The World Equity Benchmark Series (WEBS) was launched in 2000 to offer investors with an easy and cost-effective way to invest in international equities. The exchange traded fund (ETF) is designed to track an international index made up of stocks from markets outside of the U.S., such as emerging markets like India and China. The product was created to help investors gain exposure to well-diversified global stock markets through one fund, with low costs at a time when it was difficult to invest in international markets.

WEBS is designed to provide a hedging strategy against the unpredictability of foreign exchange rates. Currently, WEBS offers two exchange-traded funds (ETFs). One fund tracks a broad-based emerging markets index, while the other follows a subset of twenty markets, with a greater concentration on emerging markets.

The fund currently holds stocks from 23 countries, encompassing all sectors of the global economy. WEBS also avoids investing in countries where the political risk is too high or where the country is not considered a major market. While many of WEBS' investments are still in emerging markets, the portfolio also includes companies from mature countries such as Germany, France, and Japan.

WEBS offers investors low costs and low risks, as it is invested in a broad basket of international stocks that helps to spread out stock-specific risk associated with just one company. WEBS can also provide investors with a good way to diversify away from the U.S. stock markets and obtain some exposure to different markets around the world. Investors do not have to worry about various foreign exchange rates, as the fund is designed to track the underlying index no matter what currency fluctuations might occur.

Thanks to its broad diversification across global markets, WEBS has been able to yield strong returns for investors. Over the past decade, WEBS has produced an average return of 8.2%, outperforming the S&P 500, which produced an average return of 7.7%.

By providing an ETF that is liquid, tax-efficient, and easy to buy and sell, WEBS has made international investing easy and accessible. The fund has provided investors with a convenient way to obtain exposure to emerging markets, with the assurance that their capital is well diversified and protected from the unpredictable foreign exchange rates.