Chinese equity ETFs have rallied impressively over the past six weeks, shrugging off Europe’s ongoing debt problem and pushing many through their 50-day moving average. While China bulls regularly emphasise the country’s tendency to outperform when the rest of the world is struggling, this latest rally points to a positive shift in market sentiment and could signal the beginning of a more sustained trend.

Global X Funds, the New York-based ETF provider, has launched the world’s first ETF to track the social media sector. The Global X Social Media Fund will track a proprietary benchmark of 25 social media stocks, including names such as Groupon, LinkedIn, Pandora, Tencent, Sina and Netease.com.

Talk to an American about Europe and there’s a good chance they’ll describe a wasteland beset by protests, strikes, austerity and calamity. However, while few advisers are currently recommending investors to pile in and overweight Europe, European company fundamentals are relatively strong and many advisers suggest maintaining at least some exposure to the region.

Amid the eurozone debt crisis, investors have been shifting out of small caps and into large caps in the belief that these offer a safer bet. While this tactical shift is understandable, investors are potentially overlooking five highly attractive features – unique to small caps – which make them well positioned to weather further turmoil and set to rally once once dangers recede.

Deutsche Bank has launched four new ETFs, including the world’s first ever to track Pakistan and Bangladesh. Bangladesh, in particular, looks interesting. With its low-cost workforce and close proximity to India and China, the country has enjoyed annual GDP growth of over 6% in the last 5 years; with domestic demand also picking up, the Bangladesh db X-tracker ETF could represent an exciting foray into a strategically-located frontier market.

Van Eck Global, the New York-based company behind the Market Vectors range of funds, has filed paperwork with the SEC to launch an ETF focused on Nigeria and Western Africa. The ETF will enable investors to gain exposure to the oil-rich and fast-growing – albeit highly volatile – economies of Nigeria and surrounding Western Africa.

Invesco PowerShares has expanded its partnership with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, the specialist financial services investment bank, to become the licensee of four KBW indexes providing targeted access to the bank, capital markets and insurance sectors.

PIMCO has launched a range of ETFs designed to enable investors to capitalise on opportunities within three countries whose balance sheets and debt dynamics are currently well positioned to navigate the downside effects of slower global growth and ongoing national and personal deleveraging.

Continued uncertainty in the eurozone has sent shock waves through European financial markets. As investors scurry for cover, we highlight a number of “safe haven” ETFs.

Following the recent launch of the RBS Global Big Pharma ETN, we take a look at the investment potential of healthcare and highlight a number of ETFs capitalising on the sector’s blossoming fundamentals.