First Trust Global Portfolios (FTGP) has launched euro- and pounds sterling-hedged share classes of the First Trust FactorFX UCITS ETF (FTFX LN). Derek Fulton, CEO of FTGP, said, “These new hedged share classes allow euro and sterling denominated investors to access the strategy while controlling their exchange rate volatility against the fund’s USD base currency.”

Lyxor has listed the Lyxor $ Floating Rate Note CHF Monthly Hedged UCITS ETF (FLOTH SW) on SIX Swiss Exchange, providing currency-hedged exposure to dollar-denominated corporate debt that is protected from rising interest rates. Francois Millet, head of product line management, ETFs & indexing, at Lyxor said: “For us, it was important to create a simple, low-cost way for investors to access the US dollar-denominated floating rate note market. As a Luxembourg SICAV, this ETF will be attractive to investors right across Europe.”

Euronext has announced the acquisition of the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) for €137 million. Euronext is planning to combine ISE’s ETF issuer and listing expertise with its own pan-EU trading platform to deliver a pan-European ETF trading hub.

Horizons ETFs has launched the Horizons Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO CN), the first ETF listed in Canada to offer thematic exposure to the robotics and automation industry. Steve Hawkins, president and Co-CEO of Horizons ETFs, said: “This could be the largest untapped investment opportunity for Canadian investors.”

Lyxor has cross-listed the Lyxor SG Japan Quality Income UCITS ETF (SGQJ SW) on SIX Swiss Exchange. The fund was launched in September this year and provides access to high-quality Japanese companies that pay high dividends.

Thematic ETFs providing access to companies involved in the manufacture or use of robotics and automation have seen stunning growth in assets under management (AUM) in 2017, fuelled both by large inflows and remarkable returns.

Barclays has launched the Barclays Rates Factor Indices, a suite of indices designed to capture risk premia (including carry, value, and momentum factors), from interest rate markets.

ETFs that provide exposure to Vietnam-listed equities, such as the db x-trackers FTSE Vietnam UCITS ETF (XFVT GR), have displayed remarkable performance recently, rising nearly 30% between the start of August and 28 November, as the country’s stock market has soared.

Asset management titan Vanguard has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch six new actively managed smart beta ETFs providing exposure to US equities. The firm’s foray into the active ETF space will initially include momentum, liquidity, quality, value and low volatility single factor ETFs as well as a multi-factor fund.

FTSE Russell, one of the biggest players in the ETF indexing space, has announced the expansion of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) equity index offering with the launch of the FTSE Global Climate Index Series and the FTSE ESG Index Series.