Frankfurt-based index provider Solactive has launched a family of five European single factor equity indices, which will tracks firms with strong value, quality, low beta, price momentum, and earnings momentum characteristics. The smart beta indices have been exclusively licensed to Invesco PowerShares to underlie a suite of ETFs launched on Deutsche Börse earlier this week.
Barclays has launched the Barclays Rates Factor Indices, a suite of indices designed to capture risk premia (including carry, value, and momentum factors), from interest rate markets.
ETFs that provide exposure to Vietnam-listed equities, such as the db x-trackers FTSE Vietnam UCITS ETF (XFVT GR), have displayed remarkable performance recently, rising nearly 30% between the start of August and 28 November, as the country’s stock market has soared.
Asset management titan Vanguard has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch six new actively managed smart beta ETFs providing exposure to US equities. The firm’s foray into the active ETF space will initially include momentum, liquidity, quality, value and low volatility single factor ETFs as well as a multi-factor fund.
VanEck has introduced four VanEck Vectors UCITS ETFs on the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores, offering a mix of exposure: emerging market bonds, global gold miners, global small-cap gold miners, and US companies with wide ‘economic moats’.
FTSE Russell, one of the biggest players in the ETF indexing space, has announced the expansion of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) equity index offering with the launch of the FTSE Global Climate Index Series and the FTSE ESG Index Series.
USCF has announced it has registered two new ETFs that aim to provide investors with the long-term return characteristics of a private equity allocation. John Love, president and CEO of USCF, commented: “The new USCF ETFs are intended to make it easy for investors to access private equity-like long-term profiles at a lower price point that traditional private equity investments.”
The MS Scientific Beta Global Equity Factors UCITS ETF (GEF LN) has recorded significant inflows, gaining approximately $270 million in net new assets in Q3 2017.
US financial stocks have helped push the S&P 500 Index to fresh highs this week. ETFs tracking the sector, such as the iShares S&P 500 Financials Sector UCITS ETF (IUFS LN), are up approximately 4.8% this week as the S&P 500 put on 0.9% to hit a record close of 2627.04 on 28 November.
BlackRock has launched the iShares Nasdaq US Biotechnology UCITS ETF (BTEK LN) on London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Börse, providing exposure to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies listed in the US.