Invesco has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire European ETF issuer Source. The transaction will add Source’s $25 billion in assets under management to Invesco’s existing global ETF AUM of approximately $120 billion. “We’re excited about this opportunity to build on Invesco’s 40 years of factor investing experience and our existing PowerShares ETF business, which will significantly enhance our ability to deliver meaningful solutions to institutional and retail clients in Europe and around the world,” said Martin L. Flanagan, president and CEO of Invesco.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) has unveiled an exchange-traded fund which tracks the 50 US equities that are most recurring in the top 10 positions across a wide range of US-based hedge funds. The ETF thereby provides investors with a cost efficient means of accessing the highest-conviction ideas of some of the best managers in the hedge fund industry. Michael Crinieri, Head of ETF Strategies at GSAM, commented: “We’re thrilled to be able to package these high conviction investment ideas from a broad array of professional investors into a cost effective, tax-efficient and convenient ETF wrapper.”

Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) has launched its first fixed income exchange-traded fund, the Goldman Sachs TreasuryAccess 0-1 Year ETF (NYSE Arca: GBIL), providing exposure to the short-term US Treasury market. Michael Crinieri, GSAM’s Global Head of ETF Strategies, commented: “The bond trading environment has become more complicated. We wanted our first fixed-income ETF to provide investors a low cost way to obtain the credit quality and income they look for in the Treasury markets, but with greater transparency and ease of use.”

“The expansion of our ActiveBeta suite of ETFs demonstrates our commitment to providing ETF investors with true diversification through multi-factor solutions across the globe,” added Gary Chropuvka, Head of Customized Beta Strategies within the Quantitative Investment Strategies team. “As investors continue to demand a shift away from traditional exposures, we continue to look for opportunities abroad.”

Californian asset manager Franklin Templeton Investments has filed papers with regulators signifying its intention to launch four equity exchange-traded funds with smart beta investment themes. Details within the filings indicate that the new funds, which will be part of the firm’s ‘LibertyQ’ range, will track rules-based indices calculated by MSCI.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), the asset management arm of the global investment bank, has plans to add to their growing lineup of smart beta exchange-traded funds with the launch of a new environmental and social responsibility-based ETF, according to a filing made with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The Goldman Sachs S&P 500 Environmental & Socially Responsible ETF is expected to track an index of companies meeting environmental and socially responsible investing criteria while maintaining a risk and performance profile similar to the underlying reference, the S&P 500 Index.

Julia Kochetygova, Head of Sustainability Indices at S&P Dow Jones Indices, a leading index provider to the exchange-traded fund industry, has compiled a note reflecting on the growing prominence of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) investment themes during 2015. Over the course of the year, the ETF industry has kept up with the times as evidenced through increased launches of funds tailored towards the ESG conscious investor.

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.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), the asset management arm of US investment bank Goldman Sachs, has expanded their smart beta “ActiveBeta” exchange-traded fund range with the launch of an emerging markets ETF. “We see growth opportunities across various sectors in emerging markets, and the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETF is designed to capture returns from these pockets of growth,” said Michael Crinieri, GSAM’s Global Head of ETF Strategies.

Research from ETFGI, a leading London-based exchange-traded fund consultant, shows a record number of new product providers entering the US market in 2015. The trend highlights the effect that strong growth rates in recent years have had in attracting new entrants to the ETF industry. Between 1 January and 30 September, 19 new ETF/ETP providers launched products in the US, already surpassing the full year records of 15 new entrants recorded in 2009 and 2014.