In the Eurozone, the European Central Bank has been tackling slow growth and low inflation, which many observers argue are signals that the central bank could be forced to take on more quantitative easing to bolster growth. Additionally, in Japan, the Bank of Japan has been adhering to aggressive monetary policies while the government already implemented looser fiscal policies to promote growth.
People seeking investment options to European markets can take a look at iShares MSCI EMU ETF (NYSEArca: EZU) and SPDR EURO STOXX 50 (NYSEArca: FEZ). The two non-hedged ETFs both focus on Eurozone countries.
However, with the ECB engaging in loose monetary policies that could dampen the euro currency against the U.S. dollar, investors can also consider euro-currency hedged ETFs, which diminish the negative effects of a stronger dollar or weaker euro currency. Currency-hedged Eurozone ETF options include the Deutsche X-trackers MSCI EMU Hedged Equity ETF (NYSEArca: DBEZ), iShares Currency Hedged MSCI EMU ETF (NYSEArca: HEZU) and WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEArca: HEDJ).
For Japan market exposure, investors can take a look at he iShares MSCI Japan ETF (NYSEArca: EWJ).
Japan, like the Eurozone, is also actively trying to maintain a weaker currency. Consequently, currency hedged ETFs, which diminished the negative effect of a weaker yen currency, could outpace non-hedged funds. For currency-hedged Japan exposure, investors can look at the WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEArca: DXJ), iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (NYSEArca: HEWJ) and Deutsche X-trackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF (NYSEArca: DBJP).
Max Chen contributed to this article.