Following a piece on Dec. 30 that highlighted its 3D printing exposure, the Robo-Stox Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (NasdaqGS: ROBO) also ranked among the five most searched ETFs on our site this week. Interestingly, ROBO, which is just three and half months old, had $36.2 million in assets on Dec. 30, but that total had jumped to$48.3 million on Jan. 2. [3D Printing Stocks in the Robotics ETFs]
The most popular bond ETFs on ETF Trends this week, and the competition was not all that close, were the db X-Trackers Municipal Infrastructure Revenue Bond Fund (NYSEArca: RVNU) and the SPDR Barclays Convertible Securities ETF (NYSEArca: CWB).
RVNU and CWB are niche bond plays, but the increasing popularity of these funds is a sign of the times . Bond investors are growing worried about state and municipal pension obligations, meaning RVNU could benefit. And assuming interest rates, convertibles usually outperform other bond varietals when that happens.
Some familiar faces round out the 10 most searched ETFs this week: The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund (NYSEArca: VIG), WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEArca: DXJ) and the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NasdaqGS: IBB). Remember, there are two upcoming biotech conferences that could spark IBB and rival funds this month. [Sector ETFs That Could Work in January]
Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of GLD and DXJ.