What do you use for International Exposure?

[Hamlet]

My portfolio is light on International stocks. What is everyone using to gain international exposure to stocks?

[HFWR]

VGK, VPL,and VWO for stocks, IGR for RE. No foreign bond exposure, yet...

[grumpy]

I have about 15% of my portfolio in international stock funds:

T.R. Price International Stock (PRITX)
T.R. Price International Equity Index (PIEQX)
Vanguard Total International Stock Index (VGTSX)
Franklin Templeton International Small Cap
American Funds International Trust

Those last two are within a variable annuity (I inherited it, I would otherwise never own a VA) so not available directly.

Grumpy

[Alex]

I have a few suggestions, but need to know: Is this for a taxable account or a tax deffered? DO you have a lump sum or are you still accumulating?

[NinjaPigeon]

I have 20% of my money in VGTSX, sitting in an IRA. And I have 1 share of VWO in an after-tax account

[mickeyd]

I have about 15% of my equity in Vanguard Total International Index and a couple of hundred shares of MFC, a Canadian company. They all did great in 2006.

[justin]

VGTSX, VEURX, VPACX, VEIEX, and VTRIX

[LOL!]

VTRIX in our 529 plans
NIVAX, OPPAX, OSMAX in my 401(k)
OIGAX in the spouse's 401(k)
DODFX, PID, MIDAX, FSCOX, EEM in our after-tax accounts

DODFX is reasonably tax efficient while MIDAX is not this year.

I'm looking at DLS for some more international small cap exposure.

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOL! I'm looking at DLS for some more international small cap exposure.

Oooh, yeah, tempting. As soon as it takes a dive...

We're moving from Tweedy, Browne Global Value (TBGVX) to Powershares International Dividend (PID).

[Brat]

I am at Fidelity - all IRAs. I have held Oakmark Global for several years. For general managed international funds they and Dodge & Cox are hard to beat.

I had no real estate funds, thought I was too late to the US party, so went international with FIREX. I understand that there is an ETF index fund in that segment now, StreetTracks DJ Wilshire Intl Real Estate ETF (RWX).

Specific country-wise, I like India. Although it isn't beating India's own large cap index Matthews India fund has done quite well.

If you are a index fund investor Vanguard would be the place to be.

When I put our portfolio through Fidelity's little analysis tool I was stunned to see that half of our equities are now international. After some thought, that is where I want to be.

[Gumby]

DODFX and VGTSX

[d]

no one is mentioning Artisan funds (international, international value, and international small cap) ?!

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Mostly in VGTSX (Vanguard Total International Stock Fund),
some in MACSX (Matthews Asian Growth & Income Fund)--now closed to new investors.

Vanguard's energy index fund, VGENX, is said to be about 50% foreign (can't remember the prospectus), but I count that as an energy play, not international.

I used to have more int'l funds, but found that VGTSX had about the same mix as I was trying to build out of pieces.

I am trying a 50/50 US/foreign equities portfolio (no bonds). It has done very well for the past 6 years or so, so I have no plans to change.

Brat brought my attention to Matthews' India fund. I am watching to see if it has legs. The economies of India and China are starting to grow like crazy.

[cons]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlet My portfolio is light on International stocks. What is everyone using to gain international exposure to stocks?

We have the following in order of Intl (~40% of total port):

-TSP I fund (which is equivalent to VGTSX)
-DODFX (Dodge & Cox Intl)
-MACSX (Matthews G & I)
-TAVIX (3rd Ave Intl Value)
-TREMX (TRP East Eur & Med)
-SSEMX (SSgA EM)

We may get rid of TREMX in the near future. However, it's going to be hard to part with this fund that has been doing great for us the past 3 years. we shall see.

Out of curiosity, what funds do you currently have in Intl? Also, what's your current/intended Intl exposure percentage wise?


Good Luck!
eddie

[rs0460a]

Leather chaps without any other clothes on?

Actually - Vanguard European Stock Index (VEURX). Up 33.83% YTD a/o yesterday.

- Ron

[Alan]

We have :

In my 401(k)

AEPGX American Euro Pacific but outside of 401(k) I wouldn't use it as the expenses are high

In DW's IRA
FSIIX Fidelity Spartan International (Large Blend)
FSEMX Fidelity SpartanExtended mkt Index (Midcap Blend)

In total about 20% of Stock portion is these 3 funds

[Peaceful_Warrior]

In my 401k I'm using ODMAX (Oppenheimer Developing Mkt CL A). So far YTD is 25%.

Unfortunately, I am totally ignorant to the concepts of fees so I have no idea if I'm getting bent over the table or not. Fees are currently 0.85% management fee.

[Hamlet]

It would be a tax-deferred lump sum, when I roll one of my old 401ks into my IRA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex I have a few suggestions, but need to know: Is this for a taxable account or a tax deffered? DO you have a lump sum or are you still accumulating?

[Brat]

This is a case of do as I say, not as I do. First figure out how much you want to be international equities. Take 80% of that and put it in Vanguard's Total Intl index fund. With the remaining put it into an international fund that interests you. One of the nice things about international markets is that you pay attention to what is going on in the world, your little 20% acts like a spy-glass.. focuses your attention.

My investments in FIREX and Matthews India represents that 20%. Not big at all but they keep me looking beyond the berm. [NIKE slang to remind employees to keep their heads up and pay attention to what is going on in the world.]

[Alex]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlet It would be a tax-deferred lump sum, when I roll one of my old 401ks into my IRA.

In that case Vanguard's fund of funds, Total International index (or its ETF version), is a good choice (the foreign tax credit is not an issue in tax deffered accts) Better yet, wait until sometime in the first qtr of 07 when vanguard intro's their new FTSE world (ex-usa) index. It will give broad world coverage in one low cost index fund or ETF.