Riding out tax hikes, interest rate risk and geopolitical tensions, the broad equity markets touched historic highs this year, with alternative energy, biotech and technology stock exchange traded funds leading the pack.
In the technology space, social media stocks are experiencing robust gains on increased global connectivity, especially in the emerging markets where internet use is on the rise. The social media ETF, once criticized by some as a gimmicky investment strategy, is leaving the rest of the market in the dust. [Beyond Facebook: Other Reasons to Friend Social Media ETF]
Further more, the tech sector has been leading the charge in the emerging markets space, bolstering returns in broad emerging market ETFs with a heavy emphasis on technology stocks. [KraneShares Looks to Solve China Internet ETF Asset Conundrum]
Meanwhile, biotech companies are outperforming in the health care space. The sector could benefit from the aging population, rise in chronic diseases due to the older population, growing emerging market demand, new discoveries, increased merger and acquisitions activity, and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare.” [Three ETFs to Play Up-and-Coming Health Care Companies]
Lastly, clean energy ETFs are cleaning up, rebounding off multi-year lows as more energy conscientious consumers go green. For instance, it is estimated that solar photovoltaic panel installations in the U.S. could go up every 83 seconds by 2016. [Solar ETF’s 90% Rally May Only be the Beginning]
Moreover, alternative energy-related ETFs have a global footprint, with exposure to performing markets like China and Japan. [Clean Energy ETF May Have the Perfect Combination]
Check out the top performing non-leveraged ETFs of 2013.
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