SAN DIEGO (ETFguide.com) - There are emerging markets and then there are frontier markets. If emerging markets aren't exciting enough, frontier markets are likely to offer the extra spark. The first time frontier markets entered the picture was in the summer of 2008. PowerShares launched the MENA Frontier Countries Portfolio (Nasdaq: PMNA) while Claymore unveiled the BNY Mellon Frontier Markets ETF (NYSEArca: FRN). Both ETFs were hit hard by the equities meltdown which unfolded thereafter.
Van Eck's Market Vectors Poland ETF (NYSEArca: PLND) is the first ETF since mid 2008 with exposure, in fact pure exposure to Poland. Until PLND arrived, Claymore's FRN was the ETF with the highest Poland exposure at 15.88%.
According to some sources, Poland is the fastest growing economy in Central and Eastern Europe and the world's 18th largest economy in 2008 as measured by GDP.
The Market Vectors Poland Index (PLND's underlying index) consists of 26 constituents with an overweight in mid and small cap stocks. The sector overweight is even more pronounced with 39.22% allocated to the financial sector, followed by energy (13.6%), and industrials (11%). PLND has an expense ratio of 0.76%.
iShares launched a new ETF tracking, an equally hot and more crowded market - India
The iShares S&P India Nifty 50 Index ETF (NYSEArca: INDY) tracks the Nifty 50 index, an index that focuses on the 50 largest Indian companies measured by market capitalization. Banks and finance account for over 22% of the index, followed by refineries (12.53%) and computer/software (12.03%).
Other india ETFs include the iPath India ETN (NYSEArca: INP), PowerShares India Portfolio (NYSEArca: PIN), and WisdomTree India Earnings (EPI) all of which have gained in excess of 75% year-to-date. INDY comes with a price tag of 0.89%.
