Greece ETF Grinds Higher

It has been a rough start to 2014 for emerging markets exchange traded funds. The same can be said of some single-country Europe ETFs.

The Global X FTSE Greece 20 ETF (NYSEArca: GREK) is proving defiant on both fronts. Remember that in 2013, three major index providers – Russell Investments, MSCI and S&P Dow Jones Indices – demoted Greece to emerging markets status. So like it or not, GREK is an emerging markets ETF. [Greek Stocks Headed to Emerging Markets Index]

That has not stopped the fund from jumping over 6% to start 2014 while staging an impressive technical breakout. GREK gained. GREK’s breakout gained momentum Thursday when the ETF gained 0.6% on more than double the average daily turnover on a lethargic day for U.S. stocks.

Up more than 16% in the past 90 days, GREK may not be down delivering upside.

“Volume has also confirmed the move, as turnover is already well above the 10-week moving average of volume,” said Deron Wagner of Morpheus Trading Group regarding GREK. “The consolidation starting from late October was pretty tight and shallow, giving back less than 33% of the last wave up (from late August to late October).”

GREK entered 2013 as one of the world’s least expensive markets on a CAPE basis and the ETF confirmed the value proposition of Greek equities, soaring almost 25% last year. [Inexpensive Global Markets Delivered]