX 50 market ETF launched in 20001.
CNY - A Chinese Currency ETN
The Market Vectors Renminbi / USD ETN (CNY) is a Chinese currency ETN that follows the S&P Chinese Renminbi Total Return Index. It's goal is to replicate the value of the Chinese RMB compared to the U.S. dollar.
Types of Style ETFs
Style exchange traded funds come in a few shapes and sizes and consist of securities based on market-capitalization size. And they also come categorized by investment type such as growth, value, or a blend of both.
List of Small-Cap ETFs
A list of small-cap and micro-cap style ETFs for investors looking to include small-cap stocks in their investment strategy.
DGZ - a Gold Short ETN
The PowerShares DB Gold Short ETN (DGZ) inversely follows the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity index - Optimum Yield Gold Excess Return. The index reflects changes in the value of gold futures contracts.
ETF Option Straddles
While an advanced strategy, including ETF option straddles in your portfolio may be the perfect way to hedge risk or gain volatility exposure
DBA, an Agriculture ETF
The DBA (PowerShares DB Agriculture ETF) tracks the price and yield performance of the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index.
DBP, a Precious Metals ETF
The PowerShares DB Precious Metals (DBP) tracks the price of the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum Yield Precious Metals Excess Return. The index is composed of futures contracts on the precious metals, gold and silver.
BGZ - a Leveraged Inverse ETF
BGZ is the Direxion Daily Large Cap Bear 3X Shares ETF that track the performance of the Russell 1000 Index in the inverse direction with a goal of 3x the daily performance.
Oil ETFs
Oil ETFs may be the way to go if you want to gain some exposure to the oil sector or hedge some oil portfolio risk.
USO, The United States Oil ETF
The USO is an ETF that tracks the performance of crude oil.
DGP, A Gold ETN
The PowerShares DB Gold Double Long ETN (DGP) follows the performance of the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity index - Optimum Yield Gold Excess Return.
SLV, A Silver ETF
The iShares Silver Trust ETF (SLV) tracks the performance of the market price of silver. The ETF is designed to give investors the ability to make an investment similar to an investment in silver, but the ETF is not the exact equivalent of an investment in silver.
OIH
The OIH is an oil ETF that tracks the Oil Services Index (OSX).
PWND - a Wind Energy ETF
PowerShares Global Wind Energy ETF (PWND) follows the NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Global Wind Energy index and invests in companies in the wind energy industry.
GSG - a Broad Commodity ETF
GSG - the iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust ETF tracks the price of the GSCI Excess Return Index. The index tracks 24 different commodities like energy, agriculture assets, industrial metals, livestock and precious metals.
PSAU a Gold ETF
The PowerShares Global Gold & Precious Metals ETF (PSAU) emulates the performance of the NASDAQ OMX Global Gold and Precious Metals Index. The securities in the fund are involved in the gold mining industry.
Index Basket
Index baskets are a collection of securities that represent a sector or market index.
GDX - a Gold Miners ETF
The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) tracks the price of the AMEX Gold Miners index. The gold ETF consists of companies in the gold mining industry.
Solar Energy ETFs
Now that solar Energy ETFs are becoming popular due to solar energy tax incentives from the government and concerns about oil prices and an energy crisis. It might be time for you to include solar energy ETFs in your portfolio.
DBB, a Base Metals ETF
The PowerShares DB Base Metals (DBB) tracks the performance of the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum Yield Industrial Metals Excess Return. The index is composed of futures contracts on base metals like aluminum, zinc and copper.
OIL - An Oil ETN
The iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index ETN (OIL) follows the price of the Goldman Sachs Crude Oil Return Index, which reflects returns of the futures contacts that make up the underlying index.
Continuous Market
A continuous market is a market or exchange where securities are continuously priced and traded in an auction format when the market is open.
DIA - the DIAMONDS Trust ETF
The DIAMONDS Trust, Series 1 ETF (DIA) tracks the price and yield of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) Index.
DOG - Short Dow 30 ETF
The ProShares Short Dow 30 ETF (DOG) tracks the inverse daily performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average index (DIJA).
DVY Index-Tracking ETF
DVY is a dividend-tracking ETF that follows the Dow Jones Select Dividend Index.
JJM, A Metals ETN
JJM, the iPath DJ AIG Industrial Metals Total Return Sub-Index ETN, tracks the Dow Jones-AIG Industrial Metals Total Return Sub-Index. The commodity ETN is designed to follow the performance of industrial metals.
MWN, a Russell Index ETF
The Direxion Mid-Cap Bull 3x Shares (MWJ) is an ETF that will move in an inverse direction of the Russell 1000 Mid-Cap index, seeking an estimated 300% of the moves within.
EWW, a Mexico Market Index ETF
The EWW (iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index ETF) tracks the performance of the MSCI Mexico Investable Market index.
DNO - an Inverse Oil ETF
The United States Short Oil Fund ETF (DNO) utilizes crude oil futures in order to inversely emulate the performance of crude oil.
DOY - an Oil ETF
The MacroShares $100 Oil Down ETF (DOY) inversely tracks the price of West Texas Intermediate light, sweet crude oil (WTI).
DBE, an Energy ETF
The PowerShares DB Energy ETF (DBE) tracks the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index, Optimum Yield Energy Excess Return. The fund consists of futures contracts on commodities like crude oil, heating oil, gasoline and natural gas.
USL - The US 12-Month Oil ETF
The US 12-Month Oil ETF (USL) tracks the changes in the price of light, sweet crude oil, which are measured by changes in the average price of 12 oil futures contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
XME - the SPDR Metals ETF
The SPDR S&P Metals and Mining ETF (XME) tracks the price the S&P Metals & Mining Select Industry index.
SHY - a Treasury Bond ETF
The iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY) tracks the short-term sector of the United States Treasury market as defined by the Barclays Capital 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury index.
PKOL - a Coal ETF
The PowerShares Global Coal ETF (PKOL) emulates the price and performance of the NASDAQ OMX Global Coal Index, which consists of companies engaged in the coal industry.
PMY - A Precious Metals ETN
The ELEMENTS MLCX Precious Metals ETN (PMY) follows the performance of the MLCX Precious Metals Index, which includes precious metals like gold, silver, platinum and palladium.
DBS, A Silver ETF
The PowerShares DB Silver ETF (DBS) tracks the price of the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum Yield Silver Excess Return. The underlying index is composed of futures contracts on silver.
DJP, A Commdity ETF
DJP is the iPath Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Total Return ETN.
UBG - A Gold ETN
The E-TRACS UBS Bloomberg CMCI Gold ETN (UBG) follows the performance of the UBS Bloomberg CMCI Gold Total Return index. The underlying index consists of gold futures contracts.
DMM - Housing Inverse ETF
DMM - the MacroShares Housing Down is classified as an ETF, but actually it is an ETT or exchange traded trust.
SZO - an Oil ETN
SZO - the PowerShares DB Crude Oil Short ETN inversely tracks the performance of the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity index - Optimum Yield Oil Excess Return.
UHN - the US Heating Oil ETF
The United States Heating Oil ETF (UHN) tracks the price of heating oil and is made up of heating oil futures related contracts.
UBM- An Industrial Metals ETN
The E-TRACS UBS Bloomberg CMCI Industrial Metal ETN (UBM) follows the performance of the UBS Bloomberg CMCI Industrial Metals Total Return index.
DDG - Short Oil & Gas ETF
DDG - the ProShares Short Oil and Gas ETF tracks the inverse performance of the U.S. Oil & Gas index. As the price of the index increases, the price of the ETF will decrease.
AGQ - Leveraged Silver ETF
AGQ, the ProShares Ultra Silver ETF, is a leveraged ETF that tracks 2x the performance of the silver bullion using futures and forward contracts.
Exchange Traded Funds - Articles
An index of articles for the Exchange Traded Funds guide site.
List of Mega-Cap Style ETFs
Mega-cap ETFs consist of mega-cap securities with market capitalizations over $200 billion. Home Depot (HD) and Microsoft (MSFT) would be examples of mega-cap stocks.
DBO - an Oil ETF
The PowerShares DB Oil ETF (DBO), follows the price of the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity Index - Optimum Yield Oil Excess Return.
PJP - a Pharma ETF
The PowerShares Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF (PJP) emualtes the performance ofthe equity Pharmaceuticals Intellidex. Both the ETF and the correlating index consist of equities in the pharmaceutical industry.
PTM - A Platinum ETN
The E-TRACS UBS Long Platinum ETN rep[licates the UBS Bloomberg CMCI Platinum Total Return Index, which measures the returns of platinum futures contracts.
FRC, a French Index ET
The FRC (NETS CAC40 Index ETF) is a foreign ETF that emulates the French CAC40 index. The ETF is made up of forty companies selected from the 100 stocks in the index.
GOE - A Gold Index ETN
The ELEMENTS MLCX Gold Total Return ETN (GOE) tracks the MLCX Gold Index, a benchmark for the price of gold.
DXO - An Oil ETN
DXO - The PowerShares DB Crude Oil Double Long ETN tracks the price the Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodity index - Optimum Yield Oil Excess Return giving investors a chance to invest in oil.
EWG, a German Market Index ETF
The iShares MSCI Germany Index (EWG) is a foreign ETF that tracks the MSCI Germany market index. The stocks in the fund are traded primarily on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Wind ETFs
When looking for an alternative investment to diversify a portfolio, look no further than Wind ETFs. Get Green.
Industry ETF
Industry ETFs are exchange traded funds that tracks a certain industry or sector of the market. The assets in an industry ETF usually include stocks from that particular industry or mimic the stocks in the sector index.
USV - A Silver ETN
The E-TRACS UBS Bloomberg CMCI Silver ETN (USV) tracks the performance of the UBS Bloomberg CMCI Silver Total Return index, which measures returns from a basket of silver futures contracts.
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