The Fed is poised to hike the benchmark interest rate in two weeks after almost a decade, oil prices are hitting fresh lows on supply glut and overvaluation concerns over the U.S. market are doing rounds. Together, these aren’t creating the best backdrop to invest in equity markets. 

Moreover, slowdown in China and the Euro zone, recession in several emerging markets and a technical recession in the Japanese economy continue to cast a shadow over global growth. Plus, broader commodities are slouching, putting mining companies at risk.
 
The sought-after investment broker Goldman Sachs expects weakness in the market next year with the S&P 500 predicted to close out 2016 at 2,100. The U.S. index presently trades at 2,088, implying almost no change in gains in the coming 13 months (read: Goldman Raises Yellow Flag on 2016: ETFs to Buy).
 
Among the top ETFs, investors have seen the S&P 500-based SPY adding about 1.4% and Dow-based DIA losing about 0.3%. Only tech-laden Nasdaq-based QQQ has advanced 11% so far this year (as of December 7, 2015).
 
Higher interest rates post lift-off will result in a stronger greenback which in turn curtailed the profit outlook of the companies. In Q3, earnings from the S&P 500 were down 2.4% while revenues declined 3.9%. As per Zacks Earnings Trends, earnings for Q4 are projected to be down 6.5% on 3.4% lower revenues.
 
Though the majority of the Fed lift-off move is priced in at the current level and the investing world is expecting a slow and small rate hike trajectory as the U.S. economy is yet to attain the central bank’s inflation goal, a certain level of initial shocks are inevitable once the step is taken. This might lead many investors to seek refuge in low risk products rather than sticking to highly volatile options and enduring the economic data and Fed-infused storm.
 
In such a , the low-volatility products could be intriguing choices for those who want to stay invested in domestic equities, but like the idea of focusing on minimum volatility. Low volatility ETFs generally tend to offer positive risk-adjusted gains, though not huge.
 
Investors should note that in down years like 2015, low volatility products outperform the traditional benchmark. Over the long term as well, low risk products are seen to surpass the high-risk securities.
 
Below we highlight five low-volatility ETFs and offer key features of each so that you can find out which is best suited to look after your portfolio (read: Which Low Volatility ETFs Will Protect Your Portfolio?)
 
PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV)