Sector ETFs Standing Tall In Current Turmoil

Sweta Killa:  Marked by high levels of volatility and uncertainty, the second half of 2015 is looking precarious for the U.S. stock market. This is primarily thanks to the stock bubble in China that continues to spook the markets across the globe.

The major U.S. benchmarks – S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite Index – are in red to date since the start of the second quarter.

Adding to the woes are plunging oil prices, a slowdown in Japan, sluggishness in Europe, technical recession in Canada and weak emerging markets.

Further, uncertainty surrounding the first rate hike in the U.S. in almost a decade is making investors cautious.

Nevertheless, better economic data is instilling some confidence in the economy, leading to some gains in the stocks. The second estimate of Q2 GDP data came in much higher than the initial estimate, the housing market is improving, consumer confidence is rising, and the unemployment rate dropped to a seven-and-half year low.

All these signaled that the U.S. economy is doing quite well on several aspects helping many sectors to hold up in the current market turmoil.

Below we have highlighted four such sectors and the ETFs that have managed to stay in the green dodging all the market worries. Investors should note that all the four funds have a decent ETF Rank of 3 or ‘Hold’ rating.

Consumer Staples: PowerShares DWA Consumer Staples Momentum Portfolio (NYSEARCA:PSL)

Consumer staples sector is on the rise as it is directly linked with improving economic fundamentals, in particular the spending power, which has increased owing to cheap fuel and rising income. As such, PSL has been able to withstand global worries, gaining 2.6% so far in the second half. The ETF provides exposure to 32 stocks having positive relative strength (momentum) characteristics by tracking the DWA Consumer Staples Technical Leaders Index.

It has amassed $203.4 million in AUM and trades in lower volume of 56,000 shares a day on average. Expense ratio came in at 0.60%. The product is pretty spread out across securities, with each holding less than 4.9% of assets. It has a definite tilt toward mid cap stocks while the other two market cap levels take the remainder. Food products, beverages and household durables are the key industries in the ETF having double-digit exposure each.

Homebuilding: PowerShares Dynamic Building & Construction Fund (NYSEARCA:PKB)

Thanks to soaring demand for new and rented homes as well as affordable mortgage rates, the housing sector is booming. PKB has returned 2.2% to date since the start of the second half. It tracks the Dynamic Building & Construction Intellidex Index, holding 30 stocks in its basket. The product is moderately concentrated across components, with each holding no more than 5.25% of assets. About half of the portfolio is allotted to small caps, followed by 41% in mid caps.

In terms of industrial exposure, construction materials, building materials, specialty retail, engineering and construction, and homebuilders make up for the top five with double-digit allocation each. The fund has amassed assets worth $56.8 million while sees light volume of around 15,000 shares per day on average. Expense ratio came in at 0.63%.

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