The U.K. is ramping up for future growth

Article Excerpt

The United Kingdom has one of the largest economies in Europe and is among the world’s top 10. However, over the near term, it faces challenges. This includes high inflation, which has forced interest rate hikes, and an overall slower global economy, which has hurt exports. Meanwhile, though, falling energy prices, lower post-Brexit uncertainty and better relations with the European Union all bode well for the country’s future prospects. Here is one ETF that provides exposure to the top public companies in the U.K. ISHARES MSCI UNITED KINGDOM ETF $32.65 (New York symbol EWU; TSINetwork ETF Rating: Aggressive; Market cap: $2.9 billion) invests in publicly listed U.K. companies. Financials account for 20% of the ETF’s assets, followed by Consumer Staples (18%), Healthcare (15%), Energy (13%), Industrials (11%), Basic Materials (9%) and Consumer Cyclicals (7%). The ETF holds a portfolio of 82 stocks; the top 10 make up 52% of its assets. Top holdings include AstraZeneca (Healthcare, 9.6%), Shell plc (Energy, 8.8%), HSBC Holdings (Financial Services; 6.9%),…