Global healthcare and agricultural ETFs launch


Australian exchange traded fund (ETF) provider, BetaShares, has launched two new ETFs that track the global healthcare and global agricultural sectors.
The ETFs aimed to minimise currency fluctuations on portfolio performance, and they were both hedged to Australian dollars.
BetaShares Global Healthcare ETF — currency hedged (ASX: DRUG), tracked the performance of an index that included 60 of the largest global healthcare companies (ex-Australia).
BetaShares managing director, Alex Vynokur, said the index could tap into the global growth in the health care sector, which was driven by rising living standards, the ageing population and improvements in innovation and technology.
As the world population grew, agricultural firms were well placed to benefit from the growing global demand for food, Vynokur said.
Investors had the potential to generate positive returns, even though food prices remained stable. With one investment, they could now gain exposure to global agricultural power houses, Vynokur said.
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