Volatility Got You Down? Consider Sector Funds

While aggressive timing strategies can achieve largeeither direction) than anyone expects. During a strong
profits over time, not every trader is emotionally ablebull run, it is common to find individual sectors that
to handle them.The good news is, you don't have todouble the gains of the overall market.Winning The
be an aggressive market timer to achieve large profits.BattleThe FibTimer Sector Timer strategy covers 16
Trading sector funds with a solid timing strategy is notindustry specific sector funds found in the Rydex Fund
only profitable, but drawdowns are usually very smallFamily. Several other widely used fund families also
because sector timing strategies are veryhave sector funds, including Pro Funds and Fidelity
diversified.Trading the sectors deserves yourFunds which can be used with our sector timing
consideration.Trading The SectorsLately is seems likesignals.Even in volatile market conditions during which
the financial markets are being pushed in differentthe overall stock market is performs poorly, the
directions almost daily. How does a mutual fundFibTimer Sector Timer has performed exceptionally
market timer take advantage of such volatility, whilewell.Sector timing is proactive money management at
protecting himself or herself from the very real risksits best. Constantly putting your money in the strongest
such volatility creates, as well as from the potentialsectors while removing it from the weakest
drawdowns that can occur during such times?Thesectors.This is where the diversity inherent in sector
answer is by trading specific industry sector funds.timing stands out. Top performing sectors are where
Here is a "quick" list of reasons why:1. Diversification:your timing funds are allocated, and no one sector can
By having small positions in multiple industries, youcause irretrievable damage to the portfolio should that
reduce exposure to any single industry being affectedindustry collapse without warning.ConclusionOver the
by a negative news event.2. Volatility: While individualyears, sector fund timing may go down as one of the
sectors are no less volatile than the rest of the market,best strategies ever created. Its ability to move funds
they do not move together. So the volatility to one'sinto only those industry sectors which are performing
portfolio is considerably reduced.3. Drawdowns:well keeps it profitable in most market conditions.The
Because sector funds go to cash during sell signals,low drawdowns, low volatility and diversification
and because there are always some funds in bullinherent in sector timing, not to mention strong
markets at the same time there are others in bearprofitability, cause this strategy to stand out from all the
markets (during which those sectors are protected inothers.In volatile market conditions sector timing can
money market funds), drawdowns are kept tocreate profits when other traders are lucky just to be
extreme minimums.4. Good in All Markets: There areholding onto their capital, while drawdowns, if they
always single industries in their own bull markets. Evenoccur at all, become almost a non-event.While sector
during a cyclical bear market, such as we experiencedtiming may not make huge gains during cyclical bear
during 2000-2002, there were always some industriesmarkets, being mostly in cash, the strategy will protect
moving higher. And if not, you are still protected byyour investment capital. And it will then outperform
being in money market funds.5. Active Timing: Thoughduring bull markets, always keeping you invested in
sector timing is not aggressive, it is certainly active.those industries that are in their own bull
You will always be trading the bullish sectors, andmarkets.Caveat.. sector timing does require active
exiting the under performing ones. In some respects, itparticipation. Its potential is excellent, there are no short
is the equivalent of running your own well managed(bearish) trades, and it only requires a couple of
mutual fund.6. Trends: Industry sectors tend to trend.minutes a day to check for and make changes if they
And when they trend, they often move further (inare needed.