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The fund generally invests at least 90% of its assets in securities of the underlying index and in depositary receipts representing securities of the underlying index. The index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index. Constituents of the underlying index include securities of companies located in Europe, Australasia and the Far East.

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Overall, ETFs pulled in $12.8 billion in capital last week, pushing the year-to-date inflows to $324.7 billion. U.S. fixed-income ETFs led the way higher with $8.3 billion in inflows, followed by inflows of $1.8 billion in international equity ETFs and $1.8 billion in currency ETFs.


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FDTS

4 Global Style ETFs Your Broker Forgot to Mention

LAVAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 17, 2009) - First Gold Exploration Inc. (the &#34;Company&#34; or &#34;First Gold&#34;) (TSX VENTURE:EFG)(FRANKFURT:F12) announce in accordance with regulatory requirements, that Eric Leboeuf, CEO and Director of First Gold, has recently acquired, directly, 800,000 common shares of First Gold on the open market.

Prior to such acquisition, Mr. Leboeuf held, directly, 2,640,000 common shares and 605,000 warrants of First Gold, each warrant entitling the holder to acquire one common share. In addition, Mr.

First Gold Exploration Inc.: Early Warning Report

EFG Holding SAE

EFG INTL ZUERICH NAMEN by EFG International AG

EFG International AG

Eiffage SA

EFG INTERNATIONAL AG ADR by EFG International AG

Overall, ETFs pulled in $12.8 billion in capital last week, pushing the year-to-date inflows to $324.7 billion. U.S. fixed-income ETFs led the way higher with $8.3 billion in inflows, followed by inflows of $1.8 billion in international equity ETFs and $1.8 billion in currency ETFs. 
Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (ARCA:VOO), iShares S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF (ARCA:IVW), iShares Russell 2000 ETF (ARCA:IWM), Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (ARCA:VTI) and iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/efg#BATS">EFG</a>) dominated the top creation list last week. 
Wall Street wrapped up the last week with gains. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index outperformed, advancing 2.4%, while the S&amp;P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average booked gains of 1.3% and 0.3%, respectively. The gains were driven by the tech surge, especially NVIDIA (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>). The chipmaker surpassed Apple (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) in terms of market cap and became the second-most valuable company in the United States. 
Rate cut bets ramped up last week following the weak data, which signaled a slowdown in the world&#39;s largest economy. U.S. manufacturing activity slowed for the second straight month in May, and U.S. construction spending fell unexpectedly for the second consecutive month in April on declines in non-residential activity. 
However, a stronger jobs report diminished rate cut bet hopes to end the week, leading to a spike in Treasury yields. U.S. job growth jumped in May and wage growth accelerated. The economy added 272,000 jobs in May, above the Bloomberg expectation of 185,000 jobs, reflecting continued strong hiring in a range of sectors. 
We have detailed the ETFs below: 
Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF 
Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF topped the asset flow creation last week, gathering $11.9 billion in capital. It tracks the S&amp;P 500 Index and holds 504 stocks in its basket, each accounting for no more than 7% of the assets. Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF is heavy on the information technology sector, while financials, healthcare and consumer discretionary round off the next three spots with a double-digit allocation each. 
Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF charges investors 3 bps in annual fees and trades in an average daily volume of 4.4 million shares. It has AUM of $464 billion and a Zacks ETF Rank #1 (Strong Buy) with a Medium risk outlook. 
iShares S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF 
iShares S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF has accumulated $3 billion in its asset base. It targets the growth segment of the S&amp;P 500 Index by tracking the S&amp;P 500 Growth Index. iShares S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF holds 228 stocks in its basket, with key holdings in information technology, consumer discretionary and communication. iShares S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF charges 18 bps in annual fees and has amassed $50 billion in its asset base. The fund trades in an average daily volume of 2 million shares and has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) with a Medium risk outlook. 
iShares Russell 2000 ETF 
iShares Russell 2000 ETF has accumulated $1.8 billion in its asset base. It is the largest and most popular ETF in the small-cap space, with an AUM of $60 billion and an average daily volume of 26 million shares. iShares Russell 2000 ETF holds well-diversified 1,937 stocks in its basket and has key holdings in industrials, financials, healthcare, information technology and consumer discretionary. 
iShares Russell 2000 ETF charges 19 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 with a Medium risk outlook. 
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF 
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF gathered $1.5 billion in capital. It provides exposure to the broader stock market by tracking the CRSP US Total Market Index. Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF holds a large basket of well-diversified 3,719 stocks with key holdings in technology, consumer discretionary, industrials, healthcare and financials. 
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF charges 3 bps in fees per year from investors and trades in an average daily volume of 3 million shares. VTI has amassed $401 billion in its asset base and has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 with a Medium risk outlook. 
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF 
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has pulled in $1.4 billion in capital, taking its total AUM to $13.9 billion. It offers exposure to a broad range of companies in Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Far East whose earnings are expected to grow at an above-average rate relative to the market. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF follows the MSCI EAFE Growth Index and holds 327 stocks in its basket. Japanese firms make up 22.1% of the portfolio, while France and the United Kingdom round off the next two spots with double-digit exposure each. 
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF charges 36 bps in annual fees and trades in an average daily volume of 323,000 shares. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a Low risk outlook.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2286800/5-most-loved-etfs-of-last-week?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2286800">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

As the exchange-traded products industry has continued to boom (there are now almost 1,460 ETFs and ETNs listed in the U.S. with over $1.2 trillion in AUM), the number of so-called style funds has surged as well.

By definition, a style ETF is one that focuses on value or growth stocks, large-, mid- or small-caps or a blend of the various traits we just mentioned. Well-known examples include the $3.8 billion iShares Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iwo#NYSE">IWO</a>) and the SPDR S&amp;P 500 Growth ETF (NYSE: SPYG), which has almost $230 million in AUM.

Obviously, those are domestic funds. There are plenty of global style funds that may not command a lot of headlines, but are worthy of investors' attention. Here are some your broker probably neglected to tell you about.

WisdomTree International MidCap Dividend Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/dim#NYSE">DIM</a>)
DIM is the epitome of a style play, rolling dividend-paying global mid-caps into one fund. DIM may not get a lot of attention, but the fund is almost six-years old and has nearly $103 million in AUM. Up more than 8% year-to-date, DIM does have some issues to consider before jumping.

First, industrials, financials and consumer discretionary names account for over 58% of the fund's weight. Second, Japan and the U.K. combine for over 40% of the DIM's country weight. Third, the rest of DIM's country allocations include nine Euro Zone members and all of the PIIGS except Greece. On second thought, maybe it's not a bad thing that DIM has been somewhat anonymous up to this point.

iShares MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/scz#NYSE">SCZ</a>)
Proper style ETFs have specific niches, whether be small-cap value, large-cap growth, etc. That's the case with SCZ, which obviously focuses on EAFE small-caps. As we recently noted, the <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/12/05/2547232/3-eafe-etfs-your-broker-forgot-to-mention-efa-dwm-efav">EAFE investment theme has its merits, but not all of these ETFs make the grade</a>.

Considering that SCZ will celebrate its fifth birthday later this year and that it's home to nearly $1.5 billion in AUM, the ETF doesn't garner much press. However, a 13% year-to-date gain is solid when acknowledging more than 48% of SCZ's weight goes to Japan and the U.K. 

That creates an interesting situation going forward for SCZ. Will global investors view Japanese and U.K. small-caps as value opportunities or will the macro headwinds facing both nations chase investors to other global markets? How that question is answered will figure prominently in SCZ's 2012 performance.

iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/efg#NYSE">EFG</a>)
This is another prime example of EAFE style that has been around a while (almost seven years), is large ($1.2 billion in AUM) and doesn't grab much press. EFG does share something in common with many of U.S.-focused ETFs that claim to be growth funds: Allocations that are heavy on sectors that extremely short on growth stocks.

EFG is up more than 10% year-to-date, but it's hard to get a growth feeling from a fund with an almost 20% allocation to staples stocks. Many of EFG's 555 holdings are high-quality, blue-chip names and legitimate bull cases can be made for top-10 holdings such as Nestle (PK: NSRGY) and BHP Billiton (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/bhp#NYSE">BHP</a>), but those aren't really growth stocks.

First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/fdts#NYSE">FDTS</a>)
Not even three months old yet, FDTS is truly an under-the-radar global style ETF at this point. FDTS tracks the Defined Developed Markets Ex-US Small Cap Index, which on growth factors including 3-, 6- and 12-month price appreciation, sales to price and one year sales growth, and separately on value factors including book value to price, cash flow to price and return on assets, according to First Trust.

The top 400 make the cut (FDTS is home to 406 names right now) are divided into quintiles based on their rankings and the top ranked quintiles receive a higher weight within the index. Japan and South Korea combine for over half of this ETF's country weight and FDTS is fairly diverse at the sector leve with four sectors – discretionary, industrials, materials and financials – receiving double-digit allocations. 

All of those points may be moot until FDTS starts trading on a regular basis. The idea here is nifty, but FDTS hasn't traded in nearly a month.

For more on undiscovered international ETFs, please click <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/12/05/2547232/3-eafe-etfs-your-broker-forgot-to-mention-efa-dwm-efav">HERE</a>.

LAVAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 17, 2009) - First Gold Exploration Inc. (the "Company" or "First Gold") (TSX VENTURE:EFG)(FRANKFURT:F12) announce in accordance with regulatory requirements, that Eric Leboeuf, CEO and Director of First Gold, has recently acquired, directly, 800,000 common shares of First Gold on the open market.
Prior to such acquisition, Mr. Leboeuf held, directly, 2,640,000 common shares and 605,000 warrants of First Gold, each warrant entitling the holder to acquire one common share. In addition, Mr. Leboeuf, also has control over 800,000 options to acquire 800,000 common share of First Gold.
Mr. Leboeuf currently holds 3,440,000 common shares of First Gold which represent an interest of 10.48% of First Gold's issued and outstanding capital at the date hereof on a non-diluted basis. Assuming the exercise of all warrants and options held by him, Mr. Leboeuf would hold 4,845,000 common shares of First Gold, which represent an interest of 14.16% of First Gold's issued and outstanding capital at the date hereof on a partially diluted basis.
The securities acquired by Mr. Leboeuf referred to above are held for investment purposes only. These investments will be reviewed on a continuing basis and holdings may be increased or decreased in the future.
Eric Leboeuf comments "First Gold Exploration Inc. has 32,821,899 shares outstanding and a market capitalization of only 2.3MM$, has a 50% interest in the Croinor project and is earning a 50% interest in a base metal project. First Gold is also actively looking to add to its project portfolio. I invite all shareholders to have a read of the economical Scoping Study report made by Golder Associates (see news release of May 26th, 2009).
Please call me for details, I'm always available for the shareholders."
Scoping Study: <a href="http://www.firstgoldexploration.com/PDF/ScopingStudyCroinor13JulyV2_1.pdf" title="http://www.firstgoldexploration.com/PDF/ScopingStudyCroinor13JulyV2_1.pdf">http://www.firstgoldexploration.com/PDF/ScopingStudyCroinor13JulyV2_1.pdf</a>

Q4 2023 - International Equity Review And Outlook

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
Lower interest rates will likely cause many more homes and automobiles to be built. So, most basic materials stocks should thrive next year.



Meanwhile, China&rsquo;s government recently elected to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/china-issue-137-bln-sovereign-debt-support-economy-2023-10-24/">increase</a> its spending by $137 billion. Clearly, Beijing is ready and willing to stimulate the world&rsquo;s second-largest economy, a big consumer of basic materials. 



Also boosting many basic materials stocks in 2024 will be the ongoing EV Revolution. Additionally, the continuing Energy Transition and the &ldquo;flight to safety&rdquo; trade will continue. Therefore, investors who focus on these positive, powerful catalysts should consider three top basic materials stocks to buy. 



<h2>Pan American Silver (PAAS)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/shutterstock_1017092971-300x169.jpg" alt="a lump of silver metal"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div>


Pan American Silver (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/paas-stock-quote/">PAAS</a>) has high exposure to silver and gold, two metals expected to climb in 2024. For 2023, PAAS expects to produce 870,000 to 970,000 karats of gold and 21 to 23 million ounces of sillver.



Further, gold should get a big lift from lower interest rates. This will likely continue to erode the dollar&rsquo;s value in 2024. And, other factors are likely to push up gold prices. Namely, the huge U.S. debt, the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and Washington&rsquo;s dysfunction will contribute.



Meanwhile, silver is also a &ldquo;safe haven&rdquo; asset. Also, it&rsquo;s extensively used in solar energy, hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles.



Finally, PAAS&rsquo;s average total production costs for this year are a reasonable $1,275 and $1,425&nbsp;per gold ounce and&nbsp;$14 and $16&nbsp;per silver ounce. On average, analysts expect company <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/PAAS/analysis?p=PAAS">earnings</a> per share to climb to 72 cents next year. That indicates an increase from 22 cents in 2023. 



<h2>West Fraser Timber (WFG)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/lumber-stocks-6-300x169.jpg" alt="A circular saw cutting through a wooden plank"><div>Source: shutterstock</div></div>


Vancouver-based West Fraser Timber (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wfg-stock-quote/">WFG</a>) is a company to watch. 



Single-family home prices are likely to sink next year as lower interest rates cause more homeowners to sell their homes. Also, lower rates may increase the demand for new homes, causing homebuilders to tremendously increase construction of new homes. 



Expect homebuilders to sell more homes in order to elevate bottom lines, despite the decline of prices. The latter process may have already started. Lumber futures <a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/commodities/lbr">have jumped</a> from $465 per 1,000 feet on Oct. 24 to $566 on Dec. 28. 



In Q3, the company&rsquo;s <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/pr/19510585-west-fraser-announces-third-quarter-2023-results?hasComeFromMpArticle=false">revenue</a> climbed to $1.7 billion versus $1.6 billion in the previous quarter. Its EBITDA, excluding certain items, rose to $325 million from $80 million in Q2. WFG stock has a reasonable forward <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/WFG/key-statistics?p=WFG">P/E ratio</a> of 19. 



<h2>Freeport McMoRan (FCX)</h2>


<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/fcx1600a-300x169.jpg" alt="Freeport-McMoRan Stock's Long List of Catalysts Boosts Its Buy Status"><div>Source: 360b / Shutterstock.com</div></div>


As the world&rsquo;s <a href="https://investingnews.com/daily/resource-investing/base-metals-investing/copper-investing/top-copper-producing-companies/">leading copper producer</a>, Freeport McMoRan (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/fcx-stock-quote/">FCX</a>) is exceptionally well-positioned for 2024.



Copper is widely <a href="https://sattlermanufacturing.com/content/top-4-industrial-uses-for-copper">used </a>in many industries, including transportation, electricity generation and construction. And China is the top country when it comes to copper consumption. 



In November, Goldman Sachs <a href="https://www.goldmansachs.com/intelligence/pages/the-global-economy-will-perform-better-than-many-expect-in-2024.html">predicted</a> that global GDP would expand at a fairly robust 2.6% rate in 2024. That represents little change from its 2.7% estimate for 2023. Given a scenario of interest rates dropping, economies boosted by the EV Revolution, the Energy Transition, and AI, the forecast will likely prove to be conservative.



Additionally, Beijing appears ready to stimulate the Chinese economy, a move that should greatly stimulate copper demand. Notably, copper prices will likely be boosted by the increased demand for electricity triggered by the electrification of transportation.



Finally, analysts already expect Freeport&rsquo;s earnings per share to climb to $1.63 in 2024 from $1.45 in 2023. 



 On the date of publication, Larry Ramer did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2023/12/top-3-basic-materials-stock-picks-for-the-new-year/">Top 3 Basic Materials Stock Picks for the New Year</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

Top 3 Basic Materials Stock Picks for the New Year

IQLT: International Diversification With A Tilt To Quality And Growth

EFG: International Growth ETF Disregarding Momentum

Major global indices have rallied waiting for easier monetary policies - Oppenheimer

EFG: A Great Potential Outperformer For International Stocks