Assets invested in actively-managed ETFs/ETPs listed globally reached a new record high of $47.5 billion at the end of February 2017, passing the prior record of $46bn set at the end of January 2017, according to data from London-based ETF industry consultant ETFGI.

Morningstar has announced it is currently engaged in the creation of a suite of European blue-chip equity indices, designed to be competitive alternatives to existing products. The indices are intended to serve as the basis for future investable product creation, including new ETFs. Sanjay Arya, Global Head of Morningstar Indices, said: “Morningstar’s mission is to create great products that help investors reach their financial goals. Our indices practice is an extension of that mission.”

By Zhen Wei, Head of China Research, MSCI.

Now that the Federal Reserve is expected to increase rates as the US economy recovers, some institutional investors have asked whether it is time to retreat from min-vol strategies. This question stems from a view that lower-volatility stocks historically tended to behave more like bonds and could potentially underperform in a rising-rate environment.

First Trust Global Portfolios has launched the First Trust US Small Cap Core AlphaDEX UCITS ETF (FYX) on the London Stock Exchange, providing exposure to small cap US firms while employing a multi-factor smart beta weighting methodology. The fund complements an existing suite of AlphaDEX ETFs including single country (US large cap, Japan, UK, Germany and Switzerland) and broad/regional (Eurozone and emerging markets) exposures.

BlackRock has released commentary related to assets flows within their Europe-listed iShares ETFs following the Federal Reserve’s decision to increase short-term interest rates to a range of 0.75% and 1.00%. The firm found that emerging markets, which typically see a decline when the Fed raises rates, actually outperformed the broad equity market and was the most actively-traded asset class during the day’s trading session on 16 March.

STOXX has licensed the iSTOXX MUTB Asia/Pacific Quality Dividend 100 Index to Yuanta SITC to underlie a new ETF due to be launched in Taiwan. The ETF will track 100 securities listed in the Asia Pacific region which have been screened by dividends, quality, and volatility. Matteo Andreetto, Chief Executive Officer, STOXX, commented: “This is the first Asia Pacific smart beta index solution in Taiwan.”

AdvisorShares have announced that the actively-managed Athena High Dividend ETF (NYSE: DIVI) will no longer close and liquidate as previously announced on 13 March 2017. “While our original intention was to close DIVI, we have elected to keep the ETF open,” said Noah Hamman, Chief Executive Officer of AdvisorShares.

Charles Schwab has launched an online wealth management service that combines automated investment planning technology with access to human advisors. Schwab Intelligent Advisory provides clients with a financial and investment plan comprised of a portfolio built exclusively with exchange-traded funds and managed by computer algorithms, as well as unlimited access to a human advisor via phone or video call.

WisdomTree has listed the WisdomTree India Quality UCITS ETF (Xetra: WTDZ) on Deutsche Börse’s Xetra and Frankfurt exchanges. The fund offers smart beta exposure to Indian equities with a focus on quality companies. It has also been launched on the London Stock Exchange.

UBS Asset Management has announced that the UBS CMCI Composite SF UCITS ETF (LON: UC14) has surpassed $1 billion in assets under management driven by a surge in net new money of $224 million between 1 January and 13 March 2017. According to UBS, inflows into the ETF gained momentum over the last six months as investors sought to protect portfolios from an increasingly inflationary environment.