Following a year that saw some of the worst performances in recent memory, many asset classes have bounced back in 2009. But some have performed better than others, and as the year draws to a close we take a look at some of the best-performing ETFs. The year’s top gainers include a few of the largest and most-heavily traded funds, but the majority of those that made the list are lesser known ETFs likely off the radar of many ETF investors. [click to continue…]
While most investors are well aware of gold’s unprecedented march to $1,100/oz., far fewer are familiar with the yellow metal’s often overlooked cousin, silver. While gold has received a great deal of attention as a hedge against the U.S. dollar, the leading silver ETF, SLV, has outperformed its gold counterpart, GLD, by a factor of 2 to 1 in 2009. Although silver has flown under the radar (thanks in large part to its price of around $17/oz.), many investors consider the metal to be a sound investment due to robust industrial demand, its traditional role as a store of value, and its current ratio compared to gold. These three factors will help to ensure that despite silver’s volatility, there will always be demand for this “forgotten precious metal.”
In any case, silver ETFs are an efficient way to invest in the metal without dealing with the associated “headaches” of holding a physical amount of silver in your possession. Below is a guide to silver ETF options for investors looking for precious metal exposure that goes beyond gold. [click to continue…]
One of Europe’s most prominent ETF sponsors has jumped across the pond, making its initial foray into the U.S. markets. ETF Securities (ETFS), which has about $12 billion invested in more than 130 products worldwide, launched the ETFS Silver Trust (SIVR) on Friday. The new fund will trade on the NYSE Arca Exchange, and has [...]
