Northrop Deal Boosts Aerospace, Private-Equity ETFs By Don Dion About this article: ETF investors looking to play this week's Northrop Grumman deal have two aerospace instruments at their disposal. The PowerShares Aerospace and Defense ETF and the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Aerospace and Defense Index Fund both have the company among their top 10 holdings. NOC represents 5.64% of ITA and 4.49 of PPA. While this move is positive for NOC and will lift indices that are heavily weighted in the firm, word of the deal is also a good sign for global buyout firms that have faced considerable struggles throughout the credit crisis. ETF investors looking to play the private-equity thaw should check out the PowerShares Global Listed Private Equity Portfolio. Today, the private-equity firms KKR and General Atlantic agreed to purchase Northrop's government-consulting unit, TASC. After taxes, the $1.65 billion deal is expected to net Northrop $1.1 billion in cash. These funds will go toward... Or, call us at 1-866-321-TSCM (8726) Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. ET. Outside the U.S. and in Canada, call 1-212-321-5200. More Stories From RealMoney Durable Goods Up Move Down the Tech Food Chain Jobless Claims Still High Bulls' Tenacity Is the Big Question Mark Should You Buy It? Pharmaceutical Product Development Bad News Trumps All Support for Banks Holds, For Now Bummer, Yields Are on the Rise Money on the Line Makes a Big Difference Structured Products: Unsafe at Any Price MORE STORIES FROM REALMONEY

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