U.S. equities and stock exchange traded funds strengthened in the third quarter but stuck to sideways trading through most of the past few weeks. Meanwhile, speculation of an interest rate hike caused a mild pullback in mid-September.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.0% over the third quarter of 2016. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite increased 9.2% and the S&P 500 was 3.1% lower.
The top performing non-leveraged ETFs of the third quarter include the VanEck Vectors Coal ETF (NYSEArca: KOL) up 28.1%, BioShares Biotechnology Clinical Trials Fund (NasdaqGM: BBC) up 25.8% and PowerShares Dynamic Semiconductors Portfolio (NYSEArca: PSI) up 24.1%.
[related_stories]China has helped coal prices and the industry reverse course this yer after Beijing imposed a five-day week working week for domestic mines in an attempt to diminish an oversupplied market.
SEE MORE: Mining ETFs Could Mount Another Rally
The biotechnology companies, notably smaller biotechs, have rallied on increased merger and acquisition activity, along with the faster pace of Food and Drug Administration approvals on new medications.
SEE MORE: Biotechnology ETFs Rally on Sarepta FDA Drug Approval