Emerging Global Advisors (EGA), the asset manager to the EGShares exchange-traded fund line-up, has completed the transition of the EGShares Beyond BRICs ETF (BBRC) to track the FTSE Beyond BRICs Index, an index comprising 75% emerging market stocks and 25% frontier market stocks. Launched in August 2012, the fund previously tracked the Indxx Beyond BRICs Index, an index which only includes emerging market stocks.

Guggenheim Investments has announced that the Guggenheim BRIC ETF (EEB) will change its benchmark index to the BNY Mellon BRIC Select DR Index, effective October 31, 2013. William Belden, Managing Director at Guggenheim Investments, said: “Transitioning to the BNY Mellon BRIC Select DR Index will provide more representative exposure to the BRIC super region. We see this as an opportunity to track an index where the capitalization weights of the four countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – are more appropriately weighted.”

DeltaOne Solutions, a supplier of ETF and index data, and Tbricks, a provider of automated trading systems, have confirmed details of a strategic alliance which combines Tbricks’ next-generation trading system with DeltaOne’s data management and analysis capabilities. The partnership provides a single point for analyzing and implementing, while enhancing and facilitating sourcing, pricing and trading of global ETFs and indices.

First Asset has launched two new factor-tilted equity ETFs – the First Asset Morningstar US Momentum Index ETF (YXM) and First Asset Morningstar US Value Index ETF (XXM) – on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Commenting on the launch, Barry Gordon, President and CEO of First Asset, said: “At First Asset, we are committed to developing solutions that aim to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns, and we are pleased to add these US equity ETFs to our product portfolio.”

S&P Dow Jones has licensed the S&P MILA 40 Index, an index tracking 40 of the largest stocks on Latin America’s MILA platform, to Horizons ETFs Group to serve as the basis for an exchange-traded fund listed in Colombia. The ETF, known locally as the Fondo Bursátil Horizons MILA 40 de S&P (HMILA40), will be listed on the Bolsa de Valores de Colombia (BVC) and will be the first Andean equity-focused ETF available in Colombia.

E Fund Management, one of mainland China’s largest asset managers, has announced the launch of the E Fund CES China 120 Index ETF, the world’s first cross-market RQFII ETF. The new ETF, which has been listed in Hong Kong, is linked to the CES China 120 Index, an index consisting of the 80 largest and most liquid A-Shares trading on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges and the 40 largest and most liquid H-Shares and Red Chips listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Exchange Traded Concepts has announced the launch of the Robo-Stox Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO), the latest exchange-traded fund to begin trading through the firm’s private-label ETF platform. The fund, which has been listed on Nasdaq, seeks to track the Robo-Stox Global Robotics and Automation Index – the world’s first index to benchmark the performance of stocks in the robotics and automation industries.

First Trust has unveiled a new exchange-traded fund providing investors with a cost-effective way to gain exposure to commodities in addition to offering daily liquidity and full transparency. Listed on the Nasdaq stock market, the First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy ETF (FTGC) aims to offer investors a positive absolute return while maintaining a relatively stable risk profile. Unlike index-based commodities ETFs, the fund is actively managed and takes a risk-managed approach to commodities investing that aims to provide an improved risk/return relationship.

Horizons ETFs has announced the launch of the Horizons Active Floating Rate Preferred Share ETF (HFP) on the Toronto Stock Exchange, providing Canadian investors with an opportunity to gain floating-rate exposure to North American preferred shares in exchange-traded fund format. Howard Atkinson, President of Horizons ETFs, said: “Preferred shares have become popular with Canadian investors looking for a higher level of tax-efficient income in today’s low-rate environment.”

Purpose Investments has announced the launch of its sixth exchange-traded fund, the Purpose High Interest Savings ETF (PSA), since making its debut in the ETF space in September this year. The Toronto-listed fund seeks to maximize monthly income while preserving capital and liquidity by investing substantially all of its assets in high interest deposit accounts with one or more Chartered Banks and/or Canadian credit unions.