Canadian investors have been presented with the country’s first index to track locally-listed companies which promote workplace diversity and inclusion by embracing LGBT values. The LGBT Corporate Canadian Index (LGBT CCI) may serve as the underlying for future investment products, including ETFs.

The global ETF/ETP industry grew faster than the global hedge fund industry in 2016, according to research by London-based ETF industry consultant, ETFGI. During 2016, ETFs/ETPs listed globally gathered a record $389.4 billion of net inflows, while hedge fund investors redeemed $70.1bn, the largest annual outflow since 2009. The growing preference for ETFs over hedge funds may be attributed to several benefits of the vehicle including smaller minimum investment sizes, greater liquidity, and lower costs.

By Antoine Lesné, Head of SPDR ETF Strategy & Research, EMEA.

Almost a decade after the global financial crisis, unprecedented intervention in financial markets by monetary authorities has had a deeply depressing effect on yields. As we extend into the latter stages of the economic cycle, we also reach a potential cross-road for rates. While inflation has jumped in recent months, it does not appear likely rates will have a major push higher for now; but conversely, the days of ‘lower for longer’ may be behind us. So where does this leave investors in their search for income?

Indxx has launched the Indxx US Infrastructure Development Index, tracking the performance of companies that provide exposure to infrastructure development in the United States. The index has been licensed to New York-based ETF provider Global X Funds as the underlying benchmark for the Global X US Infrastructure Development ETF (BATS: PAVE).

STOXX, the operator of Deutsche Boerse’s index business, has launched two new low carbon indices, the STOXX Climate Impact Index and the STOXX Climate Awareness Index. The indices track the performance of global equities with advanced climate change strategies in place, as rated by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a not-for-profit organization focused on environmental impact reporting.

Dubai Financial Market (DFM) has launched a trading platform for ETFs, the first of its kind for the region’s capital markets. The platform aims to offer enhanced integration and ongoing support to the burgeoning ETF industry, particularly market makers, authorized participants and liquidity providers. His Excellency Essa Kazim, Chairman of DFM said: “Dubai Financial Market is committed to its strategy of providing investors with a wide range of innovative products.”

Following approval granted by the Financial Conduct Authority, the Bulgaria-listed Expat Bulgaria SOFIX UCITS ETF (BGX) has been registered for trade and can be marketed to investors in the UK. The move – the first registration of a financial instrument licensed by the Bulgarian Financial Supervision Commission for trading on a foreign market – is a major step towards raising the international image of the Bulgarian financial sector.

By James Butterfill, Director, Head of Research & Investment Strategy at ETF Securities.

The VIX, a perceived measure of market risk, highlights that there is little fear in the market at present. This year it has averaged 11.2, well below its long-term average of 19.6. Putting this in context, only 4% of the time is it ever this low. On the one hand, good corporate earnings, the prospect for corporate tax cuts and expected infrastructure spending could justify such optimism, but on the other hand, we find it puzzling that political volatility in both the US and Europe is not being reflected in the VIX.

WisdomTree has announced that its subsidiary WisdomTree Japan has entered into an agreement with Japanese online securities firm Monex Securities, whereby Monex will provide WisdomTree ETFs through Japan’s first commission-free trading program – Overseas ETFs with Zero Commissions on Transactions (“Zero ETF”‘). Zero ETF is a long-term investment program offered to individual investors in Japan.

Asia Index, a joint venture between S&P Dow Jones and BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange), has launched the S&P BSE SENSEX Next 50 Index, designed to track the performance of the 50 largest companies not already included in the SENSEX 50 Index. Alka Banerjee, CEO, Asia Index, said: “Given the ever increasing demand from institutional and retail investors, we have launched this objective, rules-based and transparent index that is suitable to underlie ETFs.”