“We proposed the closure of 10 ETFs in order to create capacity for future growth initiatives, and because we believe it is in the best interest of our customers and shareholders to dedicate our resources to areas of greater client interest,” said WisdomTree CEO Jonathan Steinberg. The provider has approximately $6 billion in ETF assets under management. [Don't let ETF closings get you down.]

The final day of trading on the NYSE Arca will be Wednesday, March 24, 2010. Shareholders who do not sell their fund shares by this date will have their shares automatically redeemed on March 29, 2010, the funds’ last day of operation. [The ETF closure process.]

The 10 closing funds are:

• WisdomTree International Technology Sector Fund (NYSEArca: DBT)
• WisdomTree International Financial Sector Fund (NYSEArca: DRF)
  
• WisdomTree International Health Care Sector (NYSEArca: DBR)
• WisdomTree International Consumer Staples Fund (NYSEArca: DPN)
• WisdomTree International Consumer Discretionary (NYSEArca: DPC)
• WisdomTree International Industrial (NYSEArca: DDI)
• WisdomTree International Communications (NYSEArca: DGG)
• WisdomTree Europe Total Dividend Fund (NYSEArca: DEB)
• WisdomTree Earnings Top 100 (NYSEArca: EEZ)
• WisdomTree U.S. Short Term Government Income Fund (NYSEArca: USY)
  

This brings the Spider line to include 80 ETFs, with 31 of those focused on global access to international markets. The new offerings enter a market space that WisdomTree had been cornering.

Why would you choose one or the other? As Gary Gordon for ETF Expert says: it’s a matter of preference. State Street’s funds have a traditional market-cap weighted methodology. WisdomTree’s funds have a dividend-weighted index methodology. Dividends in the WisdomTree funds will come annually, while State Street’s will be quarterly.

The expense ratio for the State Street funds is set at 0.5%, while the WisdomTree funds come in at 0.58%.

The 10 new ETFs are are international sector SPDRs and they give access to investments outside the U.S. benchmarked to a series of S&P World ex-US Broad Market Indices. The following ETFs are market-cap weighted, include only non-U.S. holdings, and use the Global Industry Classification Standard, or GICS.

The ETFs are:

• SPDR S&P International Consumer Discretionary Sector (IPD)
• SPDR S&P International Consumer Staples (IPS)
• SPDR S&P International Financial Sector (IPF)
• SPDR S&P International Health Care Sector (IRY)
• SPDR S&P International Industrial Sector (IPN)
• SPDR S&P International Materials Sector (IRV)
• SPDR S&P International Technology Sector (IPK)
• SPDR S&P International Telecommunications Sector (IST)
• SPDR S&P International Utilities Sector (IPU)
• SPDR S&P International Energy Sector (IPW)

WisdomTree’s funds launched Oct. 13, 2006 and they are:

• WisdomTree International Basic Materials Sector (DBN)
• WisdomTree International Communications Sector (DGG)
• WisdomTree International Consumer Discretionary Sector (DPC)
• WisdomTree International Consumer Staples Sector (DPN)
• WisdomTree International Energy Sector (DKA)
• WisdomTree International Financial Sector (DRF)
• WisdomTree International Health Care Sector (DBR)
• WisdomTree International Industrial Sector (DDI)
• WisdomTree International Technology Sector (DBT)
• WisdomTree International Utilities Sector (DBU)