The overall market may be sliding down the proverbial rat hole, but at least until the past two weeks, the transport sector was holding up quite well. Transportation is not a traditional safe haven, such as health care and consumer staples, but its relatively small losses compared to other sectors of the market are making some people think twice about transportation stocks.
The PowerShares Global Progressive Transportation Portfolio
Fund facts
Inception date: 9/18/2008
Expense ratio: 0.75%
Net assets: $2.1 million
Fund specifics
The Progressive Transportation fund offers investors exposure to companies that use technology to improve fuel efficiency or reduce energy costs. Fund holdings include Oceanfreight
Fund prospects and risks
Whether you're talking about railways like Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Portfolio fit?
The credit crisis tidal wave is swamping wide swaths of the global economy, and the aftereffects are likely to stunt markets for some time. In these difficult times, a sector that's in demand in good and bad times is likely to stand up better than those that are discretionary for consumers or businesses. Whether the transports can weather this storm remains to be seen, but given their recent outperformance, it's definitely an option you should consider.
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