Large-cap ETFs are becoming more attractive by the day.
The topsy-turvy conditions of the S&P 500 have pushed the CBOE Volatility Index up by 21% in the past month as investors brace for a tough road ahead. This uptick in volatility is providing a strong case to take cover in large-company shares, which are at the heart of well-balanced portfolios built to hold up in stormy weather. Adriana Posada, a portfolio manager of the American Beacon Large Cap Value Fund(AAGPX), stresses the importance large-cap equities. "They should be the bedrock of an individual investor's portfolio because they tend to be less volatile," she said. Posada notes that an ETF or mutual fund can prove to be a cost-effective method to obtaining large-cap exposure. "Buying a basket of stocks is a very good option," she said. "It can be difficult for an individual investor to build a diverse portfolio if they do not have a high net worth." Large-cap ETFs such as the iShares S&P 500 Index(IVV) and the PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQQ), which track the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 Index, respectively, have had a rough go so far in 2008. These funds are down 14.4% and 15.0%, respectively. Last year, they rose 3.3% and 17.9%. Large-cap ETFs that subscribe to a particular investing style have not fared any better. For instance, the Vanguard Growth ETF(VUG), a fund comprised predominantly of large-cap names such as Microsoft(MSFT), Apple(AAPL) and Google(GOOG), has declined 13% year-to-date. The picture for value has been equally sluggish. The Vanguard Value ETF(VTV), which holds names such as ExxonMobil(XOM), Chevron(CVX) and Pfizer(PFE), has slid 16%.- Loading Comments...
- Loading Comments...
Recent Comments
Featured Photo Galleries
-
Dodd Unveils Finance Bill Taking Aim at Big Banks - Wall Street Journal
Top Stories - Google News
-
EU ministers agree Greek plan
BBC
-
Hedge Funds Fail When ‘Rock Stars’ Are in Charge: Matthew Lynn
BusinessWeek Online
-
So far so good as Shell is given a shaking
Latest Business News from Times Online
-
Wal-Mart to Add Money Centers
The Wall Street Journal.
-
EU urges faster cut of UK deficit
BBC
-
Payback Time: Avalanche of Maturing Junk Bonds Looms for Markets
New York Times
-
Curb your spending, Brussels tells Gordon Brown
Latest Business News from Times Online
-
Trouble ahead
The Economist
-
About 1 in 4 in California lack health insurance, a UCLA study finds
Los Angeles Times
| Dow Jones | S&P 500 | NASDAQ | 10-Year Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,634.29 | 1,151.59 | 2,362.59 | 36.87 |
Oil *
78.83
|
|
DOWN
7.86
|
UP
1.08
|
UP
0.38
|
DOWN
0.17
|
10 Yr
3.69%
SPDR Gold
110.04
|
|
-0.07%
|
+0.09%
|
+0.02%
|
-0.46%
|
Data delayed 20 minutes |
More From TheStreet
Latest HeadlinesBrokerage Partners
Sponsored Links














