| Dear Subscriber, The exchange traded fund menu is growing fast. So far this year more than 170 new ETFs and similar exchange-traded products have hit the market in the U.S. Quite a few of the new ETFs were just "me-too" funds. The big sponsors like iShares, SPDR, and Vanguard don't want their rivals to own any niche unchallenged. Competition is good for consumers because it keeps fees down. On the other hand, the plethora of ETF choices in some market segments can leave investors confused and paralyzed. That's why I'm always excited when new ETFs cover unexplored territory: Corners of the global markets that are otherwise inaccessible for most individual investors. I love this kind of innovation. Unfortunately sometimes it doesn't work out as the sponsor had hoped (see my latest ETF Deathwatch report). Today I'm going to tell you about seven new funds that offer something unique. If they're successful in attracting assets, you can bet other firms will come out with similar offerings. For now, though, all these ETFs and ETNs have their corners to themselves.  | | The Philippines and New Zealand are now available as ETFs. | | iShares MSCI Philippines (EPHE) iShares MSCI New Zealand (ENZL) You know I'm bullish on Southeast Asia. The Philippines are on the edge of that region and share many of the same attractions. EPHE owns about 26 Philippine stocks from a variety of sectors, with a heavy concentration in financials. New Zealand is a little farther away and is often lost in the shadow of much bigger Australia. Yet New Zealand is a booming economy and ENZL is the only pure-play for U.S. investors. ENZL also features a more-balanced sector allocation, the largest being materials and telecommunications. New Zealand stocks are also noted for their yields. And the distribution yield on ENZL is expected to be more than 4 percent. UBS E-TRACS 1x Monthly Short Alerian MLP Infrastructure Total Return Index ETN (MLPS) This one's name is quite a mouthful, so I will decode it for you. You are probably familiar with the MLP segment: Master limited partnerships that invest mainly in energy pipelines and storage facilities. If not, please review Add Energy Income with an MLP ETN. Investors can choose from six MLP-related funds on the long side. MLPS is the first, and so far the only, product to provide inverse exposure for this group. I suspect the MLP boom may be a bit overbought — meaning MLPS might come in handy soon. | Internal Sponsorship | Two Crucial Steps to Take Right Now | | If you can see how valuable it would be to get reliable, ADVANCE intelligence about the most likely outcome of the upcoming elections ... if you agree you'd have a huge advantage if you could know how our new Congress is most likely to impact the U.S. economy and your investments ... We strongly recommend that you take two, crucial steps right away. Click here to learn more. | Most of the MLP funds, including MLPS, are structured as exchange traded notes, or ETNs. They're essentially a form of bond. With an ETN you are exposed to loss if the issuer should go bankrupt. I explained more in my column last year, Why ETNs are Riskier Than They Look. WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund (CCX) If you like currencies and commodities, then CCX may be just what you've been waiting for. This actively-managed ETF holds the currencies of key commodity-producing nations. Such currencies tend to be stronger during times of inflation and often bring higher yields as well. The list of currencies held by CCX can change. For now eight currencies are represented: Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, Norwegian krone, New Zealand dollar, Brazilian real, Chilean peso, Russian ruble, and South African rand. Emerging Global Shares Indxx India Infrastructure (INXX) Global X Brazil Consumer (BRAQ)  | | India is in dire need of infrastructure improvements. | | INXX and BRAQ are another combination of two attractive niches: Emerging markets and sectors. India and Brazil are both growing nicely, and these ETFs let you zero in on some of their best sectors. Global X Lithium ETF (LIT) I mentioned LIT in my September 9 column on Green Energy ETFs. Lithium is a key ingredient in the lightweight batteries used in electric cars. If the move toward alternative energy sources continues to revive, lithium demand will grow, too. LIT owns the stock of lithium producers and battery manufacturers around the globe. This one is high-risk, but the potential for profits is big, too! All these funds came out since July of this year, so they don't have much operating history. Use caution if you want to buy any of them. Limit orders are always a good idea for small funds, especially those with exposure to foreign markets. Also, don't be surprised if some of the new ETFs and ETNs don't last long ... Just this week The Wall Street Journal published an article headlined Uncertain Future for Tiny ETFs. I was quoted in the article and provided some of the statistics reported. You can read it for yourself at the link. Here is the bottom line: Unproven products from unknown sponsors have a very high failure rate. Yet if they make it, I think some of these funds have tremendous potential. Check them out! Best wishes, Ron P.S. Do you Tweet? I do. Twitter users can follow me at http://www.gliq.com/cgi-bin/click?weiss_mam+186601-17+MAM1866+computerdiy@yahoo.com for frequent updates, personal insights and observations about the world of ETFs. If you don't have a Twitter account, sign up today at http://www.gliq.com/cgi-bin/click?weiss_mam+186601-18+MAM1866+computerdiy@yahoo.com and then click on the 'Follow' button from http://www.twitter.com/ron_rowland to receive updates on either your cell phone or Twitter page.
About Money and Markets For more information and archived issues, visit http://www.gliq.com/cgi-bin/click?weiss_mam+186601-6+MAM1866+computerdiy@yahoo.com Money and Markets (MaM) is published by Weiss Research, Inc. and written by Martin D. Weiss along with Nilus Mattive, Claus Vogt, Ron Rowland, Michael Larson and Bryan Rich. To avoid conflicts of interest, Weiss Research and its staff do not hold positions in companies recommended in MaM, nor do we accept any compensation for such recommendations. The comments, graphs, forecasts, and indices published in MaM are based upon data whose accuracy is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Performance returns cited are derived from our best estimates but must be considered hypothetical in as much as we do not track the actual prices investors pay or receive. Regular contributors and staff include Andrea Baumwald, John Burke, Marci Campbell, Selene Ceballo, Amber Dakar, Maryellen Murphy, Jennifer Newman-Amos, Adam Shafer, Julie Trudeau, Jill Umiker, Leslie Underwood and Michelle Zausnig. Attention editors and publishers! Money and Markets issues can be republished. Republished issues MUST include attribution of the author(s) and the following short paragraph: This investment news is brought to you by Money and Markets. Money and Markets is a free daily investment newsletter from Martin D. Weiss and Weiss Research analysts offering the latest investing news and financial insights for the stock market, including tips and advice on investing in gold, energy and oil. Dr. Weiss is a leader in the fields of investing, interest rates, financial safety and economic forecasting. To view archives or subscribe, visit http://www.moneyandmarkets.com. From time to time, Money and Markets may have information from select third-party advertisers known as "external sponsorships." We cannot guarantee the accuracy of these ads. In addition, these ads do not necessarily express the viewpoints of Money and Markets or its editors. For more information, see our terms and conditions. View our Privacy Policy. Would you like to unsubscribe from our mailing list? To make sure you don't miss our urgent updates, add Weiss Research to your address book. Just follow these simple steps. | © 2010 by Weiss Research, Inc. All rights reserved. | 15430 Endeavour Drive, Jupiter, FL 33478 |
| 
