If you’re tracking the MSCI EAFE Index, you are most likely investing in an ETF (exchange traded fund) like the iShares MSCI EAFE Index fund. This ETF, the second largest in the world, invests in the 21 foreign securities of companies based in Europe, Australia, and the Far East that make up the index.

MSCI EAFE is short for “Morgan Stanley Capital International/Barra Europe, Australasia, and Far East" after the investment firm that maintains it. The MSCI EAFE may not be as well known as the Dow Jones or Standard & Poor’s indices that track U.S. stocks but it finds wide use by investment professionals as a benchmark of performance of international stocks. To get the best information on the MSCI EAFE Index, do the following:

1. Use investment research firms to get help with the MSCI EAFE index.

2. Study charts to get more MSCI EAFE information.

3. Visit websites of indices or mutual funds to acquire MSCI EAFE Index training or invest.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get help with MSCI EAFE Index through investment research firms

You can obtain plenty of MSCI EAFE Index advice from online investment research firms, all without the help of a MSCI EAFE Index consultant. Using an investment research firm enables you to conduct your own research on this index. You can get information, such as the index's opening and closing price as well as the price range. You can also read the research analyst's commentary on the index.

I recommend: Morningstar is a great resource to get MSCI EAFE Index information. Not only does this website provide the index’s price, but you can view and study charts. Morningstar also provides videos you can watch on the MSCI EAFE Index. Lipper is also another website you can visit to get information on the MSCI EAFE Index. This website also shows you the various fees involved in investing in MSCI EAFE funds.

Obtain MSCI EAFE Index information by studying charts

Viewing and analyzing charts of the MSCI EAFE Index is also helpful. Charts give you a visual perspective on how the index is performing. For example, you can find out if many people are investing or trading this index. You can compare how the index performed a year ago versus now. Using charts enable you to apply indicators, such as MACD (moving average convergence divergence) or RSI (relative strength indicator).

I recommend: MarketWatch is an excellent website to look at charts. You can compare the MSCI EAFE Index to other indices. MarketWatch also offers the ability to use technical indicators with your chart. Trade Signals also offers charts, particularly interactive charts, where you can draw support and resistance lines as well as trendlines.

Invest in and track the MSCI EAFE Index

iShares offers the most established ETF that tracks the index. The iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund trades like a stock (under symbol EFA) and you can buy it through your broker. But recently, mutual fund giant Vanguard began selling a competitor, the Vanguard Developed Markets Index (VDMIX) mutual fund, that also tracks the MSCI EAFE.

I recommend: Compare the iShares and the Vanguard funds for performance and cost.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure you keep bookmarks of websites like Yahoo! Finance or Google Finance so that you can keep up with the latest news on the MSCI EAFE Index.