ETFs

Exchange-traded funds sprung onto the investment scene nearly 15 years ago, but they've been stealing the spotlight from their more mature mutual fund cousins in recent years.

What are ETFs? Exchange Traded Funds combine an index fund's diversity with a stock's flexibility. Learn more about what they can do for your portfolio.

ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, have grown in popularity. These investment vehicles can be described as index funds that are traded similar to stock shares, and they both follow the performance of an index. Many investors often ask themselves whether they should use ETFs or index mutual funds.

ETF option trading is being viewed as a sound method for buying and selling. ETFs and options should be understood in order for the investor to decide if ETFs are a good addition to her portfolio.

An exchange-traded fund, or ETF, is a fund that follows an index. An inverse ETF is an investment strategy that seeks to make a profit when prices fall. Many investors turn to inverse ETFs when the markets are falling with the goal of hedging portfolios.

Currency ETFs (exchange traded funds) used to be off-limits for the average investor, but they have now become available in such a way that anyone with extra cash to invest can play the game of betting against currency values.

Commodity ETFs (exchange traded funds) are investments that are traded on an exchange, like stocks are, but they are hedged against factors such as inflation, which can drive down the value of stocks.

An ETF seems like the perfect balance between a stock and a mutual fund. It offers diversity, yet you can still buy and sell it like a stock. But the popularity of ETFs doesn't mean they are appropriate for you.

At first glance, leveraged ETFs would seem like a good idea. The possibility of getting twice or three times the hedge would be useful. But that is not at all what investors get. Read this article to find out more.