Across twenty five of the most widely traded market, sector and industry ETFs, healthcare and energy were among January’s top performers.
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Why should you care? Because January’s leaders are often among the best performers come year end.
The strongest healthcare ETF was biotech. Outside of healthcare, capital markets (AMEX:KCE), oil & gas equipment (AMEX:XES), transports (AMEX:IYT) and insurance were all strong. Homebuilders (AMEX:XHB) also continued to trade higher, following through on last year’s gains.
In technology, the broader technology ETF (AMEX:XLK) trailed; increasing 1.91% versus a 5.12% increase in the SPY. However, semiconductors (AMEX:XSD) were strong, increasing 6.06% and software (AMEX:IGV) increased 5.87%; suggesting technology exposure should be tilted toward those industries.
Finally, for fixed income investors, Muni’s (AMEX:MUB) performed best; up 0.81% during the month.
The following table breaks out the best ETFs through the first five trading days of January and for the entire month.
ETF Returns: 1st 5 & January | |||
Symbol | 1st 5 Days | Symbol | January |
XBI | 7.17% | KCE | 11.23% |
IBB | 5.20% | XES | 10.95% |
XPH | 5.15% | IYT | 9.22% |
KRE | 4.40% | KIE | 8.48% |
KBE | 4.28% | XHB | 8.35% |
KCE | 4.25% | XLE | 8.30% |
XES | 4.16% | XBI | 8.17% |
IYT | 3.73% | XPH | 7.89% |
XLF | 3.48% | XLV | 7.60% |
XHB | 3.42% | IYH | 7.50% |
XOP | 3.16% | XRT | 7.49% |
KIE | 3.09% | XOP | 7.43% |
KOL | 3.06% | MDY | 7.08% |