The PowerShares QQQ (NasdaqGM: QQQ), which tracks the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 Index, is not a dedicated technology exchange traded fund, but it is one of investors’ preferred avenues for accessing that sector. However, investors have recently been getting skittish about technology stocks and QQQ is feeling those effects.
Stocks such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Google parent Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) are pivotal to QQQ’s performance. That quartet combines for over 39% of QQQ’s roster. Overall, QQQ allocates 60.4% of its weight to the technology sector.
“Investors yanked almost $4 billion from the $56 billion PowerShares QQQ Trust Series 1 ETF in the five days ended Feb. 9, outpacing redemptions at the depths of the financial crisis,” reports Bloomberg. “The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, the world’s biggest fund, saw a record $23.6 billion of outflows.”
Bearish traders can prepare for a possible decline in the Nasdaq-100 with the ProShares UltraShort QQQ (NYSEARCA: QID). QID attempts to provide double the daily inverse returns of the Nasdaq-100 Index.
QQQ features exposure to a wide array of technology companies, including technology hardware, storage, and peripherals; software; diversified telecommunication services; communications equipment; semiconductors and semiconductor equipment; internet software and services; IT services; electronic equipment, instruments and components; and wireless telecommunication services.