Exchange-traded funds (ETF)

What is an exchange-traded fund, an ETF?

Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is a fund you can trade on the stock exchange. These funds can consist of shares or other securities that track the price of an underlying index.

By trading ETFs, you can gain exposure to shares, indices, currencies and commodities as easily as you trade a share.

Some of the products offer opportunities for both short and long exposure in the underlying assets, as well as increased exposure through leverage.

What is the difference between an ETF and a mutual fund?

Ordinary funds, or mutual funds, can be purchased directly from your bank or from a fund provider. An ETF, on the other hand, is traded on the stock exchange, like a security. With us, you can trade ETFs in share trading within online banking.

No management in ETFs

Mutual funds are managed either passively (index funds) or actively, by a professional manager. An ETF is normally not managed*, as a rule it is a ready-made "package" of predefined shares or securities. An example of an ETF isDNB OBXwhich consists of all the shares in the main index on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

Even index funds that are passively managed will often have a small element of management in them: for example, unethical and environmentally harmful companies will be excluded. Therefore, an index fund is not entirely identical to the index it tracks, but somewhat adapted. An ETF that invests in an index, on the other hand, will contain all the companies in the index; no companies are excluded.

An ETF is often somewhat cheaper

Because an ETF is most often a completely passive reflection of a stock market index or price index, such a fund will also generally be cheaper than a mutual fund.

*There are some actively managed ETFs; these typically charge an ongoing basis fee in addition to brokerage. Always read the KID for the products you invest in

Where can I find the ETFs that DNB offers?

The range of Norwegian and international ETFs can be found in the equity trading solution. Once you are logged in, click through to the overview page in share trading and then to 'Market and prices'.

Several of the ETFs are listed on foreign exchanges. To be able to trade on the international exchanges, you must have entered into an agreement for a foreign securities account.

This agreement can be set up by clicking on 'My profile' and selecting 'VP-utland'.

How high is the risk in an ETF?

The risk will vary, from low to high. This is because the different ETFs are linked to different markets and underlying products. The risk of the underlying securities can also vary over time. We therefore recommend that you familiarise yourself with the characteristics of the specific product you are interested in before you trade.

Read more about risk in financial instruments here.

What does it cost to buy and sell ETFs?

To buy and sell ETFs, you only pay fees* for the actual transaction on the stock exchange. Brokerage fees for units in an ETF is the same as what you pay when you trade shares.

NOTE: Brokerage may vary slightly across different marketplaces and stock exchanges in different countries.

Share trading price list

*There are some actively managed ETFs; these typically charge an ongoing fee in addition to brokerage. Always read the KID for the products you invest in

Is there a minimum amount for purchasing an ETF?

The minimum amount for trading an ETF is the price for one unit in the relevant ETF. If the ETF is traded at NOK 67, for example, the minimum amount will be the same.

What is a commodity ETF?

A commodity ETF has commodities as its underlying index, which could be, for example, oil, electricity or gold.

If you believe commodity prices will rise or fall, you can buy a commodity ETF that is invested in the commodity you want. The value of the ETF will vary with the price development of the commodity the fund has invested in.

What types of commodity ETFs can I buy through you?

You can find an overview by clicking through to the overview page in share trading and then selecting 'markets and prices'. Here you can use the search function to find the relevant products.

How can I follow the value development?

Under the 'portfolio and orders' tab you will be able to follow the price development of the ETFs.

How do I buy and sell ETFs?

ETFs are traded in share trading in online banking, in exactly the same way as a share.

Here you will find an explanation of how to buy.

Can I buy and sell ETFs around the clock?

You can place your order 24 hours a day, but execution will only take place during the exchange's opening hours, which are from 09:00 to 16:25 Monday to Friday (applies to Oslo Stock Exchange).

The opening hours for the other exchanges we offer trading on can be found underForeign shares.