Actively managed ETFs and ETPs listed globally gathered $3.1 billion in net inflows during January 2018, the second largest monthly net inflow ever, according to ETF industry consultants ETFGI.

Da Vinci Capital, an emerging markets asset manager with offices in Moscow and Hong Kong, has entered the European ETF market with the launch of two Russia-focused ETFs. Elio Manca, managing director of ITI Funds, commented, “The funds provide efficient entry, with diverse exposure to direct securities, into the Russian equity and bond markets at the low point of economic cycle in Russia.”

Salt Financial, a start-up ETF issuer based in New York, is to launch the Salt truBeta High Exposure ETF (SLT US) on Cboe Global Markets. The fund will target companies expected to exhibit higher volatility relative to the broad US market. Alfred Eskandar, co-founder of Salt Financial, said, “Today, investors generally have to choose between using complex products that reset daily or borrow on margin to enhance their exposure – we aim to provide a better alternative.”

By Fran Rodilosso, head of fixed income ETF portfolio management at VanEck.

International bond investors will soon need to consider a greater role for Chinese debt in their portfolios as the country’s bonds are likely to enter emerging markets and global bond indices in the near to medium term.

Invesco PowerShares has cross-listed the PIMCO Euro Short-Term High Yield Corporate Bond Index Source UCITS ETF (EUHA SW) on SIX Swiss Exchange. The fund, managed by bond specialists PIMCO, tracks the BofA Merrill Lynch 0-5 Year Euro Developed Markets High Yield 2% Constrained Index, comprising short-term, euro-denominated corporate bonds issued within the eurozone with a rating below investment grade.

First Trust has launched the First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT US) on Nasdaq Exchange, providing access to companies globally that are directly exposed to developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Ryan Issakainen, SVP and ETF strategist at First Trust, said, “As a leading provider of thematic ETFs, we are excited to offer ROBT as a way for investors to gain exposure to this dynamic investment theme.”

JP Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) has now launched on the London Stock Exchange the three bond ETFs it unveiled last month, marking the formal introduction of the first JP Morgan-branded fixed income ETFs in Europe.

A new white-label UCITS ETF platform, called marketβeta, is set to be established in Europe, providing third-party asset managers with the infrastructure to build and launch ETFs into Europe without having to establish their own full-service business. The platform is being launched by Graeme Dewar, previously head of strategy implementation at LGIM; and Joy Yang, former head of equities at Vanguard.

Solactive, a German index provider, has launched the Solactive Industrial Robotics & Automation Index, a thematic index that tracks companies which provide robotics and automation solutions in an industrial context.

Aussie ETF issuer BetaShares, together with global asset manager Legg Mason, have launched two actively managed ETFs on Australian Stock Exchange. Based on investment strategies by Legg Mason affiliate Martin Currie Australia, both funds target high-quality Australian securities with a focus on income generation.