Deutsche Asset Management has launched two strategic beta exchange-traded funds which provide access to US and eurozone equities while using a portfolio optimization process to minimize total volatility. Martin Weithofer, Deutsche Asset Management’s Head of Strategic Beta, commented: “The expansion and evolution of our strategic beta suite of products this year, and the launch of our new minimum volatility ETFs, places us in a strong position to become the leading provider of strategic beta ETFs in Europe.”

By Antoine Lesne, Head of SPDR ETF Research & Strategy EMEA: “Here we go again. As we saw post the UK’s EU Referendum result, financial markets sold off following Trump’s election win, with risk assets being the main casualty; however, by the end of Wednesday US equities were back in the black and investors took solace in Trump’s statesman-like acceptance speech. It’s only the beginning of the process and, like the Brexit vote, nothing has yet been set in motion from a policy standpoint. We were operating on the basis of ‘known unknowns’ and we are now moving to new ones. Nevertheless, the difference is that after the initial disturbance of the Brexit vote the result was local, while this shock is global and has wider ramifications.”

By Joachim Fels, PIMCO’s global economic advisor: “After a short initial post-election shock, many financial market participants seem to have adopted a Dr. Strangelove attitude (“How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”) toward the election of Donald Trump…I’m not Dr. Strangelove, and I believe it’s too early to stop worrying. A more differentiated view of the potential long-term economic and policy consequences of President-elect Trump must take on board both the considerable uncertainties still surrounding the next US administration’s economic policies and the global links between economies and markets.”

By Viktor Nossek, Director of Research at WisdomTree Europe: “At last. The long awaited decision on America’s 45th president has been decided. But regardless of whether you were Team Clinton or Team Trump, now’s the time to take a closer look at what you are holding in your portfolio. In the below, we outline our thoughts on positioning for both the short-term and the long-term using Exchange Traded Products (UCITS ETFs and Exchange Traded Notes).”

European ETF provider Source believes the US economy still has momentum – and equities may still outperform – despite several economic indicators “flashing red”. While investment and corporate profits have declined recently, the gradual pace of growth during this expansion may indicate the economy still has room to grow. Paul Jackson, Head of Research at Source, commented: “…the fact that wage and price inflation is not excessive, that the Fed is tightening only very slowly and that the yield curve is far from negative gives some hope that this cycle will get a second wind over the coming quarters. If so, stocks will go higher.”

Natixis Global, the asset management arm of the French corporate and investment bank, has launched the Natixis Seeyond International Minimum Volatility ETF (NYSE Arca: MVIN), its first exchange-traded fund available in the US market. John Hailer, CEO of Natixis Global for the Americas, commented: “Investors are increasingly interested in accessing our investment strategies through ETFs, and MVIN provides them an active strategy which can react to market events and seek to take advantage of opportunities with all the potential benefits of an ETF.”

Elkhorn Investments has launched the Elkhorn Lunt Low Vol/High Beta Tactical ETF (Bats: LVHB), which switches between tracking the S&P 500 Low Volatility Index and the S&P 500 High Beta Index, depending on momentum signals in the US market. Ben Fulton, CEO of Elkhorn Investments, commented: “Factors, including low-volatility, have their own season and Lunt Capital’s strategy allows investors to tactically rotate between low-volatility and high-beta stocks within the tax-efficient ETF structure.”

First Asset has launched three equities ETFs on the Toronto Stock Exchange, offering investors access to tactical rotation, low volatility and multi-factor strategies. Each ETF follows a proprietary rules-based index developed by CIBC Capital Markets, a leading provider of quantitative index strategies in Canada and the United States. Barry Gordon, President and Chief Executive Officer, First Asset, commented: “This is a unique opportunity for investors to benefit from a range of quantitative indices designed by one of Canada’s leading index strategy teams, while also enjoying the benefits of the ETF structure.”

Solactive has launched the Solactive Sustainable Development Goals World Index – a reference for the performance of 50 global companies identified as making a significant contribution to the advancement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adopted by UN member countries in September 2015, the SDGs seek to guide international cooperation on issues such as water sanitation, poverty, climate change and gender equality. The index has been designed to serve as the underlying for future investment products such as ETFs.

Franklin Templeton Investments has expanded its suite of actively managed ETFs on the Franklin LibertyShares platform with the launch of two new funds. The Franklin Liberty US Low Volatility ETF (NYSE: FLLV) and the Franklin Liberty Investment Grade Corporate ETF (NYSE: FLCO) provide exposure to US equities with low volatility characteristics and to global investment grade corporate debt respectively. Patrick O’Connor, Global Head of ETFs for Franklin Templeton Investments, commented: “Our ability to combine our research prowess, with the attractive benefits of an ETF structure, is our competitive advantage.”