After enduring intense volatility in January and seeing the worst start to a year, we have entered February with hopes of a ricocheting market. But the dour mood was maintained as Wall Street skid sharply on February 2 as investors took down energy and financial stocks, especially following a sub-$30 U.S. crude oil price.
In any case, February has never been known for sound equity returns. The average return of the S&P 500 was negative 0.05% in February, from 1950 to 2015. There were 38 years of a green February while returns were in red in 28 years. With renewed concerns about oil price declines, its deep-rooted negative impact on the global economy and spiraling global growth concerns, chances are high that this February will also end in red.
In such a scenario, investors can take a look at the below-mentioned ETFs; some of which offer safety and some others that hold strong fundamentals even in this tough time.
25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund (ZROZ)
Who can forget long-term U.S. Treasuries, especially after the 10-year bond yields declined to below 2%? With the present soft U.S. economic condition not letting the Fed to be overtly hawkish over policy tightening, good times are ahead for the long-term U.S. treasury bonds. Also, a muted inflationary backdrop and a bid to safety amid the global market rout have brightened the appeal for this investing class.
So, risk-averse investors can definitely turn toward the long-term U.S. treasury ETF ZROZ. This ETF follows the BofA Merrill Lynch Long US Treasury Principal STRIPS Index, which focuses on Treasury principal STRIPS that have 25 years or more remaining to final maturity (read: 3 Safe-Haven ETFs to Watch on Market Correction).
Apart from ZROZ, investors also park their money in Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury ETF (EDV) – a fund matching the performance of the Barclays U.S. Treasury STRIPS 20-30 Year Equal Par Bond Index – and in iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) which tracks the Barclays Capital U.S. 20+ Year Treasury Bond Index. Each of these products has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy).
FlexShares STOXX Global Broad Infrastructure ETF (NFRA)
This ETF could be appropriate for investors seeking to play the booming infrastructural activities worldwide. Investors should note that infrastructure is an interest rate sensitive sector, usually with strong yields.
Thus, a still-low interest rate environment in the U.S., the introduction of negative interest rate on excess reserves and rock-bottom interest rates in the Euro zone make this infrastructure ETF look attractive at the current level.
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