Archive for October 2015

ETFs becoming investment vehicle of choice, says Charles Schwab

Oct 8th, 2015 | By
Heather Fischer, vice president, ETF and mutual fund platforms, Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab, a low-cost broker and ETF provider, has released the 2015 ETF Investor Study which explores investors’ opinions and attitudes on key trends within the exchange-traded fund industry. The report found that investors were assigning one-fifth (21%) of their portfolios to ETFs. This represents significant growth from a 16% allocation to ETFs that was recorded in 2012. Furthermore, one-third of investors (34%) plan to use ETFs as their core investment type within their portfolios in the future.


John Hancock partners with Dimensional on smart beta ETF suite

Oct 8th, 2015 | By
John Hancock launches international multifactor ETF on NYSE

John Hancock Investments, the Boston-based mutual fund business, has listed six smart beta exchange-traded funds designed to generate attractive relative performance through a multi-factor investment strategy. “Investors are facing a proliferation of ETF strategies today, and many investors are looking for more than just low-cost access to markets. For those reasons, it was important to us to develop an ETF product that seeks to address investor needs for performance potential, backed by an investment approach rooted in decades of academic research,” said Andrew G. Arnott, president and CEO of John Hancock Investments.


JP Morgan expands smart beta ETF suite with US equity fund

Oct 8th, 2015 | By
JP Morgan launches Europe and Japan BetaBuilders ETFs on Cboe

J.P. Morgan Asset Management, the investment bank’s exchange-traded fund issuing arm, has announced its fourth smart beta ETF, providing US equity exposure with the potential for better risk-adjusted returns. “Investors have been able to participate in the upside of a market recovery over the past several years, but they are still concerned about continued market volatility,” said Robert Deutsch, Global Head of ETFs for J.P. Morgan Asset Management. “JPUS provides a solution for US equities that helps keep clients invested across market cycles by attempting to capture most of the upside with a goal of providing less volatility in down markets.”


Goldman Sachs targets emerging markets with second smart beta ETF

Oct 8th, 2015 | By
Emerging Asia ETFs set for growth and re-rating

Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), the asset management arm of US investment bank Goldman Sachs, has expanded their smart beta “ActiveBeta” exchange-traded fund range with the launch of an emerging markets ETF. “We see growth opportunities across various sectors in emerging markets, and the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETF is designed to capture returns from these pockets of growth,” said Michael Crinieri, GSAM’s Global Head of ETF Strategies.


Record number of ETF providers enter US market in 2015

Oct 8th, 2015 | By
Record number of ETF providers enter US market in 2015

Research from ETFGI, a leading London-based exchange-traded fund consultant, shows a record number of new product providers entering the US market in 2015. The trend highlights the effect that strong growth rates in recent years have had in attracting new entrants to the ETF industry. Between 1 January and 30 September, 19 new ETF/ETP providers launched products in the US, already surpassing the full year records of 15 new entrants recorded in 2009 and 2014.


Deka rolls out eurozone ex-financials high dividend ETF

Oct 8th, 2015 | By
Lyxor expands Euro govies range with ultra long-duration bond ETF

Deka Investments, a German provider of exchange-traded funds, has launched the Deka EURO iSTOXX ex Fin Dividend+ UCITS ETF which provides exposure to a portfolio of high-yielding eurozone equities from all sectors apart from financials. “The EURO STOXX Index is one of Europe’s most well-respected benchmarks for companies in the eurozone.” said Gordon Rose, Head of ETF Management and Development at Deka Investment. ”Adding ex-Financials and high dividend yield filters to this makes a very appealing index for market participants.”


Rosy outlook for smart beta ETFs, but investors require more education, reveals FTSE

Oct 8th, 2015 | By
Bridgeway launches US small-cap value ETF

FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider, has released the results of a survey of US based investment advisors highlighting current perceptions and adoption levels of smart beta strategies in the community. “Factor-based and alternatively-weighted indices have transformed the investment landscape,” said Rolf Agather, Managing Director of North America Research for FTSE Russell. “It is clear that retail advisors are embracing investment products based on these indices as a way of incorporating new ideas into their clients’ portfolios.”


Canadian ETF assets grow to $84bn, according to BMO

Oct 8th, 2015 | By
Equium Capital rolls out ETF share class of tactical allocation fund

BMO Global Asset Management, the Canadian exchange-traded fund provider, has issued a report outlining the trends in the Canadian ETF market and expectations for the future of the industry. “The domestic ETF industry has seen strong momentum in 2015. Its user base has expanded as investors grow more comfortable with these funds,” said Rajiv Silgardo, Co-CEO, BMO Global Asset Management. “ETFs have been able to maintain their popularity and continue to prove to be useful through changing market conditions because of their flexibility and diversification benefits.”


New smart beta provider Rex Shares plans gold-hedged ETFs

Oct 8th, 2015 | By
Physically-backed gold ETCs provide sanctuary from eurozone crisis

The growing smart beta industry has received its latest entrant in the form of Connecticut-headquartered ETF issuer Rex Shares. The company plans to sponsor a range of smart beta-focused exchange-traded funds. “The ETF industry has seen tremendous growth, and we believe REX can provide significant value to investors who are looking for efficient portfolio and trading solutions,” said Greg King, Founder and CEO. “We like to think of ourselves as ‘ETF architects’, and are laser-focused on solving specific problems by building better tools for investors.”


Cash ETFs in focus as hedge fund manager Crispin Odey turns to cash

Oct 7th, 2015 | By
Legendary hedge fund manager Crispin Odey turns to cash

Crispin Odey, a London-based hedge fund manager, has warned of a new world-wide financial crisis which he believes will reveal itself shortly. The founder of Odey Asset Management has moved a significant 29% of the $11.7bn Odey Opus Fund into cash equivalents with the aim to preserve capital in the face of a global financial storm. Investors who follow the movements of the famed fund manager may wish to consider shifting part of their own portfolios into exchange-traded funds benchmarked to cash-like assets.