Uni-President Asset Management has launched the UPAMC NYSE FANG+ ETF (00757 TT) on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, providing exposure to a concentrated portfolio of US growth stocks from technology and tech-enabled companies.

UniCredit has announced the launch of the UC MSCI European Green Bond EUR UCITS ETF (ECBI GY), a new ETF on Xetra providing exposure to a broadly diversified portfolio of liquid euro-denominated green bonds from European issuers. Linked to the Bloomberg Barclays MSCI European Green Bond Issuer Capped EUR Index, the fund enables sustainability-conscious investors to access bonds that have been issued to finance projects with direct positive environmental outcomes. Antonio Keglevich, Head of Sustainability Bond Origination, UniCredit, commented, “Having the same risk and yield as common bonds, green bonds provide an added value, which exceeds financial aspects.”

Ping An of China Asset Management (HK), one of the leading asset managers in the region, has announced the launch of two new ETFs on the Hong Kong stock exchange. The ETFs – the Ping An Nasdaq 5HANDL ETF (3198 HK) and the Ping An Nasdaq AI and Robotics ETF (3023 HK) – become the exchange’s first multi-asset and AI & robotics ETFs respectively.

DWS has expanded its US suite of ESG ETFs with the launch of the Xtrackers MSCI ACWI ex USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (ACSG US) and Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Leaders Equity ETF (EMSG US) on the NYSE Arca. “Environmental, social and governance factors have been part of DWS’s core DNA for more than 20 years,” said Fiona Bassett, Global Co-Head of Passive Asset Management and Global Co-Head of Products.

DWS has expanded its sector offering with the launch of the Xtrackers USA Banks UCITS ETF (XUFB LN) on the London Stock Exchange. The fund, which comes with a fee of just 12 basis points, is linked to the MSCI USA Banks 20/35 Capped Index, providing exposure to US banks. Amanda Rebello, DWS Head of Passive Distribution, UK and Ireland, commented, “This competitively priced ETF further expands our suite on US sectoral exposures. With the possibility of rising interest rates and inflation in the US providing further tailwinds for the US banking sector, we expect healthy demand for the exposure.”

Advisors Asset Management has unveiled the AAM S&P Developed Markets High Dividend Value ETF (DMDV US) on NYSE Arca. The fund targets international stocks with attractive valuations, high dividend yields, and sustainable dividend distributions.

ETFs have the potential to become a viable vehicle for fund management firms to deliver active management, leading to new mandates for subadvisors as managers look to deliver increasingly esoteric strategies within the wrapper. That is the conclusion of a recent report from global research and consulting firm Cerulli Associates. Matt Merritt, Associate Analyst at Cerulli, commented, “As managers continue to shift toward vehicle-agnostic delivery of active strategies, Cerulli believes that subadvisors focusing on best-in-class service and performance will participate in the tailwinds of the ETF market”.

By Jay Beidler, co-Founder of Distillate Capital.

Low volatility, or low beta, as an investment concept has garnered a lot of attention and investment dollars in recent years. One reason for this is the high level of anxiety about geopolitical turmoil, political discord, negative interest rates, elevated levels of global debt, trade disputes, and a host of other issues.  The other reason is increased awareness of the “low beta anomaly,” in which lower beta stocks actually produce higher long-term returns.

S&P Dow Jones Indices has announced that the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM) has granted the index provider’s Netherlands entity, S&P DJI BV, authorisation as a regulated Dutch benchmark administrator, under the EU benchmark regulation.

WisdomTree has become the latest issuer to enter the increasingly competitive thematic technology equity space with the launch of the WisdomTree Artificial Intelligence UCITS ETF on the London Stock Exchange. The fund provides exposure to companies globally that stand to gain the most from increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Christopher Gannatti, WisdomTree Head of Research in Europe, said, “[investors] should be thinking over a long time horizon and about how advances like autonomously driven cars, a digital workforce, mass facial recognition and other applications of intelligent machines could change the world.”