It wasn't that long ago that inflation was a major threat to equity markets; predictions of a surge in prices resulting from massive injections of capital into financial markets sent investors in search of tools to protect against spiking CPI. Those concerns have largely disappeared in recent months, with deflation emerging as a more immediate threat to a still-fragile economic recovery [see also ETF Ideas For Deflation Defense]. That can be a tricky phenomenon to combat. "We know what to do with inflation when it rises," said former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan recently. "The committee has taken action to counter it many times and has succeeded in doing so many times. We haven't confronted the problem of potential deflation in a very long time."
While runaway inflation in the short term seems highly unlikely, many investors are still worried about the long term ramifications of recent stimulus measures. Today the annual Fed symposium will be taking place in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with Fed chairman Ben Bernanke expected to comment on the current state of the economy, and how the Fed plans to move forward to ensure economic stability. While no one is sure of what Bernanke will say, it seems likely that recent developments in the housing market will get a mention. In addition, investors will be parsing Bernanke's words in an effort to glean any information that may shed light on future economic policies.
In light of this major Fed meeting, the iShares Barclays TIPS Bond Fund
[For more ETF ideas, sign up for our free ETF newsletter]
More from ETFdb.com:
- PowerShares to Reshuffle ETF Indexes
- Smartphone ETF on the Horizon?
- This Week in ETFs: June 25th Edition
Disclosure: No positions at time of writing.
ETF Database is not an investment advisor, and any content published by ETF Database does not constitute individual investment advice. The opinions offered herein are not personalized recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities. From time to time, issuers of exchange-traded products mentioned herein may place paid advertisements with ETF Database. All content on ETF Database is produced independently of any advertising relationships. Read the full disclaimer here.
