ETFs Offer Four Different Ways to Index Technology

A lot of competing exchange-traded index funds are starting to hit the market, and the differences between them aren't always obvious.

If you're a technology indexer, for example, you'll soon be able to choose among ETFs tracking four different tech indexes. Which one is best for you? Good luck trying to figure that out. Given the scraps of information currently scattered across the Internet, you could spend days trying to compare one fund to another.

Barclays Global Investors just started rolling out the first of 35 exchange-traded index funds -- called iShares -- that it will launch over the next two months. State Street Global Advisors, which runs the S&P 500-tracking Spider(SPY Quote), will introduce eight new ETFs next month. Plus, you'll already find the popular Nasdaq 100 Tracking Stock(QQQ Quote) and nine Select Sector Spiders, which track the various segments of the S&P 500. Vanguard also is getting into the ETF game. ...