ETFs in brief


Exchange-traded funds are set up to mirror the performance of a stock-market index or sub-index....

The long-term dynamics of oil and gas producers are consistent—periods of high prices historically lead to large-scale capacity expansion and then invariably to overcapacity, lower prices, and poor profitability.


Illustrating that cyclical nature, shares of oil and gas producers have soared since early 2021—after a long period of decline.


The medium to long-term prospects for the energy industry were detailed in an in-depth report from the International Energy Agency published in late 2022....

Biotechnology is a science-driven industry that uses living organisms and molecular biology to produce healthcare-related products. Biotechnology is best known for its role in medicine and pharmaceuticals, but the science is also applied in other areas such as genomics, food production, and the production of biofuels.


The term biotechnology was first used by Károly Ereky in 1919 to refer to the production of products from raw materials with the aid of living organisms....

Invesco is one of the top global fund managers and it recently made another product available to Canadian investors. Horizons has also become one of the largest Canadian ETF managers by launching creative new products.


INVESCO MORNINGSTAR GLOBAL ENERGY TRANSITION ETF $19.43 (Toronto symbol IGET) invests globally in companies that are expected to benefit from the quest to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gases.


The ETF aims to track the Morningstar Global Energy Transition Index....

The major credit rating agency Fitch recently downgraded the U.S. sovereign government debt rating to AA+. This follows a similar ratings downgrade by S&P in 2011.


The reasons cited by Fitch for the downgrade include the ongoing deterioration in the U.S....

The United States has been the world’s leading economy for many decades—and we think U.S. companies will continue to offer ETF investors unparalleled opportunities.


Here is an ETF that provides exposure to the top U.S. stocks.


VANGUARD TOTAL STOCK MARKET ETF $82.24 (Toronto symbol VUN; TSI Network ETF Rating: Aggressive; Market Cap: $6.5 billion) tracks the performance of a broad basket of U.S....

The six hottest years ever recorded have all come since 2015. In 2022 (the fifth warmest year on record) the global average mean temperature was around 1.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels—with 28 countries experiencing their hottest year ever. This trend continued in 2023, with July 2023 being the hottest month in recorded history.


Heatwaves—and the resulting wider cooling needs— are expected to increase in frequency and intensity as average temperatures rise and populations grow and become increasingly urbanized.


According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), there are around 1.5 billion household air conditioners worldwide—and that is expected to increase to 2.2 billion in 2030 and 4.4 billion in 2050....

Oil and gas prices have pulled back lately, but still remain high. Meanwhile, demand should remain elevated for several years to come as the world continues to rely on fossil fuels even as it shifts to more-sustainable renewable energy sources.


Here are three ETFs that focus on oil and gas exploration and production....

ARK GENOMIC REVOLUTION ETF $31.33 (CBOE symbol ARKG) invests globally in companies it expects to benefit from the development of products and services meant to improve the quality of life. Those firms are involved in molecular diagnostics, gene therapy, targeted therapeutics, agricultural biology, and stem cells.


The ETF launched in October 2014 and has built up a substantial asset base of $2.1 billion....

Biotechnology companies have been at the forefront of some of the most exciting developments in healthcare over the past two decades—and there are more developments in the pipeline. However, the high cost of product development, long lead times for product testing and regulatory approvals, and low success rates add to their risk.


Here are two ETFs that benefit from the opportunities presented by biotech firms despite those challenges....