Infrastructure-related investments were bolstered during last year’s U.S. presidential campaign as both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton promised substantial increases to spending aimed at shoring up America’s failing bridges, highways, roads and railways.
While he was campaigning, President Donald Trump’s pledge to spend $1 trillion shoring up U.S. infrastructure needs was seen as a potential catalyst for the related exchange traded funds. Still, it could take some time for infrastructure ETFs to see the full benefit of Trump’s still nascent infrastructure plans.
Outside the U.S., countries are already allocating money toward infrastructure projects. For instance, Japan has invested $100 billion for roads, bridges, railways and other building projects in Asia. China has already stated it will put billions into a so-called Silk Road infrastructure project to connect Asian economies.
ETF investors can also tap into the sector through a number of options. For instance, the iShares Global Infrastructure ETF (NYSEArca: IGF) and SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF (NYSEArca: GII) track the S&P Global Infrastructure Index.