Highland Capital Partners is to implement changes to the Highland/iBoxx Senior Loan ETF (SNLN US) following a review of the underlying reference benchmark by index provider IHS Markit. Taylor Ridgely, co-portfolio manager, commented, “For a passively managed fund, index construction and methodology are key. Enhancing some of the structural features of the index results in exposure that better reflects the realities of the underlying loan market.”

Cambria Investment Management is to transfer the listings of three Cambria ETFs from NYSE Arca to Cboe BZX Exchange around 17 December 2018.

The Investment Association (IA), the trade body that represents the UK’s fund management industry, has opened a consultation on the proposed inclusion of ETFs in its fund classification sectors. The sectors are designed to help investors and advisers compare and contrast similar funds. Under the IA’s proposal, ETFs would be eligible to apply to be included within the existing sectors. Galina Dimitrova, Director of Investment and Capital Markets at the IA, said, “The primary purpose of the IA sectors is to serve the needs of consumers and their advisers and the addition of ETFs must be done in their best interests.”

More players – including asset management arms of large banks, active managers, niche boutiques and start-ups – are expected to enter the ETF market over the next two years, according to EY’s latest annual ETF survey. China is also identified as a huge opportunity. Lisa Kealy, EY EMEIA Wealth & Asset Management ETF Leader, said: ‘’The fundamentals are stacked in favour of the sector.’’

ETFs in Asia are showing strong growth potential, with assets under management rising in key markets over the last few years, according to global research and consulting firm Cerulli Associates. Almost all markets in Asia Pacific saw growth in their ETF AUM in the first half of 2018 over 2017, and the growth rate of ETF AUM has outpaced that of mutual funds.

New York-based ETF provider Global X has announced the launch of the Global X E-commerce ETF (EBIZ US), providing exposure to companies globally that are active in E-commerce. The fund is linked to the Solactive E-commerce Index and has been listed on Nasdaq. Jay Jacobs, Senior Vice President & Head of Research and Strategy at Global X Funds, said, “While e-commerce may seem pervasive, we believe we are still in just the early innings of experiencing its disruptive potential.”

Salt Financial has unveiled the Salt Low truBeta US Market Index. The index tracks the performance of US stocks that display lower volatility relative to the broader US equities universe based on Salt’s proprietary measure of beta – truBeta. “For the first time, investors are given the ability to customize their beta exposure with what we believe is a more responsive and accurate market risk measurement,” said Tony Barchetto, Founder and CIO at Salt Financial.

Purpose Investments has launched two new ETF share classes on Toronto Stock Exchange for the Purpose Premium Yield Fund, an actively managed fund that pursues various options strategies within the North American equities universe. “The Purpose Premium Yield Fund is a powerful income-generating tool to help investors build resilient portfolios,” said Som Seif, CEO of Purpose Investments. “Providing more ways for investors to access the fund is just another example of the enhancements we’re doing at Purpose to make innovative investment strategies more widely available.”

Global ETF lendable assets have increased by $58 billion in 2018 compared with 2017’s average, according to research by IHS Markit. The report’s author, Sam Pierson, Director of Securities Finance at IHS Markit, notes that the growth in ETF lendable assets reflects the growing use of ETFs by institutional investors who are increasingly being drawn to the investment vehicle due to operational ease of use.

Asset managers will be permitted to launch a wider range of ETF products in Malaysia under new rules being brought in by the country’s securities regulator.