Consider Stocks From 'The Land Down Under'

RIO, which represents less than 3% of the fund's assets, is in the business of finding, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. Its businesses include operating open pit and underground mines, mills, refineries and smelters, as well as various research and service facilities.

Like many of the Australian natural resource companies or the banks that finance them, RIO is involved in the mining and production of aluminum products, including bauxite, alumina and copper. RIO also mines thermal and coking coal, uranium, iron ore, gold, molybdenum, silver, nickel and diamonds.

It primarily operates in Australia, North America, South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa. Rio Tinto plc was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Since it represents such a small % of the holdings of EWA investors might want to supplement the ETF with shares of RIO which currently has a dividend yield-to-price of 2.56%.

If you're interested in an ETF that focuses on small-cap Australian companies take a look at the IQ Australia Small Cap ETF (KROO). Its one-year price and volume chart below shows similar trends as EWA.

KROO data by YCharts

Australia's future appears to be linked more to China's growth and economic policies than to any other nation. Before investing in Australia and its commercial enterprises, you might want to carefully examine the nation's official economic Web site.

You'll learn all about its financial statistics, the country's approach to banking and money, and the Productivity Commission, which is the Australian Government's independent research and advisory body on a range of economic, social and environmental issues affecting the welfare of Australians.

In a coming article I'll share with you another country that's planning on using its wealth and its sovereign-wealth fund (the worlds largest) to invest in American assets, so stay tuned.

Here's the "treat" I promised you. It's the original title song "Before My Time" written and produced by J. Ralph. It was performed brilliantly by Scarlett Johansson and Joshua Bell for the Sundance award-winning documentary Chasing Ice which opened Nov. 9. The words and music are unforgettable and touches a very deep chord in all people during this special season of the year.

At the time of publication the author held no positions in any of the funds or stocks mentioned.

>>Also see: Make smarter trading decisions and provide investment ideas that could help make you richer. Bryan Ashenberg does the dirty work so you don't have to!

This article is commentary by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.

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