The SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF tracks the speculative grade, high-yield, junk bond market, which has outperformed fixed-income assets due to their stocklike returns. JNK has a 4.11 year duration, 4.89% 30-day SEC yield and a 0.40% expense ratio. [Investors Flocking to High Yield Bond ETFs]
The WisdomTree Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund includes emerging market bond securities denominated in the issuer’s local currency, so the fund is subject to currency risks over the short-term. However, over longer periods, appreciating emerging market currencies have helped bolster returns. ELD has a 4.38 year duration and offers an attractive 5.49% 30-day SEC yield. The ETF comes with a 0.55% expense ratio. [Junk Bond ETFs Gain Traction Despite Risk-Off Environment]
The PowerShares DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund allows investors to access a broad portfolio of commodities, which have been a strong portfolio diversifier due to their low correlation to stocks and bonds. The ETF portfolio includes exposure to aluminum, Brent crude, copper, corn, gold, heating oil, light crude, natural gas, RBOB gasoline, silver, soybeans, sugar, wheat and zinc. DBC has a 0.93% total expense ratio.
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Max Chen contributed to this article.
Full disclosure: Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of JNK.