IndexIQ, a subsidiary of New York Life Investments, has expanded its ‘dual impact’ family of thematic equity strategies with the launch of three new ETFs on NYSE Arca.

The UBS Global Gender Equality UCITS ETF (GENDER SW) has surpassed $100m in assets under management just eight months after its launch. Listed on SIX Swiss Exchange, the fund provides exposure to global companies perceived to be leading the field in terms of gender equality. Suni Harford, Head of Investments at UBS Asset Management, commented, “The success of our ETF serves as further proof that sustainable goals such as gender equality are a key priority for our clients.”

Seven issuers were active on London Stock Exchange in July, listing nineteen new ETFs or share classes, bringing the total number of new listings, including exchange-traded products, to 243 year-to-date. There are now 1,097 ETFs and 487 other ETPs listed on the exchange, represented by more than 2,000 different trading lines across various currency, currency-hedged, distributing and accumulating share classes.

Lyxor has introduced the Lyxor Global Gender Equality (DR) UCITS ETF – Monthly Hedged to EUR (ELLH GY), a currency-hedged share class of its global gender equality ETF. Listed on Deutsche Börse, the share class hedges the fund’s US dollar exposure to the euro, the fund’s trading currency.

In events co-coordinated by Women in ETFs, 63 stock exchanges around the world hosted bell ringing ceremonies to mark International Women’s Day and to help advance the cause of gender equality and women’s empowerment. ETF issuers have shown they are keen to play their part with a number of ETFs being launched in recent years that select stocks based on gender equality screening.

Lyxor is planning a cross-listing of the Lyxor Gender Equality ETF, Europe’s first ETF to focus on companies leading the field in gender equality, on London Stock Exchange. The fund, which tracks 150 of the highest-ranked stocks based on work-related gender equality characteristics, will trade in pounds sterling under the ticker HERS LN.

Ten new ETFs and 27 ETPs were listed on London Stock Exchange in December 2017, making it exchange’s busiest month of the year for new listings. On-exchange ETF/ETP trading, however, was down for the month and broadly flat for the year.

UBS Asset Management has launched the UBS Global Gender Equality UCITS ETF (GENDER SW) on SIX Swiss Exchange, providing exposure to global companies leading the field in terms of gender equality. Commenting on the launch, Michael Baldinger, head of sustainable and impact investing at UBS, said, “The launch of this new ETF provides investors with a unique opportunity to benefit from systematically investing in the leading global companies on gender diversity”.

Mackenzie Investments has launched the actively managed Mackenzie Global Leadership Impact ETF (MWMN CN) on NEO Exchange in Canada. The ESG-focused fund invests primarily in companies that promote gender diversity and women’s leadership within their organizational structure.

Lyxor has launched the Lyxor Gender Equality ETF (ELLE FP), Europe’s first ETF to focus on companies leading the field in gender equality. Commenting on the launch, Clarisse Djabbari, deputy head of Lyxor ETFs & indexing, said: “This ETF marks an important step in our progress towards a complete range of environmental, social and governance based investment products.” The ETF is linked to the Equileap Global Gender Equality Index, an index of 150 high-ranking stocks based on gender equality.