United States Commodity Funds (USCF), a US-based pioneer in commodity-focused ETFs, has announced the launch of the United States Metals Index Fund (USMI), an NYSE-listed ETF providing optimised exposure to a diversified portfolio of metals futures contracts. USMI is designed to track the price movements of the SummerHaven Dynamic Metals Index Total Return and is the twelfth ETF in the USCF range, which has some $2.7bn in assets under management.

Over the next three years, fund managers are set to increase their exposure to Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and other Exchange Traded Products (ETPs), according to new research from Lyxor. The new research reveals that well over half of managers anticipate that their exposure to ETFs and ETPs will rise, with nearly one in four anticipating an increase of 10% or more. Interestingly, fewer than 6% are ‘very concerned’ about the risks posed by these products, suggesting that investors are at ease with securities lending and synthetic replication.

With all the talk of a eurozone break-up, anaemic recovery in the US and slowdown in China, investors have been seeking the sanctuary of so-called safe-haven sector ETFs, such as those tracking utilities. However, analysis by Fitch Ratings, looking at the potential repercussions of a Greek euro exit, suggests that utilities are “most at risk from eurozone turmoil.” Investors may be wiser looking at oil & gas ETFs, which are internationally diversified and able to generate export revenue in dollars.

There are several reasons to favour corporate bonds over equities or government debt in the current environment. At least that’s the view of Fran Rodilosso, a veteran bond fund manager. Rodilosso points to a number of factors supporting his view, including yields, which far exceed those of US Treasuries, UK gilts or German bunds, downside protection and superior credit fundamentals. For investors, high-yield corporate bond ETFs offer an efficient way to capitalise on these advantages.

Indications that Japan is preparing to restart a pair of idled nuclear reactors, coupled with signs China may be about to issue new reactor licenses, could be the catalyst for a turnaround in fortunes for uranium mining ETFs. This improvement in sentiment has already had a positive impact on the price of uranium, which rose last month for the first time since January 2011. This, in turn, means good news for uranium mining stocks, which are currently trading at discounted prices.

Greece has avoided the immediate worst-case scenario, but Spain is now the epicentre of the crisis; while at the same time weaker US growth and inflation prints are opening up room for the Fed to consider implementing another round of QE, write Martin Arnold and Nicholas Brooks of ETF Securities. Both of these scenarios are likely to be bullish gold and this has been reflected in rising physical gold ETP purchases.

The majority of financial advisers admit that they have little or no understanding of the structure ETFs, according to Skandia’s latest Adviser Confidence Barometer. Over two thirds of advisers indicated that they have little or no understanding of the structure of synthetic ETFs and over half have little or no understanding of asset based ETFs.

UBS and hedge fund index specialists Hedge Fund Research (HFR) have announced the launch of four hedge fund strategy ETFs. The new ETFs, which are referenced to HFRX strategy indices, offer investors the opportunity to participate in the performance of specific hedge fund strategies within a liquid UCITS-compliant vehicle. The strategies include equity hedge, event driven, relative value arbitrage and macro CTA.

DB X-trackers has launched a range of ETFs designed to provide financially sophisticated investors with exposure to North American high yield and investment grade credit indices. The London-listed ETFs, which are the first of their kind globally, let investors take pure credit risk exposure to the North American corporate credit market. The ETFs track the performance of the Markit CDX North America Investment Grade and Markit CDX North America High Yield credit default swap (CDS) indices.

Fidelity has announced that its FundsNetwork funds platform will be adding an initial range of 50 physically-backed ETFs as of 18 June. The move is reflective of growing interest in ETFs and the upcoming introduction of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR). The initial line-up of 50 ETFs has been selected from the ranges of four leading ETF providers, namely iShares, Credit Suisse, HSBC and ETF Securities, and provides exposure to a broad range of global markets and asset classes.