Let’s just go ahead and eschew cheeky puns regarding feeling healthy and writing prescriptions to get down to the nitty gritty: Exchange traded funds holding health care stocks have been stellar performers this year.
Those ETFs have also been quite popular, at least on ETF Trends, as this week’s most searched data confirms. For the just completed week, four of the 10 most searched ETFs were health care funds. The leader of not just the health care quartet but of the top-10 as well was the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NasdaqGS: IBB).
IBB’s leadership spot is not surprising for several reasons. First, biotech ETFs have been making frequent appearances on our weekly most searched recaps. Second, the biotech sub-sector has been a primary driver of health care’s upside this year. Third, there has been increasing talk about a biotech bubble. [Health Care ETFs Face Lofty Valuations]
IBB was the most searched ETF on our site this week, but SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEArca: XBI) has been this year’s best biotech ETF. XBI added to those gains Friday on heavy volume following our in-depth look at the ETF. [This Year’s Best Biotech ETF]
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR (NYSEArca: XLV) also appeared among the 10 most searched ETFs, but investors showed willingness to at least research riskier fare as the ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Biotechnology (NasdaqGS: BIB) and the Direxion Daily Healthcare Bull 3x Shares (NYSEArca: CURE) also appeared in the top-10.
Another trend remains intact: Investors’ interest in mining ETFs. The PureFunds ISE Junior Silver Small Cap Miners/Explorers ETF (NYSEArca: SILJ) was the most searched mining ETF on ETF Trends this week followed by the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSEArca: GDX). SILJ rose following our Thursday look at the ETF. [Small Silver ETF Soars]