Mutual funds are one easy way to get some exposure to foreign markets.They offer diversification and the fund manager deals with all the issues related to investing in overseas stocks.There are thousands of mutual funds out there.So it is not easy to pick the right ones.
The two mutual funds listed below can be a starting point for investors looking to invest in foreign stocks.
1.Fund Name:Fidelity Nordic Fund
Ticker: FNORX
Fund Intro: “The fund seeks long-term growth of capital. The fund normally invests at least 80% of assets in securities of Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish issuers. It may invest the balance, however, in securities of other European issuers.”
2.Fund Name:Aberdeen Global Utilities
Ticker: GGUAX
Fund Intro:”The investment seeks long-term capital growth. The fund invests at least 80% of assets in equity securities issued by U.S. and foreign companies with business operations in the utilities sector.
BTW photo is a fjord in Norway.
Hmm, but what about horrendous mutual fund fees and slow reporting on holdings? Wouldn’t you always prefer ETFs? Or are you focusing on the investor here who doesn’t want to – or can’t – pay the commissions for all the ETF trades.
Hey bro, this is Michael of http://www.StocksHaven.com . I was reading some of my older articles and I came accross your comment. Just wanted to say thanks alot for browsing through my site, and I really enjoyed reading yours. Do you want to do some blogroll link exchanging? If so add me as “Investing Money Online” http://www.StocksHaven.com
Thanks!
Moneyenergy
Well I understand your point.Mutual funds is not my favorite for many reasons including the ones you mention above. Anyway yes some mutual fund fees are too much and I do not agree with the way they report/disclose portfolio holdings.
I personally prefer ETFs and have written many posts on ETFs both there and in http://www.adruniverse.com.I wrote this post on mutual funds since I realized that my site description in “About Us” says that my site will include mutual funds also.So had to include this article. I hope my posts on MFs would be useful for some folks in the US since they have to invest via MFs in their 401Ks.
I would advise any investor to take the ETF route if they don’t have to invest by MFs. Hope you agree with my answer.:-)