Five ETFs to Watch This Week

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Here are five ETFs to watch this week.

iShares Dow Jones U.S. Technology Index Fund (IYW)

Google (GOOG) kicked of the tech earnings season on a strong note late last week, sending shares of the search giant soaring.

This week, there will be earnings from a deluge of other tech titans including Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Intel (INTC), EMC (EMC), Qualcomm (QCOM) and International Business Machines (IBM).

The IYW is a strong option for investors looking to cast a wide net over the technology sector. All seven of the companies listed above can be found among the fund's top 10 holdings, representing over half of its portfolio.

Given the diverse array of tech players reporting earnings next week, aggressive investors may find niche funds like the iShares S&P North American Technology Multimedia-Networking Index Fund (IGN) and First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN) to be interesting as well.

These funds tend to offer heavier exposure to smaller companies like F5 Networks (FFIV), which is also reporting earnings this week.

CurrencyShares Swiss Franc Trust (FXF)

Given the economic headwinds facing many corners of the globe, it is not surprising that investors have been clamoring for exposure to defensive assets. The desire for protection has been a boon for safe haven funds like the iShares Gold Trust (IAU) which has benefitted from the rise in gold.

Another notable winner amongst this economic turmoil has been the Swiss franc. As investors flee the troubled euro, many have found solace in Switzerland's currency as the franc has rallied to record highs against the dollar, euro, and pound. Year to date, shares of FXF have jumped 14%.

iShares Dow Jones U.S. Telecommunications Services Index Fund (IYZ)

The telecommunications industry will be thrust into focus this week when AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ) report their earnings numbers on Thursday and Friday respectively.

Given their size and dominance, it is not surprising that these two firms represent the lion's shares of most telecom ETFs. IYZ sets aside over a quarter of its portfolio to these two names. Meanwhile, VZ and T represent close to half of the Vanguard Telecom Services ETF's (VOX) index.

The top-heavy nature of funds like IYZ and VOX makes them inherently risky. Investors looking to gain any exposure in the weeks ahead will want to keep positions small and focused in order protect themselves in the event of an earnings shakeup.

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