Throughout the course of this presidential election year, an array of industry and sector exchange traded funds have been affected. For example, earlier in the year, biotechnology ETFs were plagued by rhetoric on high drug prices from both political parties.
Conversely, markets seem to have reconciled that regardless of which party wins the White House in November, the good times can keep going for aerospace and defense stocks and ETFs. Although the aerospace and defense industry is perceived as being beholden to Uncle Sam’s whims, the allure of late-cycle sectors, including industrials, in a rising rate environment remains in place. Industrials perform well when interest rates rise because rising rates can go hand-in-hand with economic growth.
Related: Government Programs Send Aerospace ETFs Flying
Some international ETFs stand to be impacted the U.S. presidential election with a prime example being the iShares MSCI Mexico Capped ETF (NYSEArca: EWW), the largest ETF tracking stocks in Latin America’s second-largest economy.
Mexico’s central bank recently left interest rates unchanged, which some market observers take as a sign that monetary policy south of the border is on hold until the outcome of the U.S. presidential contest is known.
“Banxico continued to point that fiscal consolidation is very important: the central bank highlighted the desirability to improve its behavior to better absorb external shocks. In contrast, a deteriorated balance for economic activity risks and a neutral balance on inflationary risks were the dovish elements of the statement. We read that Banxico was comfortable with the decision to hike 50 basis points the policy rate last June. The relative monetary policy stance increased its importance so we stick with our call of a 25 basis points hike in December, in line with our Fed next hike estimate,” according to a Citigroup note posted by Dimitra DeFotis of Barron’s.
Related: How Central Banks Affect LatAm ETFs
With Mexico’s economy showing signs of lethargy, investors should not expect another rate hike in the near-term. In fact, the central bank there said the rate hike earlier this year probably would not be the start of an overt hawkish cycle.
Republican nominee is, in the eyes of some market observers, a potential negative for the Mexican peso. However, recent polls indicate Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton holds a solid lead over Trump.
For more information on the Mexico ETF market, visit our Mexico category.
iShares MSCI Mexico Capped ETF
