Global markets were off to a great start in 2017 thanks to perked up growth prospects. The World Bank has also testified to it. The Bank has kept its forecast for global growth in 2017 and 2018 same at 2.7% and 2.9%. If attained, the global economy will score a seven-year high growth rate next year.
The Euro zone economy expanded at its fastest clip in a year in Q1 of 2017. Improving economic growth but subdued inflation kept the ECB accommodative, promising more months of policy easing. This in turn should spur economic activity further in the Euro zone.
Standard & Poor's recently indicated that it may up its growth forecasts for France and the Euro zone following Emmanuel Macron's election win and his likely victory in parliamentary polls (read: French Election Soothes Sentiments: ETFs Likely to Benefit).
Meanwhile, British prime minister Theresa May’s wager on majority victory backfired. Her Conservative party emerged the largest but lost majority in a snap election on June 8, 2017. Though May decided to form a new government by joining Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), talks are rife that Britain will finally settle in on a softer Brexit. If this happens, the possibility of severe volatility on the European front is low (read: What Does UK Hung Parliament Mean for Europe ETFs?).
Coming to the U.S., growth prospects are on the right track with the central bank on a policy tightening mode. Hopes of fiscal reflation by the new government are likely to keep markets charged up in the days to come. Emerging markets are also on their way to advance 4.1% this year, from 3.5% in 2016, as per World Bank.
As a result, investors must be interested in picking global ETFs. Below we highlight some ETFs that could be great investments right now. Many of these were upgraded last month as per the Zacks methodology (see all World ETFs here).
iShares Global 100 ETF IOO
The 105-stock fund gives exposure to a wide array of large international companies in developed and emerging markets. U.S. gets the highest exposure of about 60%, followed by U.K. (10.5%) and Switzerland (6.1%). The fund charges 40 bps in fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) Diversified Return Global Equity ETF JPGE
The underlying index of the fund – FTSE Developed Diversified Factor Index – consists of equity securities from developed global markets selected to pick a diversified set of factor characteristics, originally developed by the issuer. U.S. and Europe occupy about 50% of the fund.
Consumer Goods (12.4%), Industrials (11.6%), Consumer Services (11.2%), Technology (10.4%) and Utilities (10.2%) are the top five sectors of JPGE. It charges 38 bps in fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy).
SPDR MSCI World Quality Mix (AX:QMIX) ETF QWLD
The fund looks to provide exposure to 24 developed economies focusing on matrices like value, low volatility and quality. This ETF comprises over 1,070 stocks. It charges 30 bps in fees. The U.S. takes about 60% of the fund followed by Japan (10%), U.K. (6.79%) and Switzerland (4.29%). The fund has a Zacks ETF Rank #2.
iShares MSCI ACWI ACWI
The fund gives exposure to the MSCI All Country World Index. The U.S. accounts for about half of the portfolio while Japan takes the next spot at 7.8%. Financials, Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary and Industrials have a double-digit exposure to the fund. No stock accounts for more than 1.83% of this 1353-stock fund. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #1.
FlexShares International Quality Dividend ETF (IQDF
The 193-stock fund looks to track the Northern Trust (NASDAQ:NTRS) International Quality Dividend Index. The fund gives access to international companies that have high quality scores based on a proprietary quality factor of the issuer. No stock accounts for more than 3.35% of the fund. It charges 47 bps in fees and yields about 3.3% annually. The fund has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (read: Rate Hike or Not, Dividend ETFs Are Star Investments).
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SPDR-MSCI WSF (QWLD): ETF Research Reports
ISHRS-MSCI ACWI (ACWI): ETF Research Reports
ISHARS-GLBL 100 (IOO): ETF Research Reports
FLEXS-IQD IF (IQDF): ETF Research Reports
JPM-DVSFD RGE (JPGE): ETF Research Reports
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Zacks Investment Research