Exchange Traded Funds, an alternative way to invest.

ozzage

After whining to Halifax recently, I received a response that they have added RTWO (that's the Russell 2000 offering from ETF Securities) to their list of available ETFs and that ETFs can be added "upon request".

They also told me that USD ETFs are not available through the Sharebuilder, even though the one they just added is in fact in USD...

I've now asked for a couple more (which are in GBX) to be added - let's see what happens...

tradetime

ozzage wrote: »

After whining to Halifax recently, I received a response that they have added RTWO (that's the Russell 2000 offering from ETF Securities) to their list of available ETFs and that ETFs can be added "upon request".

They also told me that USD ETFs are not available through the Sharebuilder, even though the one they just added is in fact in USD...

I've now asked for a couple more (which are in GBX) to be added - let's see what happens...

I've heard that expression with iii, such and such a stock has been added, I really don't understand what they are talking about "added" If as a broker you have access to the LSE and the stock trades on said LSE, then it's there, to be traded, what's to "add" It really does not inspire any confidence that I am actually dealing with anyone who knows what they are doing.

cloud_dog

tradetime, was wondering if you could assist me in identifying an ETF which tracks gold (or PM) miners?

Am looking for an equity exposure to PM's/Gold for my daughters CTF. It was going to be Blackrock G&G but with the wide spread etc thought I'd see if there is an ETF which hold a basket of PM/Gold miners.

I use SelfTrade for dealing in the account.

If you think this is just a little too cheeky of me feel free to tell me...

sabretoothtigger

gld and gdx I think but gdx allready rose 100% this year

Randgold got tipped recently and did sickeningly well, 100% since dec and 40% in the last month

Summary


http://community.investopedia.com/news/IA/2009/4-Underperforming-ETFs-SPY-SLV-TLT-UNG0507.aspx?partner=YahooSA

tradetime

Depends whether you have access to US stocks, in which cas as ST says I would be looking at Market Vectors GDX for the miners as it has good liquidity. If you only have access to UK markets, or a strong aversion to $ denominated stocks then there is ETF Securities AUCP lousy volume, likely to have a big spread and possibly hard to get the entry or exit price you deserve. Also US$ denominated is Powershares PSAU, but the volume on that is bad as well.

Personally I'd say avoid anything that trades very thinly, unless you absolutely have to be invested in what it offers and can find nothing similar that is liquid. Don't know how it works here but in the US ETF's have to earn their keep, if they are not trading $100,000 worth of shares per day they tend to get axed.

tradetime

Oh and as ST has already said, these stocks have come a very long way, they tend to move with the market quite a lot, so if we sell hard they should pulback.

sabretoothtigger

I was just wondering that, very confusing which way they will go.

Is a holding in BHP more worthwhile I wonder, randgold has 60% over the sp500 in the last year but bhp is underperforming

Is that justified I dont know but its a nicer price

tradetime

I personally think gold miners are overpriced here, unless you subscribe to the view that gol d is going to the moon, I suggested them on one of the threads back when there was a lot of ramping of gold a few months back as an alternative to bullion stocks, but they have moved a lot since then.

I quite like the industrial metals miners, again they have come a ways but then we are near the top of a bear market rally, so what hasn't , but on a pullback I would be looking to enter something like the Select Spiders Metals and Mining.

BHP might have a lot of debt on its books, I know one of the London listed ones has, that might be holding it back.

cloud_dog

Sabre, I think Rangold is overvalued compared with other similar miners.

Sabre & tradetime, as I've mentioend on another thread I am getting very twitch about the recent run up but the charts for HUI (or similar) are/have reached a very interesting point where they may break up or down.

It is not unreasonable for minors (inc. industrial) to continue in the up-trend whilst equities in general and indexes fall back.

Again, I am monitoring the price of Gold very closely (as per one of yours recent posts) as I think Gold may make an early break up.

Just trying to get some of my ducks in a row, ready.

As mentioned on another thread a number of my own stocks have increased significantly and yet the technicals for these stocks are still looking very strong (CEY, KMR, FRES, TMC, CZA, WTN, YAU)

Its al aguessing game atm :eek:

tradetime

Well however you choose to play it, or not as the case may be, good luck with it. :beer: Of my longer term trading, I have closed about 60% of my longs, almost all the ETF's that are company based, still have most of the commodity based ones, and have begun scaling into a broad market short on the s&p.