Volatility ETNs and ETFs have surged in popularity, helping providers such as iPath, VelocityShares, ProShares, UBS and Source to accumulate billions in assets. However, the chaotic collapse of the VelocityShares VIX ETN (TVIX) earlier this year has led EDHEC-Risk Institute to publish a study into the unique nature of volatility ETNs.

FactorShares has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch three new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) under the soon-to-be-launched PureFunds brand. The new funds will include a specialist diamond and gemstone ETF, the first ever to hold shares of companies exclusively engaged in the precious stones industry.

The DAX index has been licensed to HuaAn Asset Management, one of the longest-running fund management companies in China, to serve as the basis for an exchange-traded fund (ETF). This is the first time that the German blue-chip index will be available to Chinese investors in an ETF format.

Since the end of 1999, agriculture prices have increased at a more rapid pace than most other commodities. The grains, consisting of corn, soybean and wheat, have led the way, increasing by over 270%. The long-term outlook remains as strong as ever. While drought has dominated the headlines, population growth, changing dietary habits and increased ethanol production have also been driving prices higher. This trend looks set to continue, making grain-based ETFs a compelling long-term buy.

BlackRock has announced the launch of the iShares Global Corporate Bond ETF (CORP), a physically-backed exchange-traded fund (ETF) providing investors with diversified exposure to global corporate bonds. The London-listed fund aims to track the Barclays Global Aggregate Corporate Bond Index, a broad-based measure covering more than 7,000 high-quality names across 15 currencies.

Market Vectors has announced that its global gaming and coal indices have been licensed to Van Eck Global, the index provider’s parent company, to underlie existing exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The Market Vectors Global Gaming Index has replaced the S-Network Global Gaming Index to underlie the Market Vectors Global Gaming ETF (BJK), while the Market Vectors Global Coal Index has replaced the Stowe Coal Index to underlie the Market Vectors Global Coal ETF (KOL).

WisdomTree, a US-based provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), has announced the launch of the WisdomTree China Dividend ex-Financials ETF (CHXF). The fund is designed to provide broad-based exposure to Chinese dividend-paying stocks outside of the financial sector.

Charles Schwab has slashed the fees on its range of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a bid gain market share. Each of the firm’s 15 NYSE-listed funds is now the cheapest – as measured by operating expense ratio – in their respective Lipper category.

STOXX has expanded its ‘Maximum Dividend Strategy Index’ family with the launch of the STOXX Global Maximum Dividend 40, the STOXX Asia/Pacific Maximum Dividend 40, the STOXX North America Maximum Dividend 40 and the STOXX Japan Maximum Dividend 40 indices. The new indices reflect growing appetite for high-dividend equities and have designed to act both as a benchmark for actively managed funds and as an underlying for exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

S&P Dow Jones and Deutsche Bank have unveiled the S&P-DB ORBIT Index, a co-branded index designed to measure the performance of the fast-growing offshore renminbi-denominated fixed income market. The offshore RMB, or so-called ‘dim sum’, bond market continues to grow as investors look for exposure to both the yuan and debt markets in China.