A Few Questions about ETFs.

elsig · 05-07-2012, 11:32 AM

Hi guys,
I trade mainly forex and CFDs. I'd like to know more about ETFs.

How many ETFs can one expect to trade? Are the major ones just a hand full or are there dozens of them?

What other good brokers offer ETFs for non-US residents besides TradeStation?

If you have a good strategy that works in other markets can it be applied to ETFs and expected to work?

Thanks.

Simit Patel · 05-07-2012, 12:25 PM

do you know why you want to trade ETFs? you may be able to ask your CFD broker if they can add a specific ETF you're looking for, and what their terms would be.

there are many, many ETFs -- practically an ETF for anything you can think of -- and they vary greatly in how they trade; some are very liquid, others do not have very much trading volume at all.

mojoman · 05-07-2012, 03:41 PM

Hi,

There are well over 1,000 if you count ETNs. As Simit says, for anything you can think of.

This site has a pretty good database: ETF Database | ETFdb: The Original & Comprehensive ETF Database It also lists holdings of each, which is useful.

This site (Learn About Money Management: Personal Finance, Investing, and Retirement) had a downloadable spreadsheet. It was a little dated the last I looked, but useful in that it had volume numbers and expense ratios. They may be out of date, but at least they give a relative perspective.

mojoman · 05-07-2012, 03:52 PM

I thought I just posted this. Sorry if it's a dupe.

There are something like 1,300 to choose from, as Simit suggests. Some sources:

ETF Database | ETFdb: The Original & Comprehensive ETF Database - searchable; lists holdings, which is helpful

Learn About Money Management: Personal Finance, Investing, and Retirement - now renamed something like infolifics, but had a downloadable .xls which was a little dated the last I looked but has volume info (to avoid those thinly traded) and expense ratios (to compare costs).

Commentary - I'm not too familiar with this one. Seems to be mainly a blog.

Personally, I trade a few different kinds: indexes, sectors, some globals, some commodities and a few currencies.

Good luck!

elsig · 05-08-2012, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simit Patel

do you know why you want to trade ETFs?

As a trend trader I feel that with an expanded range of markets I will have a better chance of catching more big trends. That's why I'm considering ETFs.

And thanks Mojoman for the links.

05-07-2012, 11:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
elsig Badges About Total Awards: 3 InformedQuotient: 25 Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 92 Thanks Stats Thanks (Given): 24 Thanks (Received): 21	A Few Questions about ETFs. Hi guys, I trade mainly forex and CFDs. I'd like to know more about ETFs. How many ETFs can one expect to trade? Are the major ones just a hand full or are there dozens of them? What other good brokers offer ETFs for non-US residents besides TradeStation? If you have a good strategy that works in other markets can it be applied to ETFs and expected to work? Thanks. Share This \|
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05-07-2012, 12:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Simit Patel InformedTrades Founder Badges About Total Awards: 15 InformedQuotient: 320 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: informedtrades Posts: 4,988 Thanks Stats Thanks (Given): 655 Thanks (Received): 436	do you know why you want to trade ETFs? you may be able to ask your CFD broker if they can add a specific ETF you're looking for, and what their terms would be. there are many, many ETFs -- practically an ETF for anything you can think of -- and they vary greatly in how they trade; some are very liquid, others do not have very much trading volume at all.
	Thank

05-07-2012, 03:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
mojoman Badges About Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 3 Thanks Stats Thanks (Given): 0 Thanks (Received): 1	Hi, There are well over 1,000 if you count ETNs. As Simit says, for anything you can think of. This site has a pretty good database: ETF Database \| ETFdb: The Original & Comprehensive ETF Database It also lists holdings of each, which is useful. This site (Learn About Money Management: Personal Finance, Investing, and Retirement) had a downloadable spreadsheet. It was a little dated the last I looked, but useful in that it had volume numbers and expense ratios. They may be out of date, but at least they give a relative perspective.
	Thank

05-07-2012, 03:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
mojoman Badges About Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 3 Thanks Stats Thanks (Given): 0 Thanks (Received): 1	I thought I just posted this. Sorry if it's a dupe. There are something like 1,300 to choose from, as Simit suggests. Some sources: ETF Database \| ETFdb: The Original & Comprehensive ETF Database - searchable; lists holdings, which is helpful Learn About Money Management: Personal Finance, Investing, and Retirement - now renamed something like infolifics, but had a downloadable .xls which was a little dated the last I looked but has volume info (to avoid those thinly traded) and expense ratios (to compare costs). Commentary - I'm not too familiar with this one. Seems to be mainly a blog. Personally, I trade a few different kinds: indexes, sectors, some globals, some commodities and a few currencies. Good luck!
	Thank