If you are lucky enough to have plenty of cash sitting in the bank, then you will have many different options with regards to where you can invest this money. You may decide to put it into the stock market or indeed into houses or apartments, but I want to focus specifically on ETF investing in this article.

If you do not know what ETFs are, they basically stand for exchange traded funds. I am a big fan of these instruments because they give you a lot of options as an investor, and indeed as a trader.

Unfortunately when you invest in ordinary stocks, you always have to rely on your chosen stocks going up in value. Therefore you have to try and buy them when they are trading below their true market value, which is never easy. You can also only ever buy stakes in individual companies, rather than a group of companies.

However this is not the case with exchange traded funds because they offer you a lot of flexibility. By investing in one of these funds, you can actually invest in a whole group of companies all at once. So if you were bullish about the prospects of the entire telecoms industry, for instance, then you could invest in one of the telecoms ETFs and invest in them as a whole.

You also have the option of buying exchange traded funds that track all of the major stock market indices such as the FTSE 100 and the NASDAQ. If the index moves up or down, you should find that the corresponding ETF moves in exactly the same fashion. It may also be an idea to invest in a group of foreign companies or an overseas sector because this is perfectly possible with exchange traded funds.

What I like about exchange traded funds is that they can be useful trading tools as well. So if you’re looking to take a short position on a particular market, you could buy a short ETF where you would profit if the market subsequently fell.

If you had to make money this way, then you might want to take a few minutes to read this review of Portfolio Prophet because there is a really good strategy you can use.

If you have a very basic understanding of exchange traded funds, then I suggest that you think about investing in a good quality course. While there are not a great deal of courses to choose from online, you should be able to find one or two good ones. I know for certain that Bill Poulos has a very good course, which is actually the product I have just mentioned - the Portfolio Prophet course.

Anyway I guess the message I want to convey to you is that you should definitely investigate ETFs in more detail. They are not complex instruments like options, for example, and you can learn how to buy and sell them in no time at all. You can use them to gain exposure to various different markets both in your own country and abroad, and you can also use them to open short positions.

I would go so far to say that they are arguably even better than stocks because there are so many different ways you can generate profits both long and short.

Platinum is often called “the most precious of the precious metals’ and the “rich man’s gold.” Historically, as well as because of its rarity, platinum has commanded a premium above gold. Usually, precious metals are considered an inflation hedge and safe haven assets. Precious metals from the platinum group have important industrial applications and therefore, their price is determined by economic trends more so than their safe haven status. In March 2008, at the height of the global financial crisis, platinum prices fell from $2,276 per ounce to $898 per ounce in December 2008.

The correlation between platinum and gold has been changeable. It ranges from 100 percent to negative and averages about 60 percent. In September 2011, the platinum-gold price changed direction as a result of a global slowdown. Investors began seeking gold for its position as an alternative currency in addition to its safe-haven status. In early December 2011, platinum was cheaper than gold by over $200 an ounce. Recent data has suggested that the US economy is on a slow recovery path and the trend in platinum pricing has begun to change. The problems in the Euro zone are said to be more or less contained. Platinum prices are up nearly 19 percent year-to-date as compared to gold at nearly 11 percent. January 2012 has been a strong month for platinum.

Besides improvement in the broader global economic outlook, rising demand from auto manufacturers have pushed the platinum prices up. Also, supply problems in South Africa especially those related to labor and electricity issues have contributed to the price increase too.

Russia is the second largest supplier of platinum, while South Africa provides nearly 67 percent of the total supply. Auto-catalyst and the production of jewelry drive the vast majority of the world’s platinum demand. Auto-catalyst accounted for 39 percent, while jewelry production makes up 31 percent.

ETFs provide a cost effective, secure and convenient way of gaining exposure to the platinum group metals. Transaction cost for buying and selling ETF shares is usually lower than the cost of buying, storing and insuring physical precious metals in general.

1. ETFS Physical Platinum Shares (PPLT):

This ETF was created in January 2010 and it tracks the performance of platinum’s price, less expenses. The shares are issued by ETFS Platinum Trust and the expense ratio is 0.60%. This ETF is the largest physically backed platinum ETP with total assets at nearly $800 million.

2. iPath DJ-UBS Platinum ETN (PGM):

Created in June 2008, this ETN currently has assets worth $34.9 million and an expense ratio of 0.75 percent. The investment tracks Dow Jones-UBS Platinum Total Return Sub-Index, which reflects the returns from investment in platinum futures contracts and the interest that could be earned on cash collateral invested in T-Bills.

3. E-TRACS UBS Long Platinum ETN (PTM):

In May 2008, this ETN was launched to track the CMCI Platinum TR Index which measures the collateralized returns from a basket of platinum futures contracts. The commodity futures contracts, which are targeted for a constant maturity of three months, have total assets of $36.7 million and an expense ratio of 0.65 percent.

Considering that PPLT is the largest, most liquid and cheapest ETF, we believe that this is the most suitable ETF for investors seeking to gain exposure to the platinum metal. Further, it is physically backed by platinum bullion, whereas the other two track futures contracts and are subject to credit risks.

Options For Silver Investment In India

Silver investment in India isn’t as straightforward as it is in many developed nations. Recently 2011, there aren’t any Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) or hedge funds available in India that invest in silver. However there are tons of other alternatives available for silver investment in India for people living in India.

While silver ETFs aren’t currently available for silver investment in India, Indian speculators who’ve brokerage accounts with access to US issued ETFs and hedge funds can sell and buy US based silver ETFs and mutual funds. There are currency hazards associated with buying and selling silver ETFs and hedge funds denominated in US Dollars since any devaluation of the Indian rupee versus the U. S. Dollar will diminish any silver investment gains; therefore , making an investment in silver through this route isn’t the most ideal way for silver investment in India.

During 2011, India’s National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL), which is an Indian commodities exchange, began offering a product called E-Silver. Each unit of E-Silver represents 100 grams of silver, and is brought and sold at real-time costs on the NSEL that track world silver prices. E-Silver is a comparatively simple silver investment in India. E-Silver can either be held in an electronic account or physically sent to the buyer.

Silver investment in India can also include more standard techniques of silver investment, such as purchasing silver bullion bars and placing them in safe storage or buying products or jewelry made out of silver. But for many Indians storing silver bullion bars or jewelry safely and economically is not possible.

While not a direct Silver Investment, 2 in India may also be done thru the Indian futures market. Silver futures can be bought and sold in India, which generally track the price changes in the world futures markets. See Purchasing and Selling Futures for detailed information about futures trading.

How Increased Silver Investment In India May Affect Silver Prices

Supply and demand basics for silver are bullish going into 1220. Supply of silver is limited due to silver mining constraints. Demand for silver from commercial processes, commercial outfits that make jewelry and silver products, and silver investors has been inflating in recent times, and is likely to continue to increase during 1212.

With over a Billion people, India is the second most populated country in the world. While many of us in India live in poverty, the growing Indian middle and higher classes demand products made of silver and are increasingly turning to silver as an investing vehicle. With tight silver supplies and inflating silver use and investment in India, India clients and speculators could have a bullish result on silver prices going forward.

Once upon a time financial advisors all agreed on 1 matter: invest in standard mutual funds. These days, nonetheless, you don’t hear much about those anymore but you do hear a whole lot about exchange-traded funds or funds in the ETF list . While mutual funds continue being common, they cannot match the rise in rise in popularity of ETFs. What’s the distinction between the two and why pick one over the other?

Exchange-traded funds are like managed funds in that they combine investment sources and normally distribute them out over many different investments. Exchange-traded funds, having said that, are developed to be traded like stocks. ETF list could be traded anytime the market is open and their prices will alter throughout that time. Collective investment schemes are priced only at the end of the day and which is the only time they could be traded. ETFs may be sold short and bought on margin; mutual funds cannot. ETFs have no administration costs and commonly have lower bills too.

There are many kinds of ET-Funds that track lots of distinctive markets. There are Exchange Traded Funds that track the Dow- Industrial Av. plus the NASDAQ. Some track distinct sectors, like technologies. Other people track the markets of foreign countries. Plus some even track commodities, like gold or gas. So in relation to variety, exchange-traded funds can match mutual funds. It’s secure to say that an ET-fund is often a greater selection over a mutual fund following the same marketplace.

Yet another reason you may choose a normal fund over an ET-fund is when generating long-term investments in a commodity. Since commodity-tracking ETF list ought to put money into futures agreements, you will discover loads of expenses associated with turning those upcoming contracts over. This can trigger a ET-fund to underperform the index it truly is following. So for long-term investments, it might be much better to locate an asset which tracks goods surrounding enterprise market, as opposed to and ET-fund which invests inside the commodity itself.

Nonetheless, normally speaking, if funds in the ETF list are accessible, they are the far better selection. And in the event you intend to trade in the shorter-term, there isn’t any contest. Just the capability to enter stop-loss orders to sell ET-Funds within the middle of a market day can also add to your peace of mind. Numerous huge mid-day crashes have occurred within the past numerous years, and it really is not hassle-free watching the market go lower realizing that you are going to not have the ability to get rid of your investment before day’s end, when who knows how far it is going to have fallen.

What the ETF list does is definitely uncomplicated. The ETF list does what it says on the tin. For example, the Footsie exchange-traded fund would increase and decrease specifically in line with the Footsie index. .It truly is generally spot on. And you may get standard dividend payments just as with a typical tracker fund. You could save revenue also. Derivatives don’t attract United kingdom authorities stamp duty, that can half a % up-front from your other shares investment income. Or else, costs are similar to those charged at the lower end of the unit-trust trackers’ price range.

You are able to use derivatives for all forms of complicated strategies. The simplest is shorting, meaning that you are able to sell the ETF for those who believe the index is as a result of fall and then acquire it back in the future at a reduced price. The difference between the 2 is your income (or loss).

ETFs are large players within the U.S. and increasingly in Europe also. Once they get much better known, they’ll be massive within the UK also. At present it is possible to get into the Footsie, the Eurostoxx and the S&P 500 ,via UK-quoted exchange-traded funds. But things don’t stop there. If you ever want you may find an ET-fund to invest in global pharmaceutical firms, the,price of wheat or even one that finds shares in agricultural machinery companies. This means that you’ll be able to access a assortment of shares in an area or country that might otherwise be difficult to invest in. Where a desire exists either actual or foreseen, some investment bank or another produces an ET-fund.

So even though once Exchange Traded Funds restricted themselves to the large Japanese or Uk stock markets, now you can get literally get a huge selection of them.Some can be really clever. Take the ETF list that invests in businesses making agriculture accessories, for instance. It’s an awesome, affordable solution to obtain into farming cost boom because producers change their trucks when they see they’re getting more for their plants.

Desire the fortunes of gold-mining organizations but haven’t got any idea which stocks to acquire? Do not worry, there’s ETF list for you personally. And another that just tracks the gold price. In a similar fashion, drug companies, petrol firms - in fact almost anything you may feel of.

Investment banks create ETFs. Banks can go broke. The risk often exists although little, that the financial institution may not be able to meet its liabilities. Check on the fund’s costs before purchasing - anything over 0.5 percent per year should make you worried.

If you want to understand how to use ETFs, spend less time on trading and generate the returns you want there are three things you need to know. How ETFs trade, the cost of trading in them, and their benefits. This article will cover those points and show you why you want to make them part of your stock market strategy.

ETFs Are Traded The Same Way You Trade Stocks

ETF’s are a collection of assets that mirror the performance of an index.

Each ETF has its own ticker symbol and expense ratio. And like any stock you trade in the ETF the same way you do a stock. It can be used for day trading, swing trading or even held for long term. Unlike mutual funds you can trade an ETF throughout the day without incurring financial penalties. And the nice thing about them is that they are priced by the market not their net asset value.

Inexpensive

Because you escape the trading restriction of mutual funds where you pay a fee if don’t hold for a stated time, you can make the decision to buy, hold, or sell whenever you want. ETFs are structured to have a lower expense ratio (operating costs, including management fees, expressed as a percentage of the fund’s average net assets for a given time period)

There are additional brokerage and transaction costs not included in expense ratios. Mutual funds typically charge 1 -3 per cent while an ETF charges only .1 to 1 per cent.

Advantages

ETFs originally tracked indexes such as the S&P 500. They now mirror industry groups or sectors as well. This means you don’t deal with the underlying asset’s contract details. The ETF does that for you. And although similar to mutual fund they tend to have lower taxes than mutual funds. On a practical note they allow you to deal in different markets without opening multiple accounts.

This article has shown the attraction of trading in ETFs. You’ve learned how they are traded, their costs, and their benefits. Now is the time to take advantage of that and consider making them part of your overall stock market strategy.

For many years, investors have attempted to diversify their overall portfolios by trying to pick stocks across a diverse set of asset classes. Which is all well and good, but the problem it generally runs into is you should also be diversified within any given asset class, lest something adverse happen to the company you happened to bet on. Yet as soon as your diversifying both within, and between asset classes, now your running a portfolio of potentially 40+ equities, and even the active investor rarely has time to do due diligence on the hundreds of companies required to find 40 excellent investments.

ETF. The latest all important acronym to add to your vocabulary. ETF stands for exchange traded fund; a relatively recent innovation that allows investors to directly target sectors for investment, instead of picking individual stocks, and praying those stocks wont underperform their sector. ETFs are similar to mutual funds, with a couple important differences. They can be bought and sold like a stock, no minimum investment or redemption fees, and you can short them.

The purpose of an ETF is to allow an investor to purchase a single equity that represents an investment in a sector. So if an investor is interested in buying financial stocks, they could buy XLF. If they want some small cap goodies, they can choose to buy IWM. For some exposure to the Chinese stock market, they could invest in FXI. Finally, if they simply want to emulate the returns of the S&P 500 index, the SPY has them covered.

But why shun the mutual fund? Why take the new guy over the established king? Lets start with the tax advantage. When mutual funds endure large sell offs, they have to liquidate many positions, some of which are currently at a gain. They then have to pay capital gains on those positions, and this negatively impacts their return. It would be an understatement to say that Mutual funds generally have higher expense ratios in general compared to ETFs. It can sometimes cost as little as 8 dollars to get into an ETF whereas a mutual fund of 20,000 that grows to 60,000 over a 20 year period may have conservatively lost as much as 18,000 to its competent managers.

Of course, the vast convenience ETFs have over mutual funds shouldn’t be underestimated. ETFs can be traded just like a stock, giving active traders the ability to buy and sell intraday. The ability to short was impossible with a mutual fund, but now it can be done. During any bear market, the ability to benefit from the fall of sectors as well as their rise is a valuable one to have.

Another important consideration is that most of the more liquid ETFs are optionable. This means that option-savvy investors can harness the power of stock options to change the risk-reward profile of their positions, and risk-conscious investors can use stratagems such as the covered call and protective put to protect their investment.

There are some disadvantages to ETFs as well. Some ETFs have complex structures that can lead them to deviate from what they are supposed to be tracking. A similar instrument, ETNs, can also easily be mistaken for an ETF, leading to some general confusion about what exactly you are investing in. Yet for those willing to put in the work to learn, ETFs can be a highly profitable venture for the modern day portfolio.

ETFs are a diverse tool that allows one to remove risk from ones portfolio by investing in sectors instead of individual companies. They allow investors to benefit from downturns in markets as well as the uptrends. And they allow the investor to take advantage of options on sectors, which options-savvy investors can use to supercharge returns. Given their great variety of uses, ETFs should be a valued part of any investors portfolio, to be ignored at the investors peril.