ProShares has expanded its suite of dividend growth ETFs with the launch of two new funds on Cboe BZX: the ProShares S&P Technology Dividend Aristocrats ETF (TDV US), which focuses on dividend growers within the US technology sector; and the ProShares Russell US Dividend Growers ETF (TMDV US), which explores the broad US stock market. Michael Sapir, co-founder and CEO of ProShare Advisors, commented, “Consistent dividend growth may be one of the best indicators of a company’s health. We are committed to offering this powerful strategy across a broad array of market caps, geographies and sectors.”

By Jason Xavier, Head of EMEA ETF Capital Markets, at Franklin Templeton.

Many investors associate ETFs with passive styles of investing. But that isn’t always the case – today, there are a range of different types of ETFs available in the marketplace beyond the traditional passive, capitalization-weighted funds that first came on the scene.

Innovator Capital Management has launched two new ETFs in the US, expanding the firm’s range of ‘defined outcome’ ETFs. The new funds are the Innovator Nasdaq-100 Power Buffer ETF (NOCT US) and the Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF (KOCT US). They provide exposure to US large-cap and US small-cap equities, respectively, via exposure to FLEX Options based on the Nasdaq 100 and Russell 2000 indices. Bruce Bond, CEO of Innovator ETFs, commented, “Innovator now offers a full range of Defined Outcome ETFs, based on key equity benchmarks around the world, providing advisors the tools to build globally diversified equity portfolios with built-in downside buffers against loss.”

New Jersey-based asset manager WBI Investments is planning to overhaul its actively managed ETF suite with a series of four fund merges, according to a prospectus supplement dated 21 August, 2019. The changes, which are due to take effect on or about 25 October 2019, will see WBI’s large-cap equity ETFs – each corresponding to a different WBI investment strategy – assume their mid- and small-cap counterparts to create total market funds.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) has filed regulatory documents with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for the launch of six new fixed income ETFs. The funds, which are linked to indices created in collaboration with FTSE Russell, represent a significant expansion of GSAM’s fixed income ETF capabilities, increasing the number of bond ETFs offered by the firm to eleven.

Vanguard has introduced new accumulating share classes for four equity ETFs listed in Europe. The ETFs collectively house nearly $6 billion in assets under management. The new share classes have been listed on London Stock Exchange in US dollars and pound sterling, and on Deutsche Börse Xetra in euros.

FTSE Russell has unveiled the FTSE Climate Risk-Adjusted World Government Bond Index, a new fixed income index constructed using sustainability considerations. The index provides exposure to developed market sovereign bonds, and is the first government bond index to adjust country weights by preparedness and resilience to climate change risk.

Sydney-based ETF issuer BetaShares is set to unveil the BetaShares FTSE 100 ETF (F100 AU) on the Australian Securities Exchange. The fund, which according to Bloomberg is scheduled to begin trading on 17 July 2019, is the country’s first ETF to provide exposure to the UK’s flagship equity market index, the FTSE 100.

Krane Funds Advisors, best known for its KraneShares-branded suite of China-focused ETFs, has broadened its capabilities beyond the Asian giant with the launch of two smart beta ETFs on NYSE Arca providing exposure to domestic US stocks with sustainable dividends.

Smart beta adoption amongst institutional asset owners has reached a record high of 58% in 2019, ten percentage points higher than 2018, according to the sixth annual ESG & Smart Beta survey conducted by FTSE Russell. Rolf Agather, Managing Director, Research & innovation, FTSE Russell, said, “Risk reduction, return enhancement and improved diversification continue to drive smart beta adoption among institutional investors globally.”