Morningstar, an investment research firm, has published the latest instalment of its ETF managed portfolios landscape report. The report, which covers the third quarter of 2015, tracks 737 strategies from 148 firms, representing a total of over $75bn in assets and finds that global all-asset strategies have consistently been the most popular choice for investors. While assets declined 6% over the third quarter, largely owing to the removal of scandal hit F-Squared Investments from the database, net inflows of an estimated $0.5bn were recorded.

Source, a European provider of exchange-traded funds, has released a research report examining the expected trends in asset classes and regional growth rates during 2016. The paper also uses scenario analysis to determine the impact that significant events would have on asset prices. The findings highlight the best portfolio mix to take advantage of the ‘most likely’ scenario, but also point to a range of potential portfolios based on ‘worst-case’ and ‘best-case’ scenarios. Investors may tailor their exposure depending on individual risk tolerance.

FlexShares, the exchange-traded fund arm of Northern Trust, has unveiled their latest fund offering, the FlexShares Real Asset Allocation Index Fund (Nasdaq: ASET). The ETF invests in three FlexShares ETFs that together provide exposure to equities focused on real assets: infrastructure, real estate and natural resources. Real assets have historically provided investors with an inflation hedge while also supplying a regular income stream especially through exposure to real estate investment trusts.

SmartShares, the exchange-traded fund division of New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX), has launched four new ETFs, covering a range of local and global bonds, cash equivalents, and New Zealand real estate. Aaron Jenkins, NZX Head of Funds Management, commented: “Today’s listings mark another key milestone in the expansion of Smartshares’ portfolio of ETFs, and signals our continued commitment to developing a vibrant ETF market in New Zealand that provides investors with a range of diverse, low-cost and easily accessible investment options.”

WisdomTree, a leading provider of currency-hedged exchange-traded funds, has listed a new ETF with BATS Global Markets, a leading US exchange for the trading of ETFs. The launch is the fifth WisdomTree fund to be listed on the BATS exchange since the two officially began their partnership on 29 October 2015. The fund offers currency-hedged exposure to a global range of income-generating small-capitalisation stocks, while applying a weighting scheme to favour those firms with higher dividend streams, the US dollar cash value of annual dividends relative to the selected index.

First Trust Advisors, a leading provider of exchange-traded funds, has launched an actively managed ETF which aims to provide investors with targeted exposure to US and international real estate securities. The First Trust Heitman Global Prime Real Estate ETF will invest in the shares of publicly-traded companies that own top tier, prime properties in the world’s dominant cities. “This ETF provides a unique tool for investors to gain exposure to an actively managed portfolio of some of the most attractive prime real estate assets around the world, in a way that’s both diversified and liquid,” said Ryan Issakainen, CFA, Senior Vice President, Exchange-Traded Fund Strategist at First Trust.

iShares, the exchange-traded fund division of asset manager BlackRock, has launched the iShares International Aggregate Bond ETF (IAGG) on the BATS ETF Marketplace. The new offering tracks the performance of the Barclays Global Aggregate ex USD 10% Issuer Capped (Hedged) Index. The fund provides low cost, efficient access to a broadly diversified range of international investment grade bonds while reducing the effects of currency volatility on returns by entering into hedging strategies.

WisdomTree, a leading global exchange-traded fund provider, has unveiled the WisdomTree Global SmallCap Dividend Fund (BATS: GSD). The fund tracks the performance of small-capitalisation, dividend-paying firms across developed and emerging markets. Jeremy Schwartz, WisdomTree Director of Research, commented: “Small-caps are a compelling asset class because they are typically the most sensitive to incremental changes in economic growth expectations. Many small-cap companies have proven business models with relatively stable earnings, and have the ability to pay out dividends to shareholders and grow them over time.”

Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), the asset management arm of the global investment bank, has added to their growing lineup of smart beta ETFs with the launch of the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta International Equity ETF (GSIE). The fund employs a multi-factor smart beta approach that weights international equity holdings based on established drivers of performance, namely: value, momentum, quality and low volatility. “The Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta International Equity ETF leverages our broad global expertise to deliver access to slices of international markets in a sophisticated and cost-effective way,” said Michael Crinieri, GSAM’s Global Head of ETF Strategies.

AlphaClone, the investment advisor behind the innovative AlphaClone Alternative Alpha ETF (ALFA), has launched an ETF tracking their latest equity index of “best ideas” cherry-picked from the portfolios of established hedge fund managers. “Following a similar methodology used inside separately managed accounts since 2010, we’re excited to offer an international ETF to help long-term investors navigate international opportunities,” said Maz Jadallah, CEO of AlphaClone. “Our approach seeks to combine the best of man and machine by leveraging the most established investors while offering a rules-based investment methodology.”