Why Pick One When You Can Have Four Metals?

While it is clear that the supply of ideas for new ETFs knows no limits, it is easy for the debut of one fund to overshadow others that come to market around the same time. Take the example of the Market Vectors Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF REMX. Love it, hate it, whatever your feelings are, REMX is getting a ton of attention. Too bad, because there have been some solid new ETFs to come to market over the past few weeks. A shining (no pun intended) example would be the ETFS Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares GLTR. Cute ticker, but great concept as GLTR will get you exposure to physical gold, silver, palladium and platinum in one ETF. Of course, it's possible to access all four of these metals through individual funds, thanks ETF Securities, the only issuer offering ETFs backed by physical palladium and platinum. On the other hand, GLTR will help you skirt the need or quell the desire to own four different physical metals ETFs. The four metals are not equally weighted in GLTR as gold and silver account for the bulk of the ETF's allocation based on current prices. From the ETF Securities Web sites, these are the respective allocations: 0.03oz gold, 1.1oz silver, 0.004oz platinum and 0.006oz palladium. That's not a deterrent when considering gold and silver can be your weak dollar plays and platinum and palladium can be your improving economy plays and you don't have to stretch to four ETFs to accomplish this objective. Apparently GLTR was a good idea because in less than three weeks of trading, investors have poured over $30 million into the fund. Not to mention the shares are up almost $10 in that time.