Emerging market (EM) ETFs have had a great run this year (as of June 29, 2017) with iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (EEM – Free Report) returning over 18%. The segment is doing well on improving global economic fundamentals and accommodative developed market central banks that are still keeping interest rates low and driving investors toward the relatively high-yielding EM bloc.
Some of other reasons for this outperformance were a subdued greenback, commodity market strength and policy easing in several EM economies that facilitated growth. In fact, though EMs used to underperform in a rising rate environment in the U.S., the bloc has become a lot more insulated lately (read: Why No Taper Tantrum for EM ETFs Now).
Several analysts also believe that part of the growth momentum in the developed world has trickled down to emerging markets in the form of trade and investments. Against this backdrop, investors must be interested in knowing which EM ETFs emerged winners in the first half of 2017. The year-to-date performance of the below-mentioned funds are as of June 29, 2017.
EMQQ Emerging Markets Internet & E-Commerce ETF (EMQQ – Free Report) – Up 38.9% YTD
Emerging market and technology are two investing concepts that were among the high-flying areas in the first half. Powered by the twin tailwinds, EMQQ– which measures the performance of the emerging market Internet and ecommerce companies – was the topper in the EM space.
After all, the e-commerce bloc has bright prospects with the advancement of technology and Internet usage. EMQQ’s solid exposure to the soaring Chinese tech sector also helped the fund to a great extent. Notably, China takes about 60% of the fund followed by South Korea (read: EMQQ — How This Little-Known ETF Beat Amazon).
First Trust Chindia ETF (FNI – Free Report) – Up 28.2% YTD
The fund’s focus is on China and India. Both markets were on an uptrend in the first half of 2017. Stabilization in the Chinese economy after considerable upheaval and buoyancy in the Indian economy on pro-growth reformative measures favored the fund. Plus, the fund is heavy on the information technology sector – the star of 1H17 (read: India ETFs: More Run Ahead?).
