Amundi ETF, a Paris-headquartered provider of exchange-traded funds, has unveiled plans to launch a second multi-strategy smart beta ETF, providing exposure to European large- and mid-cap equities. Linked to the Scientific Beta Extended Developed Europe Multi-Beta Multi-Strategy ERC Strategy Index, the new ETF draws upon multiple factor exposures and alternative weighting schemes in a bid to provide superior performance compared to conventional market cap-weighted offerings. Valerie Baudson, CEO at Amundi ETF, Indexing and Smart Beta, said: “This innovative multi smart beta ETF strengthens our smart beta equity range following the success of Amundi’s Global Equity Multi Smart Allocation Scientific Beta UCITS ETF, launched in 2014.”

European index provider STOXX has rolled out the iSTOXX MUTB Global Quality Indices, a suite of smart beta benchmarks capturing the performance of companies that meet minimum standards related to profitability, leverage and cash flow. Firms are selected with high quality characteristics enabling the index to try and beat similar broad market returns by avoiding riskier companies within its constitution. The indices, created in partnership with Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corp, have been licensed to the Tokyo-based financial institution for product development. STOXX indices are designed to form the basis for investable products such as exchange-traded funds.

Beaumont Capital Management (BCM), a Massachusetts-based wealth manager specialising in quantitative analysis, has launched a range of new products aimed at retirement savers. The Collective Investments Funds (CIFs) are based on portfolios of low-cost exchange-traded funds and provide risk-managed investment solutions for customers from any generation. The suite of CIFs focus on target maturity dates from 2020 through to 2060 in 10-year intervals. The funds are actively managed, which the firm states allows enhanced growth during bull markets but also better navigation during future market volatility.

UBS Asset Management, Europe’s fourth largest provider of exchange-traded funds, has listed 52 funds on Euronext Amsterdam. The mass listing substantially increases the range of ETFs available to Dutch investors and means that UBS now accounts for a quarter of all ETFs listed on the exchange. Marcel Danen, Head of UBS ETFs Netherlands, commented: “The listing of this large amount of ETFs shows our commitment to the Dutch market. I am very pleased that we can now make our extensive experience and capabilities directly available to the Dutch investment community.”

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), a leading exchange-traded fund provider, has increased its range of sector-targeted ETFs in the US with the launch of the SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETF (NYSE Arca: XITK) on NYSE Arca.

Van Eck Global, the asset manager behind the Market Vectors range of exchange-traded funds, has launched a new fund investing in firms engaged in the manufacture of generic drugs. The Market Vectors Generic Drugs ETF (Nasdaq: GNRX) offers global exposure to a realm of the health care sector that may exhibit lower volatility than traditional pharmaceuticals exposure. The fund’s risk profile benefits from somewhat lower research and development costs by its constituents as well as the stability of operating in markets where levels of demand for the seller’s products have been better established.

Demand for ETFs among Continental European institutions is expected to grow by nearly a fifth in 2016, according to a study from Greenwich Associates. The next 12 months will likely bring increases in both adoption rates and the overall amount invested in ETFs. Commenting on the findings, Andrew McCollum, Managing Director at Greenwich Associates, said: “[The] findings suggest the flexibility and adaptability that allow institutions to find new ways to apply ETFs in their portfolios will play a central role in the continued proliferation of the funds in the institutional channel”.

Tilney Bestinvest has announced the launch of its new Advanced Passive Portfolio fund range for UK financial advisers and their clients. The APP funds will combine an active approach to asset allocation invested through smart beta passive investments and low cost trackers. The suite of five risk-rated multi asset UCITS OEIC funds are launched with a fixed price offer period on each fund of 100p per share from 1 February to 15 February. The risk rated funds include a high proportion of exchange traded products; Cautious 59%, Balanced 57%, Growth 60%, Aggressive Growth 62% and Income 60%.

Fidelity FundsNetwork, a UK-based investment platform, has added 16 new exchange-traded products to its offering, bringing the total number of ETPs available to 77. The products are available to advisory firms in various wrappers via Fidelity’s integrated online platform.

Reality Shares, a specialist index provider and exchange-traded fund issuer, has announced the launch of two new ETFs on the BATS Exchange. The Reality Shares DIVCON Dividend Defender ETF (DFND) and the Reality Shares DIVCON Dividend Guard ETF (GARD) both leverage the firm’s DIVCON dividend health rating methodology to provide tactical long or short exposure to companies based on their perceived likelihood of increasing or decreasing their dividend levels.