BlackRock has announced that its iShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs) business has launched two new sector ETFs in the Canadian marketplace, providing currency-hedged exposure to global industrials and consumer discretionary stocks. The funds, the iShares S&P Global Industrials Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) (XGI) and iShares S&P Global Consumer Discretionary Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) (XCD), have been listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

NYSE Euronext, a leading exchange operator and index provider, has linked up with Vigeo, a France-based expert in corporate social responsibility, to launch a range of equity indices focusing on the environment, social issues and governance (ESG). The indices track companies highly rated for control of corporate responsibility risk and contribution to sustainable development.

The global exchange-traded products (ETP) industry has recorded its best first quarter on record, amassing inflows of $70.1 billion, according to the latest ETP Landscape report from BlackRock. Russ Koesterich, Global Chief Investment Strategist at BlackRock, said: “Rather than the much-discussed ‘great rotation’ from bonds into equities, the first quarter showed investors moving cash from the sidelines into equities, and preparing for a rise in interest rates by rotating within fixed income into short-term and floating-rate ETFs.”

Global index provider Russell Indexes and IdealRatings, a provider of Islamic finance information, have introduced the Russell-IdealRatings Islamic Index Series, a new index series aimed at Islamic investors seeking benchmark solutions. The new equity indices provide Shariah-compliant exposure across global, global large cap, global small cap, developed, emerging markets, US large cap, BRIC large cap and global + GCC market segments.

Eaton Vance is seeking authorisation to launch a family of actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The funds, which Eaton Vance calls exchange-traded managed funds, or ETMFs, are designed to bring the cost and tax efficiencies and shareholder protections of ETFs to active investment strategies, while maintaining the confidentiality of current portfolio trading information. If approved, the proposed fund structure could provide a template for the widespread roll-out of active ETFs, which, until now, have been slow to gain traction.

First Trust Advisors, an investment management firm perhaps best known for its range of AlphaDEX ETFs, has filed a preliminary prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada for its first suite of Canadian domiciled exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The US-headquartered firm also recently revealed plans to expand into Europe, to be kicked off with the launch of three AlphaDEX ETFs on the London Stock Exchange, subject to regulatory approval.