NEW YORK, March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sometimes the best offense is a good defense, and this strategy may be one for advisors to consider as they build ETF portfolios for clients, according to S&P Capital IQ. On Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 4:15pm EDT, the company will host the latest in its ETF Analyst Hour webinar series, titled "ETF Strategies for Playing Defensive Sectors," focusing on ways that investors can gain exposure to a handful of defensive sectors through ETFs.

The session will be led by Todd Rosenbluth, ETF and mutual fund research director at S&P Capital IQ and one of architects of the firm's proprietary ETF research and ranking methodology. Rosenbluth will provide a look at a selection of defensive sectors and will share his thoughts on:

• 2012 and YTD sector performance and scope;
• The S&P Capital IQ equity strategy team's current recommendation and outlook;
• Ways to play each sector including top ranked ETFs, including investment ideas.

"Equity markets have been on a significant run in recent weeks, but the threat of pull back remains very real, making it important for advisors to maintain some defensive, dividend-yielding positions when building portfolios," said Rosenbluth. "I'm looking forward to sharing our latest ETF investment ideas within the defensive sectors that can play key roles in portfolio construction."

One hour of CFP continuing education credit is available to attendees. Interested attendees can register here: http://tinyurl.com/ahrjb3g

Anthony Hohmann, S&P Capital IQ ETF Product Manager, will moderate the discussion and provide insight on S&P Capital IQ's ETF holdings-based ranking methodology and performance to date.

Following the presentation, the ETF research reports for the ETFs discussed will be available to all attendees. The ETF reports are originally published on S&P Capital IQ's MarketScope Advisor platform.

Follow @spmarketscope and #ETFHour during the webinar for ETF commentary from S&P Capital IQ equity analysts.

About S&P Capital IQ
S&P Capital IQ, a business line of the McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), is a leading provider of multi-asset class and real time data, research and analytics to institutional investors, investment and commercial banks, investment advisors and wealth managers, corporations and universities around the world. We provide a broad suite of capabilities designed to help track performance, generate alpha, identify new trading and investment ideas, and perform risk analysis and mitigation strategies. Through leading desktop solutions such as Capital IQ, Global Credit Portal and MarketScope Advisor desktops; enterprise solutions such as S&P Valuations, and Compustat; and research offerings, including Leveraged Commentary & Data, Global Market Intelligence, and company and fund research, S&P Capital IQ sharpens financial intelligence into the wisdom today's investors need.  For more information visit www.spcapitaliq.com.

SOURCE S&P Capital IQ