Many exchange-traded funds (ETFs) now on the market have misleading names. According to Carey Research, many ETFs do not invest the way their names seem to indicate.
Here are some examples:
(1) ProShares Hedge Replication (HDG) Fund - ProShares Hedge Fund Replication Fund seems like it should be geared toward replicating hedge fund strategies and performance. In actuality, the ETF apparently holds 82% of its assets in three-month U.S. Treasury Bills.
(2) iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund (ESR)- Although it seems that this fund would be investing throughout eastern Europe, it actually has three-quarters of its assets allocated to Russian companies and little in the rest of Eastern Europe.
(3) iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan (EPP) Fund- Although it would seem that this fund invested throughout the Pacific, it actually has 65% of its holdings in Australia and a smattering in Hong Kong and Singapore.
(4) Vanguard MSCI Pacific (VPL) Fund- Although this fund also would appear to be invested throughout the Pacific, it actually has a 62% allocation to Japan and 25% to Australia.
(5) Asia Pacific ex-Japan Portfolio Fund (PAF) - Another fund that does not spread around throughout the Pacific as its name would suggest. The fund apparently has a huge stake in South Korea (36%).
(6) PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund (BABZ)- Although the fund would seem to invest throughout the United States, nearly 70% of the assets are invested in bonds from four states--California, New York, Illinois and New Jersey--that have budget problems and issue more bonds than most.
(7) United States Oil Fund (USO)- Although this fund was designed to follow WTI crude oil prices, investors can find their assets going in the opposite direction from crude oil prices because the fund does not actually hold any oil. Instead, it maintains positions on the futures markets.
(8) United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) - Another fund that actually holds futures contracts as opposed to natural gas.
The Carey Research conclusions touch on a problem in the securities industry today. Many offerings currently out there, in particular structured products, ETFs, and ETNs created by the industry, do not invest the way their name suggests. Many of these investments are packaged as a way for investors to avoid the volatility of the market or capture growth in a particular sector. In reality, these structured investments are just ways for the industry to increase revenues generated from the creation, sale, and management of these products.
If you have experienced losses in any of these investments and feel the financial advisor that sold the product misrepresented the investment strategy or failed to perform due diligence on the actual underlying assets in the fund, you may be able to recover your losses in a FINRA arbitration claim.
Brokerage firms have a fiduciary duty to research investments and to ensure that the investments are appropriate for you in light of your age, investment experience, net worth, and investment objectives.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Here are some examples:
(1) ProShares Hedge Replication (HDG) Fund - ProShares Hedge Fund Replication Fund seems like it should be geared toward replicating hedge fund strategies and performance. In actuality, the ETF apparently holds 82% of its assets in three-month U.S. Treasury Bills.
(2) iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Eastern Europe Index Fund (ESR)- Although it seems that this fund would be investing throughout eastern Europe, it actually has three-quarters of its assets allocated to Russian companies and little in the rest of Eastern Europe.
(3) iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan (EPP) Fund- Although it would seem that this fund invested throughout the Pacific, it actually has 65% of its holdings in Australia and a smattering in Hong Kong and Singapore.
(4) Vanguard MSCI Pacific (VPL) Fund- Although this fund also would appear to be invested throughout the Pacific, it actually has a 62% allocation to Japan and 25% to Australia.
(5) Asia Pacific ex-Japan Portfolio Fund (PAF) - Another fund that does not spread around throughout the Pacific as its name would suggest. The fund apparently has a huge stake in South Korea (36%).
(6) PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund (BABZ)- Although the fund would seem to invest throughout the United States, nearly 70% of the assets are invested in bonds from four states--California, New York, Illinois and New Jersey--that have budget problems and issue more bonds than most.
(7) United States Oil Fund (USO)- Although this fund was designed to follow WTI crude oil prices, investors can find their assets going in the opposite direction from crude oil prices because the fund does not actually hold any oil. Instead, it maintains positions on the futures markets.
(8) United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) - Another fund that actually holds futures contracts as opposed to natural gas.
The Carey Research conclusions touch on a problem in the securities industry today. Many offerings currently out there, in particular structured products, ETFs, and ETNs created by the industry, do not invest the way their name suggests. Many of these investments are packaged as a way for investors to avoid the volatility of the market or capture growth in a particular sector. In reality, these structured investments are just ways for the industry to increase revenues generated from the creation, sale, and management of these products.
If you have experienced losses in any of these investments and feel the financial advisor that sold the product misrepresented the investment strategy or failed to perform due diligence on the actual underlying assets in the fund, you may be able to recover your losses in a FINRA arbitration claim.
Brokerage firms have a fiduciary duty to research investments and to ensure that the investments are appropriate for you in light of your age, investment experience, net worth, and investment objectives.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
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