GOODY BASKETS
Jeff Sanford. Canadian Business. Toronto: Summer 2005.Vol.78, Iss. 10; pg. 101, 1 pgs
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Abstract (Document Summary)
A listing of exchange traded funds (ETF) in Canadian Business' Investor 500 is
presented. ETFs, of course, "live" on stock exchanges, rather than in the massive backoffice computers maintained by stand-alone mutual fund companies. And that makes
them incredibly easy to digest, since you can buy and sell them like stocks. The top 5
are 1. iShares MSCI Belgium, 2. iSahres MSCI Austria, 3. iShares MSCI Brazil, 4.
iShares Dow Jones US Energy Sector, and 5. iShares MSCI Italy.
Full Text (304 words)
Copyright Rogers Publishing Limited Summer 2005
Exchange-traded funds are, to use an old phrase, the sliced bread of investing. And
what a tasty bite they provide. Perhaps, something from the land of moules frites? Try
the iShares tracking the Belgium stock index: rich but affordable. Or maybe something
from the home of bratwurst and beer? We suggest Austrian iShares: simple but
satisfying. It's all available in the ever-widening and wonderful world of ETFs.
For years, Canadians have been held hostage to the big fees charged by well-off mutual
fund company executives for the "services" they provide-even on index funds, which are
not actively managed yet charge relatively big fees. So when ETFs found their way onto
the Canadian investing scene a dozen years ago, they represented a new and, better
yet, cheap way for people to invest. And it makes more sense than ever to take
advantage of the numerous possibilities on tap.
ETFs, of course, "live" on stock exchanges, rather than in the massive back-office
computers maintained by stand-alone mutual fund companies. And that makes them
incredibly easy to digest, since you can buy and sell them like stocks. Best yet, the
number and variety have exploded over the past couple of years as investors pour
money into them and managers respond with newer and more targeted products. For
investors with their own ideas and a few bucks to throw around, they're the best way to
take a flyer. It's almost too easy to slice and dice the world's markets, sectors and
industries into whatever shape you prefer. The 40 top stocks in Latin America? Got it.
Global energy plays? Got that, too. No more weighty, glossy tomes from the mutual fund
companies in the mail, just efficient and rational tools with which to implement your
investing ideas. ETFs are simply the greatest thing since sliced bread. JEFF SANFORD