Consumer Goods Climbing Back

Despite continuing declines in the auto sector, the DJ Consumer Goods Index has steadily climbed back from its July low.

IYK
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Strength in food & beverage as well as in personal and household goods have lead the sector higher.

Last week, Procter & Gamble issued a positive earnings report despite higher commodity prices.  The earnings news drove PG’s stock price up to levels not seen since April.

The Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Goods Sector Index Fund (IYK) tracks the index directly and thePowerShares FTSE RAFI Consumer Goods Sector Portfolio (PRFG) also owns consumer goods companies.

Other ETFs use the S&P sector approach which splits consumer companies into Staples and Discretionary.  State Street’s Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) and the Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) both invest in the Consumer Staples category.