Archive for February 2013

First Trust to launch smart beta AlphaDEX ETFs in Europe

Feb 20th, 2013 | By
First Trust rolls out European smart beta ETFs to Swiss Exchange

First Trust Advisors, a leading provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), is expected to launch into Europe sometime early this year. First Trust is the eleventh largest ETF provider in the US, with over $9 billion in ETF assets under management. The provider is perhaps best known for its popular AlphaDEX range of smart beta products, and it is this range that First Trust is understood to be planning to roll out in Europe, subject to regulatory approval.


FX volatility creates opportunities for leveraged currency ETPs

Feb 19th, 2013 | By
First Trust to launch actively managed currency ETF on London Stock Exchange

Exchange rate volatility has spiked considerably over the past two months following the election of a new government in Japan. With murmurings that a “currency war” is about to break out, volatility in the FX market looks destined to remain at elevated levels for some time to come. This creates opportunities for investors looking to speculate on further shifts in the market. An effective way to capitalise on FX moves is via leveraged currency exchange-traded products (ETPs) which amplify the returns of currency pairs such as USD/JPY, GBP/USD, GBP/EUR and EUR/USD.


Low-cost Horizons S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF hits C$1 billion in assets

Feb 18th, 2013 | By
Horizons USA launches S&P 500 financials covered call ETF

Canada’s lowest cost ETF, the Horizons S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF (HXT), has joined the select few of Canadian ETFs that have surpassed C$1 billion in assets under management. Launched by Horizons ETFs in September 2010, the fund seeks to replicate the performance of the S&P/TSX 60 Index (TR), an index comprising 60 of the largest Canadian publicly traded companies by market capitalisation.


Yorkville launches high income infrastructure MLP ETF

Feb 18th, 2013 | By
Thematic investing using ETFs: Infrastructure

Yorkville ETF Advisors has expanded its line-up of master limited partnership (MLP) products with the launch of the Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF (YMLI). The NYSE-listed fund provides exposure to infrastructure MLPs, which are expected to benefit significantly over the next decade in response to demand for pipelines, storage facilities and processing systems required by rapidly growing US energy production.


db X-trackers lists Aussie dollar cash ETF on LSE

Feb 15th, 2013 | By
Global X rolls out covered call ETF suite on ASX

db X-trackers, the exchange-traded funds (ETF) platform of Deutsche Bank’s Asset & Wealth Management unit, has cross-listed its Australian dollar cash ETF on the London Stock Exchange. The fund provides European investors with liquid, easily traded access to Australian money market rates and will likely appeal to investors searching for income in the current low-rate environment and those looking to diversify their currency exposure or take a view on the movement of the Aussie dollar.


Investment into gold ETPs up 51% in 2012, as gold demand hits all-time high

Feb 15th, 2013 | By
The fund will become GSAM's first commodity ETF.

Gold demand reached an all-time high of $236.4 billion in 2012, despite a decade-plus long bull market which has lifted the price of the metal more than six-fold. The precious yellow metal looks set to continue its strong performance, as Chinese, Indian and central bank buying show few signs of abating. Investment into exchange-traded products was also up significantly in 2012.


A closer look at Shariah ETFs

Feb 14th, 2013 | By
HSBC launches Europe’s first Shariah-compliant Sukuk bond ETF

Despite thriving and affluent Islamic communities across Europe and North America, Muslims living in these regions have traditionally been underserved when it comes to investment. The reason for this is that managing investments according to Shariah principles can be time consuming since the vast majority of investment decisions need to be pre-approved by Islamic scholars. Shariah-compliant exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which provide low-cost exposure to conventional equity markets while strictly adhering to Islamic investment principles, provide a much-needed solution to this problem.


Investors to increase allocations to commodities; ETCs preferred vehicle

Feb 14th, 2013 | By
Investors to increase allocations to commodities in 2013

ETF Securities, one of the world’s leading providers of exchange-traded commodities (ETCs), has conducted a survey which suggests that senior investment professionals across Europe are planning to increase their average allocation to commodities in 2013, particularly into industrial metals such as copper.


PowerShares to launch new low-volatility ETFs on US mid-cap & small-cap segments

Feb 14th, 2013 | By
DWS unveils risk-controlled high yield ETF

Invesco PowerShares, a leading global provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), is to expand its suite of low-volatility ETFs with the launch of new strategies covering the US mid-cap and small-cap segments. The new PowerShares S&P MidCap Low Volatility Portfolio ETF (XMLV) and PowerShares S&P SmallCap Low Volatility Portfolio ETF (XSLV) are to be listed on the NYSE Arca and take the suite to five funds.


Impressive first year for Ossiam’s low-volatility FTSE 100 ETF

Feb 13th, 2013 | By
Ossiam cross-lists smart beta corporate bond ETF on Deutsche Börse

The Ossiam ETF FTSE 100 Minimum Variance (UKMV), the first and only low-volatility exchange-traded fund based on the FTSE 100 index, has recorded an impressive first year on the London Stock Exchange. Managed by smart beta specialist Ossiam, an affiliate of Paris-based Natixis Global Asset Management, the fund has posted markedly superior risk-adjusted performance relative to the FTSE 100 since making its debut on the exchange in January 2012.