An ETF that invests in government-sponsored mortgage bonds has been seeing healthy inflows in recent weeks from investors who want some protection if interest rates rise.
Over the past month, iShares MBS Bond ETF (NYSEArca: MBB) has raked in $443 million and trading volume has picked up lately, according to WallachBeth Capital.
MBB has a 30-day SEC yield of 2.8% while 10-year Treasury notes are yielding less than 1.7%.
The ETF tracks U.S. agency mortgage-backed bonds, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae securities. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.26% and holds $6.7 billion of assets.
“Their low average duration has historically made mortgage bonds one of the best bond categories to own in a rising interest-rate environment,” says Morningstar analyst Timothy Strauts. “Considering that many people are fearful of rising interest rates, mortgage bonds could become an increasingly popular option for those seeking to mitigate the effects of rising interest rates while still collecting a competitive yield.”