Exchange traded fund (ETF) investors, naturally, are looking to shield themselves from the roar of the bear. Most defensive hideouts are not safe, as even utility exchange traded funds (ETFs) are reeling.

Joanne Von Alroth for Investor’s Business Daily reports that along with commodities and agribusiness, utilities are perceived as a safe haven. After all, people need water, gas and electricity.

Over the first 12 trading days of January, utilities ETFs still had the top-performance spot, and the decline was slow at 2.5%.

Last week, the panic began. Utilities, basic materials and energy all fell. The biggest slide came Tuesday, after the emergency rate cut by the Federal Reserve. The interest rate fear, mixed with recession worries have affected, among others:

• iShares Dow Jones U.S. Utilities (IDU)
• Vanguard Utilities (VPU)
  

Both funds experienced slides of up to 3.5%. The fear is undermined by the threat of global infection from the U.S. markets.

Tags: Agriculture, Energy, Federal Reserve, Material ETFs, Natural Gas, Oil, Utilities, Water