Trade Deal Cut in Principle? Sector ETFs to Soar

The latest buzz is that the Trump administration has cut a trade deal in principle with China, though it is awaiting approval from President Donald Trump. However, per CNN, the President has signed off the initial trade agreement with China.

The terms of the deal include a delay in new tariffs on $160 billion in Chinese-made consumer electronics and toys slated to be levied on Dec 15, as well as a reduction by half of existing U.S. tariffs on $360 billion in Chinese products.

The agreement has supposedly been done in return of a Chinese promise to buy American farm goods, U.S. officials and others familiar with the agreement said. However, per CNBC, negotiation is still continuing on China’s farm purchases.

Whatever the case, increasing optimism about an initial level trade boosted markets on Dec 12. Three key U.S. equity gauges gained in the key trading sessions as well as in after markets. Below we highlight the sector ETFs that are going to benefit from a trade deal.

Semiconductor

Per Morgan Stanley equity strategists, “semiconductor and semiconductor equipment companies have the highest revenue exposure to China at 52%” and are thus exposed to maximum risks on rising trade tensions (read: 5 ETFs That Deserve Special Thanks in 2019).

Chipmaker Qualcomm QCOM has 65% revenue exposure to China and Nvidia’s NVDA sales exposure to China is 56%, per Goldman Sachs. Apart from these, some other tech and semiconductor companies, which have sales exposure to China in the range of 22% to 55%, include the likes of Intel INTC, Micron Technology MU and Applied Materials AMAT . This clearly explains why the mood is somber in the semiconductor space. So, VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF SMH may face trouble.

Tech Hardware & Equipment

Tech companies that have extensive trade relations with China would be at high risk of falling prey to the trade war. In fact, Goldman Sachs has compiled a list of companies with considerable revenue exposure to China. These companies’ revenues are 14% exposed to China, per a CNBC article.

SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF XTH should thus be followed carefully. With Apple having great exposure to China, Apple-heavy ETFs like Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT should gain (read: After a Sweet November, Apple ETFs are Set for a Warm December).

Agriculture Business

China targeted imports of U.S. agricultural products as a way of retaliation. U.S. farm exports dropped from a high of $25 billion in recent years to below $7 billion in the 12 months through May, according to Commerce Department data, quoted on Wall Street Journal. Farm exports to China started to recover in recent months as the two sides started to negotiate, but is still 60% lower than their pre-trade war peak.

The tussle built pressure on agriculture equipment makers Deere & Co. DE and AGCO Corp. AGCO. AGCO has about 10% exposure to IQ Global Agribusiness Small Cap ETF CROP while Deere has considerable focus on iShares MSCI Global Agriculture Producers ETF VEGI, First Trust Indxx Global Agriculture ETF FTAG and VanEck Vectors Agribusiness ETF MOO.

Agricultural ETFs like Teucrium Corn Fund CORN, Teucrium Soybean SOYB and Invesco DB Agriculture Fund DBA should also benefit.

Auto

Both steel and aluminum are vital to the production of cars and trucks sold in America and would considerably push up the sale prices of those vehicles. U.S. auto companies earn about 12% revenues from China. With Beijing slamming tariffs on U.S. auto imports, First Trust NASDAQ Global Auto Index Fund CARZ would now get some relief.

Energy

It is a double-edged sword for energy companies. First, Donald Trump’s levy of tariff on steel and aluminum imports became a pain for U.S. oil pipeline companies as it pushed up their raw material prices. On the other hand, China enacted levies on U.S. oil imports in retaliation to U.S. tariffs.” Energy companies have about 14% exposure to China. ETFs that could now gain are Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF XLE and Alerian MLP ETF AMLP (read: Time to Buy Beaten Down Oil ETFs).

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Click to get this free report QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH): ETF Research Reports SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF (XTH): ETF Research Reports iShares MSCI Global Agriculture Producers ETF (VEGI): ETF Research Reports Teucrium Corn Fund (CORN): ETF Research Reports Invesco DB Agriculture Fund (DBA): ETF Research Reports Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP): ETF Research Reports VanEck Vectors Agribusiness ETF (MOO): ETF Research Reports First Trust NASDAQ Global Auto Index Fund (CARZ): ETF Research Reports Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE): ETF Research Reports Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT): ETF Research Reports Deere & Company (DE) : Free Stock Analysis Report AGCO Corporation (AGCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report