Lyxor, the Paris-based exchange-traded fund provider and subsidiary of Societe Generale, has announced the listing of a multi-factor smart beta ETF built on the Lyxor range of single-factor ETF strategies launched in July of this year. Francois Millet, Head of ETF and Index Product Development at Lyxor Asset Management said: “Factors are increasingly used by investors to enhance their risk-adjusted returns and increase their diversification. These five risk factors help to explain the systematic return patterns of the equity markets, which have been exploited by active fund managers for many years”.

Stoxx Limited, the European index provider, has introduced the STOXX Select and STOXX Diversification Select index families, a suite of multi-factor smart beta indices which harness the low volatility and dividend yield factors in search of improved risk-adjusted returns. Hartmut Graf, chief executive officer, Stoxx Limited commented: “We have introduced the STOXX Select and STOXX Diversification Select Indices, which meet both structured products issuers and end-investor needs by introducing screens for low volatility, high dividends and low correlation, paired with an inverse volatility weighting scheme.”

Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management (Deutsche AWM), the asset manager behind the db X-trackers brand of exchange-traded funds, has launched the db x-trackers Barclays USD Corporate Bond UCITS ETF that aims to provide exposure to the US dollar-denominated liquid corporate bond market. “With yields on many short maturity major government bonds now in negative territory, which means investors are effectively paying to own these bonds, there is a demand for fixed income exposure that generates a reasonable yield. Our new US dollar corporate bond ETF helps meet that demand,” said Michael Mohr, head of exchange-traded product development, EMEA, at Deutsche AWM.

According to BNY Mellon’s ETF Services Group, the number of actively managed ETFs is likely to increase significantly once the US Securities and Exchange Commission rules on proposals designed to discourage high-frequency traders from stepping ahead of active managers. Steve Cook, business executive, structured product services at BNY Mellon, said, “Uncertainty around which proposal will be adopted has slowed the launch of actively managed ETFs this year. However, once we have regulatory clarity, we expect a rebound in launches of actively managed ETFs. It will result in more options for investors, which is what everyone wants.”

Loncar Investments, a specialist exchange-traded fund and index provider, has unveiled the first ETF to track companies engaged in the research and development of therapies that treat cancer through the body’s immune system. “Immunotherapy is changing the way many cancers are being treated,” said Brad Loncar, Chief Executive Officer of Loncar Investments. “This innovative field within biotechnology is expected to become the foundational treatment for cancer over the next ten years. We think it is important to give investors a benchmark to track the progress of this growing biotechnology sector, which over time will likely continue to have a positive impact on society.”

Amundi, a leading European provider of exchange-traded funds, is adding to its suite of Japanese equity ETFs with the launch of hedged and unhedged funds tracking the broad TOPIX Index. According to Amundi, in a market characterised by significant monetary easing – aimed at boosting the local economy – these ETFs will allow investors to access, in a single transaction, a broad exposure to the most liquid Japanese listed stocks with or without currency hedging.

WisdomTree Europe, a provider of exchange-traded funds, has introduced an emerging Asia equity income ETF, providing investors with access to the yield opportunities of companies in the region. Hector McNeil, Co-CEO of WisdomTree Europe, commented: “WisdomTree Europe is delighted to launch the WisdomTree Emerging Asia Equity Income UCITS ETF. This new ETF is Europe’s first dividend-focused ETF covering emerging Asian equity markets. WisdomTree’s methodology combines experience and track record, with a high yielding diversified index thereby combining an attractive yield with exposure to one of the key regions within emerging markets.”

Huygens Capital, the robo-advisor and ETF strategist, has brought its tactical, risk-focused robo-advisor offering to market. “Most robo-advisors manage risk by constructing an initial, diversified, multi-asset portfolio for a client, and then maintaining that static asset allocation with periodic rebalancing whenever the portfolio deviates from it,” said Walter Vester, chief executive officer of Huygens. “Our approach addresses a need not satisfied by today’s robo-advisors. We believe the key to growing our clients’ assets is to invest them in US equities while striving to protect against periods of high equity market risk.”

iShares, the world’s largest provider of exchange-traded funds and a division of investment giant BlackRock, has introduced the iShares Currency Hedged JPX-Nikkei 400 ETF (HJPX). Jane Leung, Managing Director of BlackRock iShares, said: “iShares Currency Hedged JPX-Nikkei 400 ETF allows investors to gain broad exposure to Japanese companies that have been selected based on perceived shareholder-friendly activities, while mitigating for currency movements. Investors can easily combine the fund with its unhedged version, to tailor currency risk while maintaining consistent Japanese equity exposure.”

WisdomTree Europe, a provider of exchange-traded funds, has launched an equity income ETF dedicated to the UK market at a competitive 0.29% total expense ratio. Hector McNeil, Co-CEO of WisdomTree Europe, commented: “Based on client demand for WisdomTree’s Equity Income methodology, this is the first ETF which WisdomTree Europe is launching dedicated to the UK market. WisdomTree’s methodology combines experience and track record, with a high yielding broad index – something which investors will find useful in today’s low interest rate environment”. The fund has been listed on the London Stock Exchange.