White-label ETF platform ETF Managers Group (ETFMG) has changed the names of six ETFs within the ETF Managers Series Trust, rebranding the funds ‘ETFMG’ following a dispute with the ETFs’ original partner PureFunds and its founder Andrew Chanin. The funds in question offer a range of thematic equity exposures and include the commercially successful PureFunds ISE Cyber Security ETF (NYSE Arca: HACK), which holds more than $1.1 billion in assets under management.

Deutsche Asset Management has cross-listed the db x-trackers MSCI Emerging Markets Index UCITS ETF (XMME) on SIX Exchange. Introduced as part of Deutsche’s ‘core’ range of ETFs – low-cost, diversified funds designed to act as foundational building blocks for portfolio construction – the fund comes with a price tag of just 0.20%.

Exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded products listed in Europe gathered $10.6 billion of net inflows during June 2017, bringing total assets under management within the European ETF/ETP industry to $686bn, according to ETF industry consultant ETFGI. The strong net gatherings marked the 34th consecutive month of positive net inflows for the region.

WisdomTree has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Toronto-based asset manager Questrade Wealth Management. As part of the deal, WisdomTree Canada will acquire the right to manage Questrade’s eight ETFs which have approximately CAD $89 million in assets under management.

Total assets under management in US-listed exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded products reached $2.973 trillion at the end of the first half of 2017, according to London-based ETF industry consultant ETFGI. ETFs/ETPs listed in the US gathered a record $46.6 billion net inflows in June, marking the 16th consecutive month of positive net new asset flows for the region.

VanEck has announced that its suite of UCITS ETFs is now registered for distribution in Denmark. Eduardo Escario, director, international business development at VanEck, commented: “We are committed to making our funds and services available to European investors, and registering our ETFs broadly allows us to respond to investors’ interests.” VanEck’s suite of UCITS ETFs includes an emerging markets bond ETF, two gold miners ETFs and a US equity ETF.

Exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded products listed globally gathered record net inflows of $63.6bn in June and $347.7bn over the first half of this year, according to research by ETF industry consultant ETFGI. This marks a significant increase compared to the net inflows of $123.5bn recorded over the first six months of 2016.

UBS has listed new shares classes for two of its ETFs on SIX Swiss Exchange. The ETFs are the UBS ETF MSCI Canada UCITS ETF (SIX: CANA) and the UBS ETF MSCI Japan UCITS ETF (SIX: JPNA). Both new share classes will reinvest any income received from dividends and will supplement existing share classes that distribute dividends.

WisdomTree has announced that its model portfolios will now be available on the Envestnet Wealth Management platform. Luciano Siracusano, WisdomTree’s chief investment strategist, commented: “We are pleased to be working with Envestnet to add WisdomTree’s model portfolios into its wealth management platform. Through the platform, advisors and ultimately their clients, will now have access to WisdomTree’s unique model portfolios which incorporate both asset allocation and ETF selection, further demonstrating our commitment to innovation.”

By Viktor Nossek, director of research at WisdomTree in Europe.

Italy’s failure to pass a new electoral law last year means it must now hold elections during a period when the 2018 budget must be approved. This presents a risk to political stability which may renew speculative attacks on Italian sovereigns and bank stocks.