AGF Investments has launched two liquid alternative ETFs on Toronto Stock Exchange: the AGFiQ US Market Neutral Anti-Beta CAD-Hedged ETF (QBTL CN) and the AGFiQ US Long/Short Dividend Income CAD-Hedged ETF (QUDV CN). The funds provide exposure to market-neutral and long/short strategies focused on capturing beta and income spreads present in the US equity market. Florence Narine, Senior Vice-President and Head of Product at AGF Investments, commented, “We believe alternative investments are fundamental building blocks for well-constructed portfolios, helping investors diversify their sources of risk and returns”.

IndexIQ, in partnership with Nasdaq Dorsey Wright, has launched the IQ Alternative Allocation Model. The model provides advisors with an absolute return strategy built around IndexIQ’s suite of liquid alternative ETFs and powered by Nasdaq Dorsey Wright’s relative-strength expertise. Jon Zimmerman, Chief Operating Officer at IndexIQ, commented, “We are delighted to partner with Nasdaq Dorsey Wright to leverage their unparalleled methodology alongside our established expertise in liquid alternative ETFs to offer advisors and their clients lower-cost, innovative hedge fund strategies in a unique investment model.”

Picton Mahoney Asset Management has listed four actively managed ETFs on Toronto Stock Exchange, providing exposure to a range of alternative investment strategies. The listings include a brand new fund as well as ETF share classes for three existing Picton Mahnoey ‘Fortified Alternative’ mutual funds. David Picton, President & Portfolio Manager at Picton Mahoney, said, “It’s a perfect time to bolster our family of Fortified Alternative solutions with the benefits of new ETF classes and add a total return income alternative strategy to the line-up.”

By Salvatore J. Bruno, Chief Investment Officer, and Mark Lacuesta, Director of Index Strategies, IndexIQ.

Given that merger arbitrage deals are the core component of a merger arbitrage strategy, what happens when merger & acquisition deal volume declines?

Alternative investments are playing an increasingly important role within investors’ portfolios, according to research by BlackRock, the asset manager behind the iShares brand of ETFs.

Accelerate Financial Technologies is planning its entrance into the Canadian ETF market with a suite of three actively managed alternative strategy funds which are due to be rolled out on Toronto Stock Exchange next week. Julian Klymochko, Founder and CEO of Accelerate, commented, “Accelerate’s Funds are the first of their kind – institutional-quality long-short equity hedge funds that trade as ETFs. We’re leveling the playing field by offering performance-oriented alternative strategies which had previously been reserved for institutions and the wealthy.”

New York-based IndexIQ has announced that the IQ Merger Arbitrage ETF (MNA US), which provides returns similar to merger arbitrage hedge funds, has surpassed $1 billion in assets under management. Jon Zimmerman, Chief Operating Officer of IndexIQ, commented, “IndexIQ was founded with the belief that investment management needed to be democratized, allowing investors and advisors of all types to access institutional-quality strategies.”

RYZZ Capital Management has launched its debut ETF, the actively managed RYZZ Managed Futures Strategy Plus ETF (RYZZ US) on NYSE Arca. According to Jason Gerlach, Managing Partner of RYZZ Capital Management, the fund aims to provide an absolute return in all market conditions by combining a core equity portfolio with a managed futures strategy consisting of equity index and VIX futures.

Desjardins Global Asset Management has launched the Desjardins Alt Long/Short Equity Market Neutral ETF (DANC CN) on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The actively managed hedge-fund-style ETF provides market-neutral exposure to a portfolio of Canadian stocks.

JP Morgan Asset Management has introduced GBP and EUR currency-hedged share classes for its long-short and managed futures ETFs. Bryon Lake, International Head of ETFs at JPMAM, said, “Currency hedging can help investors mitigate the impact of foreign exchange movements on their investment returns. Having access to home currencies, via these currency-hedged share classes, should help clients meet both their operational and/or legal requirements.”