PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio  (PBW) Trade Now »     Rate PBW  -  Discuss PBW  -  Add to Watch List        

Filed under: Newsletters, Mutual funds, Presidential elections, Commodities, Oil, Agriculture, Stocks to Buy, Green Stocks, Obama Picks

What sectors are poised to outperform as a result of a Barack Obama presidency? To find out, we turn to fund expert Jim Lowell who recent prepared a report highlighting the top ETFs based on each candidate.

In The Forbes ETF Trader, he offers several top picks including ETFs that are focused on biotechnology and medical research, industrials, clean environment and clean energy technologies.

Carbon Prices Withstand Commodity Downturn

I have been interested in adding some energy exposure to the portfolio for some time, but prices had increased so much that I was uncomfortable with all sectors of energy.

In the last month though, prices have moderated with the drop in oil prices and concerns about expiration of government incentives for clean energy alternatives. I am taking this opportunity to add exposure to the clean energy space.

MikeHav Global Carbon Trading Index

Occasionally, one gets it right. In my market comment last month ("Too Late to the Oil Party? Consider an Alternative"), I remarked:

Though I am a long-term bull on energy, oil has already more than tripled in the past four years. In my view, after this move, the probability of major price corrections and volatility is currently very high.

I was inspired by the concept, if not the execution, of Dividends4Life’s recent Seeking Alpha article detailing three stocks for infinity. Without arguing the merits of the actual picks, suffice it to say I tackle the issue from a different angle. Firstly, there are no “stocks for infinity”. All investments have a timeline depending on the individual investor’s personal situation. Secondly, selecting companies that are unable (or unwilling) to practice sustainable business practices in part or whole are destined for inevitable failure.

These days, perusing the selection of exchange-traded funds that cover the same industry seems like shopping for olive oil at Whole Foods: There are endless brands and variations on the same core product. <!---->The choices can be overwhelming: Should you bet on the iShares oil and gas ETF or go with the PowerShares version? There's also an SPDR fund to consider.