Exchange Traded Funds - the Far East
In keeping with the theme of regional Exchange Traded Funds - here are funds that cover the Far East - China, Japan, Sout Korea, Hong Kong and many others.
With booming economies, the region is a fertile field for exchange traded funds and for investors and traders. Just don't forget that what goes up can also quickly go down - Japanese stock market still has not recovered from the bubble almost 2 decades ago.
If you like Far East exchange traded funds, you need to read this book
Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom
THE book about trading - if you plan to trade Far Eastern exchange traded funds, this book is a must read.
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Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 10/12/2008)
Japan - EWJ
Also, China is a dangerous market - very little oversight, combined with unpredictable, dictatorial government makes for a wild ride - not what investing is about.
Japanese economy has been quietly chugging along for all these years - growning wealth, without being noticed by anybody. While the Japanese ETF has done little over the last few years (though traders made money from the fluctuations), sooner or later, it is bound to take off - I want to own a chunk of Japanese economy when that happens.
The Japanese etf ticker symbol is EWJ
Peoples Republic of China - FXI
Peoples Republic of China - this says it all. For anybody who values their money, this should be a sufficient warning - a dictatorial government, no rule of law. Use only small amounts of the most speculative funds to trade these etfs.
Chinese etfs are very volatile, and there is no question that PRC stock market is undergoing a bubble - how long will it last - anybody's guess.
Ticker symbol FXI - tracks FTSE/Xinhua China 25 index - v.large companies.
Taiwan - EWT
while the etf has appreciated quite a bit recently (spring 2008), it is likely to continue being a good value. Less volatile than China, and with better oversight, Taiwanese market is in my opinion a better value, and lets me sleep well at nigh.
Ticker symbol: ETW.
Other ETFs worth investigating - EWS, EWH, EWM, EWY
Personally I try to stick to more developed economies, so here are a few to investigate:
EWS - Singapore
EWH - Hong Kong
EWM - Malasia ( a lot of chips in your computer come from there)
EWY - South Korea
Books about exchange traded funds
The ETF Book: All You Need to Know About Ex Funds
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Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 10/12/2008)
Exchange-Traded Funds For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))
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Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 10/12/2008)
ETF Trading Strategies Revealed (Trade Secrets (Marketplace Books))
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Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 10/12/2008)
Covered Call Writing With Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): Double-Digit Returns, Diversification, Downside Protection
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Amazon Price: $16.95 (as of 10/12/2008)
Investment Biker: Around the World with Jim Rogers
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Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 10/12/2008)
Going there...
Jim Rogers, of the Quantum fund and "Investment Biker" fame( see book list above) is known for being a big fan of China - he also likes to visit countries where he invests - to see things first hand.
If you are of the same persuasion, here is a quick way to check out the flights.
Sites to visit:
More about ETFs.
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