FlexShares, the ETF platform of investments giant Northern Trust, has announced that assets within its ETF range have surpassed $1 billion. Launched less than one year ago in September 2011, FlexShares has become one of the fastest-growing ETF providers in the competitive US marketplace.

The global market for fixed income ETFs will likely grow to more than $2 trillion in assets over the next decade, compared with $302 billion today, according to new analysis released by BlackRock. “Even after a decade of continuous growth, fixed income ETFs are still just scratching the surface of their potential,” said Jennifer Grancio, Head of iShares Global Business Development at BlackRock.

The unrelenting heat wave afflicting the US Midwest continues to scorch crops including corn, wheat and soybean. With searing heat and little sign of much-needed rain, the prices of these commodities have risen dramatically. ETFs and ETCs tracking these commodities, such as the ETFS Grains DJ-UBSCI ETC (AIGG), the Source Grains T-ETC (SGRAIN), and the Teucrium Agricultural ETF (TAGS), have soared.

Following the successful launch of Navesis-ETF, a multilateral trading facility for ETFs, Tradition and Nomura have announced the extension of the platform’s trading hours from a half-day currently to a full-day. Commenting on the announcement, Rupert Hodges, Managing Director of TFS Derivatives, part of Tradition, said: “We are very pleased with the progress of Navesis-ETF since its launch in the spring. We have 23 members live, including some of the biggest names in the industry, and trading momentum has exceeded our expectations.”

US ETF net assets under management grow by 4% in June, ending the month with roughly $1.18 trillion, with the largest four providers (iShares, SSgA SPDR, Vanguard and PowerShares) collecting the lion’s share of new assets, according to analysis from investment data provider Morningstar. SSgA alone raked in nearly $9 billion.

European equity ETFs potentially offer long-term value for investors who can look beyond the immediate crisis currently afflicting the continent. “European equities are unloved and out of favour. But in this lies an opportunity”, says JP Morgan. “European companies are positioned to benefit from global growth, with an increasing exposure to emerging markets, so any evidence of a pickup in economic activity will be positive for earnings. At the same time, valuations are cheap, providing a potentially attractive entry point for long-term investors.”

Markit, a leading financial information services company, has announced the forthcoming launch of the Markit iTraxx CEEMEA, the first credit default swap (CDS) index referencing corporate debt in Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa. The index will enable investors to gain or hedge exposure to the CEEMEA region’s corporate credit risk and will include corporate issuers from multiple industry sectors.

The search for returns in an environment of financial repression is likely to drive future demand for Asian bonds. Stefan Scheurer, capital market analyst at Allianz Global Investors, believes that demand for Asian government bonds will increase: “Asian government bonds currently generate a return of 4.2% per annum on average in local currency terms. As such they are more attractive than developed market bonds with their average yield of 2.3%.”

AdvisorShares, a US-based sponsor of actively managed ETFs, has announced that the Global Alpha & Beta ETF (RRGR) will commence trading this week on the NYSE Arca. RRGR employs a broadly diversified global asset allocation strategy seeking to outperform diversified financial indices such as a 60/40 allocation to the S&P 500 Index and the Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index, while providing lower volatility and reduced risk.

DB X-trackers, the ETF platform of Deutsche Bank, has announced the launch of the DB X-trackers II iBoxx GBP Liquid Corporate 100 Index ETF (XG7C) on the London Stock Exchange. The fund provides exposure to up to 100 sterling-denominated corporate bonds that have been screened for liquidity. To qualify for the index, bonds must have an investment-grade rating, a remaining time-to-maturity of at least two years and a minimum amount outstanding of £400m.