iShares has called on investors to think differently about index investing in a new report that provides a framework for choosing the right passive investment vehicle. Ursula Marchioni, Head of iShares EMEA Equity Strategy & ETP Research and co-author of the report, said: “There’s a myth that tracking an index is a simple and automated process. This is simply incorrect. There can be significant differences between benchmarks, index-based investment vehicles and management styles, let alone between product providers.”

Renaissance Capital, a leading provider of IPO (Initial Public Offering) research and investment services, has made a play in the fast-growing exchange-traded funds business with the launch of the Renaissance IPO ETF (IPO) on the NYSE Arca. The fund is designed to offer investors efficient exposure to a portfolio of the most economically significant newly public US companies. The fund’s largest position is currently Facebook, with a 10.9% stake.

WisdomTree has further expanded its line-up of currency-hedged ETFs with the launch of the WisdomTree Germany Hedged Equity ETF (DXGE) on the Nasdaq stock market. Linked to the WisdomTree Germany Hedged Equity Index, the fund is designed to provide exposure to German equities, tilted towards global exporters, while mitigating currency risk by hedging the EUR/USD exchange rate.

FlexShares, the exchange-traded funds brand of Northern Trust, has announced the launch of the FlexShares Stoxx Global Broad Infrastructure ETF (NFRA) on the NYSE Arca. Linked to the Stoxx Global Broad Infrastructure Index, the fund operates with a goal of increasing diversification with other equity assets while also providing income to investors. The fund focuses on infrastructure ownership through a bottom-up analysis of each company’s assets, as opposed to reliance on industry classifications.

Market Vectors, the exchange-traded funds business of Van Eck Global, has made its debut in Australia with the listing of four ETFs on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). The funds provide access to a range of domestic Australian sectors, including banks, property and resources. Arian Neiron, Managing Director, Market Vectors Australia, said: “We are committed to building a presence in the Australian market place. As a global business we look forward to bringing new investment opportunities to Australian investors.”

ETF Securities, a leading provider of exchange-traded products, has launched a new product providing exposure to energy commodities while mitigating the effect of currency volatility for euro-referenced investors. Listed on the Deutsche Börse, the ETFS EUR Daily Hedged Energy DJ-UBS ED (00XU) reflects the performance of futures contracts based on Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Brent Crude, RBOB Gasoline and Heating Oil, as well as incorporating a daily rebalanced currency hedge against movements in the EUR/USD exchange rate.

Pimco and Source have introduced a euro-hedged share class for the popular Pimco Short-Term High Yield Corporate Bond Index Source ETF. Available on the London Stock Exchange via the ticker code ‘STHE’, the newly listed share class offers euro-based investors exposure to the BofA Merrill Lynch 0-5 Year US High Yield Constrained Index while minimizing the effects of exchange rate fluctuations between the dollar and euro.

iShares has unveiled an initiative that will enable UK pension funds and other institutional investors to access ETFs directly through their custodians, negating the need for a separate brokerage account. UK pension schemes and other institutional investors have typically held their investments via pooled funds and discretionary segregated portfolios. However, with the growing interest in passive solutions, many trustees and their advisers are exploring the role of ETFs to access global markets in a liquid, transparent and cost-effective manner.

FinEx has announced the launch of the FinEx Physically Held Gold ETF (FXGD), the first fully regulated gold exchange-traded fund in the European Union. The ETF, which has been listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and cross-listed on the Moscow Exchange, is backed by physically held gold bullion in vaults in London. It tracks the price of gold calculated using the London Gold Fixing Price set in US dollars on each trading day.

iShares, the exchange-traded funds platform of BlackRock, has listed three passively managed ultrashort bond ETFs and two short-duration bond ETFs on the London Stock Exchange. The ultrashort bond ETFs are the first of their kind in Europe. The new funds come in response to investor demand for products that can help mitigate the risk posed by potential rising developed market interest rates, as well as for exposures that can provide better returns than cash.