The VanEck Vectors Russia ETF (NYSEArca: RSX) and the iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund (NYSEArca: ERUS) are among the best-performing single-country emerging markets exchange traded funds (ETFs) this year and much of the upside delivered by those funds is attributable rebounding commodities prices.
RSX is the largest and most heavily traded of the Russia ETFs listed in the U.S. Following a sharp advance on the back of rebounding Brent crowd prices, Russian stocks are still inexpensive relative to broader emerging markets indexes, but some market observers advise caution.
Russia ETFs have impressed this year particularly when considering market observers widely expect Russia’s worst post-Soviet era recession to extend throughout this year. Onlookers remain cautious over the market outlook. While President Vladimir Putin and other Russian politicians argue that the worst is over, the economy is expected to remain in a recession for the year. Russia’s GDP is expected to contract again this year, extending what is becoming a lengthy recession.
Related: Time to Consider This Emerging Market
“The Central Bank of Russia in June cut interest rates by 0.5 percentage points as inflation remained steady despite an anticipated acceleration. In a June report, the central bank stated the Russian economy was at that time facing a more favorable situation than was previously anticipated, citing a slowing in gross domestic product decline and signs of economic recovery,” reports CNBC.
[related_stories]Investors could also be lured back to RSX and Russian stocks due to some of the emerging world’s cheapest valuations. RSX is home to some of the emerging world’s least expensive stocks. The largest Russia ETF trading in the ETF allocates over 37% of its weight to energy stocks, by far its biggest sector weight.