As the end of 2010 nears, a slew of recently launched ETFs and related products have debuted. Here’s a quick snapshot:
ETFS Physical White Metals Basket Shares (NYSE: WITE)
WITE is a 3-for-1 precious metals basket that holds physical silver, platinum and palladium bullion. The precious metals are stored in secured vaults in London, England and Zurich, Switzerland. Annual expenses are 0.60% and as of its December 3rd inception, each share of WITE represents one ounce of silver, 0.01 ounces of platinum and 0.008 ounces of palladium.
iShares Barclays 0-5 Year TIPS Bond Fund (NYSE: STIP)
STIP will follow U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities with short-term maturities. The average weighting bond duration is currently 2.82 years. With higher future interest rates very likely, this fund could be a good play for those that want exposure to the TIPS market but without the huge interest rate risk that longer-dated TIPS carry. The fund has 13 holdings and charges annual expenses of 0.20%. STIP was launched on December 1st.
On December 2nd, InvescoPowerShares introduced four KBW linked ETFs.
PowerShares KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT Portfolio (NYSE: KBWY)
This fund is linked to the KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT Index. It uses a dividend yield weighted methodology and aims to follow approximately 24 to 40 small- and mid-cap equity REITs in the United States. KBWY’s annual expense ratio is 0.35%.
PowerShares KBW High Dividend Yield Financial Portfolio (NYSE: KBWD)
KBWD follows the KBW Financial Sector Dividend Yield Index. The fund uses a dividend yield weighting strategy that aims to match the performance of approximately 24 to 40 publicly listed financial companies that are principally engaged in the business of providing financial services and products, including banking, insurance and diversified financial services, in the United States. The Index may also include securities of business development companies (BDCs) and equity and mortgage REITs. KBWD’s annual expense ratio is 0.93%.
PowerShares KBW International Financial Portfolio (NYSE: KBWX)
This fund is benchmarked to the KBW Global ex-U.S. Financial Sector Index and is currently comprised primarily of American Depository Receipts (ADRs). The Underlying Index is a modified market capitalization weighted index that of approximately 60 non-U.S. financial companies that are principally engaged in the business of providing financial services and products, including banking, insurance and diversified financial services. KBWX’s annual expense ratio is 0.40%.
PowerShares KBW Property & Casualty Insurance Portfolio (NYSE: KBWP)
KBWP is based on the KBW Property & Casualty Index which uses a modified market capitalization weighting and seeks to reflect the performance of approximately 24 property and casualty insurance companies. KBWP’s annual expense ratio is 0.35%.
This article was written by ETFguide.com. ETFguide is the information leader on exchange-traded funds because of its vendor-neutral approach and its progressive reporting style. Unique features include an ETF bookstore, a monthly e-mail newsletter and subscription-based ETF portfolios.
