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Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

ETFs are funds that are traded on the stock exchange. They are affordable alternatives to mutual funds.

Father in home office buying ETFs
  • Gives you the flexibility of a share and the diversification of a mutual fund

  • Provides an opportunity to invest in an index, a sector or a commodity

  • An affordable alternative to mutual funds

You can buy exchange traded funds through our online equity trading service.

Why invest in exchange traded funds - ETFs?

There are several benefits associated with investing in ETFs. The most obvious benefits are:

  • You can invest in markets you otherwise would not have had access to
  • ETFs are often cheaper than ordinary mutual funds
  • The price is set there and then, you know the price of the fund units as you buy.

ETFs give you access to markets you could not otherwise invest in as a non-professional

By investing in ETFs, you can expose yourself to both Norwegian and international equity indices, or in different commodity indices. In an ETF, you as an investor get value development equivalent to the return of the relevant index. If, for example, you invest in an index for US property shares, you get a return that reflects an increase or decrease in the US property market.

We offer ETFs in a range of asset classes, such as equities, real estate and commodities. You can see the full list in our equity trading service. You’ll get a complete overview in our equity trading service.

What is an ETF?

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund, which in Norwegian is called a “børsnotert fond”. ETFs give you the flexibility of share and the diversification of mutual funds. Units in an ETF are traded just like shares, and the price is set on the spot. An ETF can invest in everything from commodities to different equity indices.

Who are ETFs suitable for?

Exchange Traded Funds are suitable for anyone who:

  • wants to spread their risk, in a cost-effective way;
  • wants to invest in markets which are otherwise difficult to get access to;
  • wants to avoid the risk related to investing in individual companies.

Investing in an ETF is more affordable than investing in actively managed mutual funds. Investing in an ETF is also a good option if you want to invest in a certain commodity market, or in an international stock market.

How can you find an ETF that suits you?

Trym G. Smedsrud tells you how to find an ETF that fits your investment strategy.

International ETFs give you access to international markets

Exchange-traded funds are suitable for people who want to invest outside of Norway but who do not want to invest in individual shares.

To trade international ETFs, you must be a customer of our online equity trading service and be registered for trading on international stock exchanges. You do this inside our equity trading service after you are registered as a customer (on "My profile").

Click the button below to get an overview of which ETFs we offer in different markets.

Here you can search our ETFs

New law restricts the sale of American ETFs

From October 1, 2024, Norwegians will no longer be able to purchase funds listed on exchanges in the USA and Canada. The reason is an EU regulation adopted as law in Norway.

Read more

The difference between index funds and ETFs

An index fund offered by an asset management company and an ETF traded on the stock exchange has several similarities. Both fund types consist of several securities that follow the price development of an underlying index. At the same time, there are two crucial differences between index funds and ETFs:

  • How shares are priced
  • Automatic vs. a certain degree of management

An important difference between an ETF and a mutual fund (index fund) is the pricing of the shares. When you buy shares in index funds you buy at an unknown price, because the manager trade its shares once a day after the markets are closed. The ETF, in turn, is priced by supply and demand in the market on a continuous basis throughout the trading day. The price you enter a purchase at, is the price you pay.

Another difference is that in an index fund, there will be a certain level of exclusion of environmentally hostile and unethical companies (ESG adjustments). In an EFT, no companies are excluded – the ETF gives you a piece of every company that the index is made up of.

Read more about index funds here.

Oslo Stock Exchange seen from the front

Would you like to invest in the Oslo Stock Exchange benchmark index ? In that case, the DNB OBX ETF is a good option.

Buy DNB OBX – invest in the benchmark index on the Oslo Stock Exchange

Our own exchange traded fund DNB OBX is linked to the benchmark index on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OBX). DNB OBX is tied to the benchmark index on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OBX). The benchmark index, and the ETF, will always consist of the 25 most traded shares on the Oslo Stock Exchange over the previous six months.

Read more about DNB OBX

Questions and answers about ETFs

What is an exchange-traded fund, an ETF?

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

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

Some of the products give you both short and long exposure to the underlying asset, as well as increased exposure through gearing.

Where can I find the ETFs that DNB offers?

You will find the selection of Norwegian and international ETFs in the online equity trading service. When you log in, click on the summary page in the online equity trading service and then on ‘Markets and Prices’.

Several of the ETFs are registered on foreign stock exchanges. In order to trade on foreign stock exchanges, you must sign an agreement on foreign deposits.

This agreement can be signed by clicking on ‘My profile’ and selecting ‘Securities - Foreign’.

Is there a minimum amount for buying ETFs?

The minimum amount for buying an ETF is the price of one share in the ETF in question. If, for example, the ETF is trading for NOK 67, the minimum amount will be the same.

Which types of commodity ETFs can I buy through DNB?

You will find a summary by clicking through to the summary page in the online equity trading service and then choosing ‘Market and Prices’. Here you can use the search function to find the products in question.

How can I buy and sell in purely practical terms?

ETFs are traded in the online equity trading service in your online bank, in exactly the same way as a share.

At this page you will get a step-by-step explanation of how to buy shares and ETFs.

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

You can buy normal funds, or mutual funds, directly from your bank or from a mutual fund provider. Mutual funds are managed, either passively (index funds) or actively, by a portfolio manager.

Even index funds, passively managed funds, will often involve a small element of management. Unethical and environmentally hostile companies will for example be removed. An index fund is hence not exactly the same as the index it measures itself against, but slightly adapted. However, an ETF that invests in an index will contain all of the companies in the index – no companies are excluded.

Because an ETF is a completely passive reflection of a share index or price index, these funds are usually also cheaper than mutual funds.

What does it cost to buy and sell ETFs?

To buy and sell ETFs, you pay brokerage fees in the same way as when buying shares. The brokerage fee is the same but varies for the different marketplaces.

Equity trading price list

What is a commodity ETF?

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

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

How can I follow the changes in value?

Under the ‘Portfolio and Orders’ tab, you will be able to follow the price changes of the ETFs.

Can I buy and sell ETFs at any time of the day?

You can place your order 24 hours a day, but it will only be executed during the exchange’s opening hours, which are 09:00–16:25 Monday to Friday (applies to the Oslo Stock Exchange).

You will find the opening hours of the other stock exchanges we offer for trading under international shares.

How risky is 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 may also vary over time. We therefore recommend that you familiarise yourself with the features of the product before making a purchase. Read more about risk in financial instruments here.

Our prices and terms and conditions

Securities trading is subject to strict rules. We’ve gathered all our terms and conditions onto one page. Here you will find our obligations as an investment firm. In addition, you’ll find information on what you, as a customer, are obliged to familiarise yourself with, and what our services cost.

Prices, terms and conditions

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