Market ETFs are financial instruments that are created to keep a track on a particular index with the objective of closely replicating it unlike mutual funds which does not closely follow the index but it tries to outperform the index. Usually these ETFs hold the stocks which belong to the index it is tracking.

Reasons for Trading Market ETF

Following could be the reasons why you should trade in Market ETFs

i)                    To hedge your current positions

ii)                   To capitalize on a market opportunity

Therefore if being a trader you want to hedge the risk of your current positions, market ETFs can help you reduce that risk. Whatever may be your positions, you can go long or short with market ETFs and reduce your portfolio’s risk.

On the other side one can also trade in Market ETFs for capitalizing on an opportunity. May the opportunity be in any part of the world there would be an ETF with the help of which you can get an exposure to that market or index. Further, Market ETF offers a portfolio of a particular index so to get an exposure to an index trader can stay away from the hassle of investing in multiple stocks of that index.

Characteristics of Market ETF

One of the top reasons why a trader should consider investing in Market ETF is because of its less volatile nature in comparison to Sector ETFs or any other Funds. To replicate the performance of index, Market ETFs invest in stocks of all sectors and industries which make them less volatile when compared to other Sector focused ETFs. However, some market situations like declining or rising economy can work against this scenario and can make Market ETFs turbulent.

Apart from these characteristics Market ETFs of course have the benefits which all other Exchange Traded Funds have like lower expense ratio, lower taxation and lower management fees. Additionally, just like stocks one can buy and sell ETFs on the exchange during the trading session.

If you are a trader currently not investing in Market Exchange Traded Funds here are some of the top performing funds:

• PowerShares QQQ Trust Series I (QQQQ) – This Market ETF invest in 100 stocks from NASDAQ
• iShares MSCI Germany Index Fund (EWG) – Tracks German index
• TraHK – This Market ETF tracks the Hang Seng index

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With the introduction of Index ETFs the prime reason why traders are more attracted towards these investment instruments is because of the stock like flexibility it provides. Due to its popularity this type of funds not only adds new traders but it also encourages current index mutual fund investors to switch. Since ETFs can be traded on stock exchange during the market hours, investment managers can take index position to capitalize on the situation or limit their risk in bad times.

Some of the most popular Index ETF are:

1.)   iShares Russell Midcap Index (IWR): Investments of these funds are more focused on the mid cap stocks listed on Russell. Top holdings are TJX Companies, Avon Products, Precision Castparts Corp., Marsh & McLennan Companies, H.J. Heinz Company etc.

2.)   iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index (DVY): This fund is a perfect match for the investors that like to invest in dividend paying stocks. Top holdings of these funds are Lorillard Inc., Centurytel Inc., Eastman Chemical Company, VF Corporation Entergy Corporation etc.

3.)   iShares S&P 500 Index (IVV): Fund Managers here are focused on investing in good scripts listed on S&P 500. Top Holdings of these funds are ExxonMobile Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, GE, J.P. Morgan Chase, Procter &Gamble Company etc.

May it be Institutional Investors or active hedge fund managers, they all have one thing in common which is they all love Index ETFs. For these investment managers when it comes to increasing their exposure to the broad index or hedge their current positions they go for Index ETF purely because of its convenience.

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If you do believe in low but steady returns you are definitely going to invest your money in bonds, and for the risky investors out there in the current market situation it makes more sense to rather invest in bonds and play safe. Bond Exchange Traded Funds entirely invest in bonds. Bond ETF possess bonds and it works with different strategies like it may invest in U.S. Treasury bonds, High Yield bonds, from short to long term bonds. Like any other ETFs Bond ETF can also be traded like shares on the exchange during the trading session. Further, like International ETFs there are also bonds available which are being established in foreign countries, traders can take advantage of the rate differences by investing in International Bond ETFs.

Below are some of the popular Bond ETFs available in the market today:

1.) iShares Lehman Aggregate Bond (AGG): most financial securities that invest in bonds considers this ETF as a Benchmark. Based on their investment, these funds are deeply invested in short-term US treasury and government securities.

2.) iShares Lehman Intermediate Government/Credit Bond Fund (GVI): These funds are more inclined towards medium range government securities and credit bonds.

3.) SPDR Lehman High Yield Cond ETF (JNK): These funds are more inclined towards long-term but high interest treasury bonds and government securities.

According to some, Bond ETF is the best option for a complete beginner who has never dealt with trading in securities of any kind, and for the traders who understand the market forces should not invest in bonds. However in the current economic situation I would encourage traders to invest in Bond ETF.

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So if there are still worries about the stock market and there is going to be recession in the economy the rational idea is to short the index. However if a trader does not have a margin account and don’t want to have one, ETF Short becomes the right choice. Unlike Mutual Funds one can buy and sell ETFs on the exchange during the trading session just like ordinary stocks.

Usually Short ETFs can be categorized in to following three types:

1.)   Normal Short ETF: In this type of ETFs a trader gets returns equal to the fall in the market i.e. if the market falls by 2% value of this ETF goes up by 2%. Some of the popular Short ETFs are Short S&P 500 ProShares (SH), Short NASDAQ-100 Index (PSQ), Short Dow Jones Industrial Average SM (DOG), and Short Russell 2000 Index (RWM).

2.)   Double Short ETF: In this type of ETFs a trader gets double the returns in case the market falls i.e. if the market falls by 2% then the value of this ETF goes up by 4%.

3.)   Ultra Short ETF: Some of these Ultra Short ETF offers a trader to get 2.5 times the returns if the market falls i.e. if the market falls by 2% value of this ETF will go up by 5%. Some of the popular Ultra Short ETFs are UltraShort NASDAQ-100 Index (QID), UltraShort Dow Jones Industrial Average SM (DXD), UltraShort S&P 500 Index (SDS) and UltraShort Russell 2000 Index (TWM).

Today traders do not need to worry about the falling markets so either you already are invested in the current market and want to hedge your risk by taking an inverse position or if you believe markets are going to fall you can deal in these ETFs and take advantage of the situation.

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Initially when the International ETF was introduced for the traders based in United States they offered Eastern Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia in the same fund termed as emerging-markets. Now days you can trade on the metal prices on exchanges in India and China, one can play on political ambiguity in Turkey, business located in small but strong economy like Malaysia thanks to ETFs. The instruments offered today gives strength to the investors to invest in any economy in any part of the world, and all the different verities of products.

International ETFs are increasingly becoming popular with the current financial crisis. As performance of U.S. markets is facing the consequences of recession and since it’s not true for other Asian and Emerging markets traders are investing in ETFs that manage their funds in those markets. In the past if the developed countries were in recession it would hurt the emerging market’s performance as well, however today local businesses in emerging markets are so strong that recession in developed economies have little effect. By investing in International ETF traders can hedge their current positions in the local exchanges or they can just square off their local positions and only invest in emerging markets where today there are more opportunities to earn profits.

Depending on the changing market forces and changing conditions of different economies of the world banks and financial institutions offer funds that would help the investors make profits. Some of the popular International ETFs are as follows: iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index (EEM) - these funds have given great returns if you look at the change in its Net Asset Value. Their Top 5 Holdings include Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (GDR), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ADR, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. ADR, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A., Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. ADR. Likewise there is iShares Trust FTSE-Xinhua China 25 Index Fund, iShares MSCI Brazil Index Fund, iShares MSCI South Africa Index Fund and many more.

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Several different types of ETF are being offered to ordinary traders. One can keep away from the hassle involved with holding physical commodities or precious metal and can buy Commodity ETFs. Likewise, if one is optimistic about the overall markets they can buy Index ETF and if someone thinks that markets are going to fall then they can buy Index Short ETFs. If the local economy is facing recession then one can invest in the Emerging markets Index ETFs or Currency ETFs of Emerging Markets. One of such products introduced and is very popular amongst traders is Sector ETF; Fund Manager who manages this fund invests money into companies of a particular sector.

If a trader believes that a particular sector is going to perform better based on the current market scenario in the past they used to invest in a particular company which belongs to that sector. Investment of this type becomes risky since you are weighing a huge part of your portfolio into one company. By investing in Sector ETF trader is taking advantage of the whole sector and at the same time staying away from the risk of being heavily invested in a particular company’s stock. With Sector ETF there are sub categories, so there are funds available in the market which invests in companies of a particular sector but based only in one market, there are also some that invest in a particular sector’s companies domiciled locally as well as internationally.

Some of the popular Sector ETF is as follows: Merrill Lynch Retail HOLDERs (RTH): These Funds invest in companies of retail sector based in the United States. Retail HOLDERs is listed with NASDAQ, top 5 holdings of this fund are Wal-mart stores, Home Depot, Target Corporation, Walgreen Company and Amazon.com. Likewise there is Vanguard Information Technology ETF, Select Sector SPDR Fund – Financial, iShares Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications Index Fund and many more.

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