WisdomTree has launched the WisdomTree US Multifactor UCITS ETF on London Stock Exchange. The smart beta fund tracks a proprietary in-house index that provides exposure to large and mid-cap US equities selected using a multifactor methodology. “For those clients who don’t believe that they can add value by timing factors and don’t want to risk being overweight in the wrong factor at the wrong time, this provides a potential solution,” said Christopher Gannatti, WisdomTree head of research in Europe.

Seven issuers were active on London Stock Exchange in June, listing seventeen new ETFs or ETF share classes, bringing the total number of new listings (including ETPs) to 188 year-to-date. Lida Eslami, Head of London ETP Business Development, London Stock Exchange, commented: “We continue to see growing demand for ETPs both in terms of issuance and volumes traded in the first half of the year.”

China Post Global has launched the Market Access Markit iBoxx EUR Contingent Convertible Liquid Developed Market AT1 Index UCITS ETF on LSE, Euronext Amsterdam and SIX Swiss Exchange. “This is an exciting new ETF for which we’re seeing considerable demand from institutional investors” said Danny Dolan, MD of China Post Global (UK).

Investors should not be complacent to Additional Tier 1 (AT1) risks. That’s the message from Scope Ratings, a Berlin-based credit rating agency. The cautionary advice comes just weeks after the world’s first ETFs specifically linked to AT1 capital – ‘CoCo’ bond funds WisdomTree and Invesco – made their debut on LSE and Xetra.

BlackRock has launched the iShares € Floating Rate Bond UCITS ETF (EFRN LN) on London Stock Exchange, providing exposure to short maturity, euro-denominated floating rate bonds from corporate issuers.

Twenty new ETFs or ETF share classes were listed on the London Stock Exchange in May, bringing the total number of new listings (including ETPs) to 171 year-to-date. New products were brought to market by six different issuers including Lyxor, DWS, BlackRock, WisdomTree, Vanguard, and Invesco.

Invesco has launched the Invesco AT1 Capital Bond UCITS ETF (AT1 LN) on London Stock Exchange, providing access to Additional Tier 1 contingent convertible (“CoCo”) bonds issued in USD by European banks. “European banking AT1 assets have become more attractive for investors who are comfortable moving up the risk curve in the search for higher yields,” said Nicolas Samaran, head of EMEA ETF innovative product development at Invesco.

VanEck has announced that it plans to close two VanEck Vectors ETFs. The funds, both of which are listed on the NYSE Arca, are the VanEck Vectors Spin-Off ETF (SPUN) and the VanEck Vectors EM Investment Grade+BB Rated USD Sovereign Bond ETF (IGEM).

Invesco has launched a new ETF – the Invesco MSCI Saudi Arabia UCITS ETF (MSAU LN) – on London Stock Exchange that provides exposure to companies listed in Saudi Arabia. It is the first ETF in Europe to offer investors targeted exposure to Saudi Arabian stocks and the domestic Saudi economy, which, according to Chris Mellor, head of EMEA ETF equity & commodity product management at Invesco, “is in the early stages of an exciting transformation.”

Invesco has launched three ETFs for investors wanting passive exposure to floating rate notes. Paul Syms, head of EMEA ETF fixed income product management at Invesco, said, “We expect these ETFs to appeal to investors who either think bond yields are going to rise or who just want to take a defensive stance on interest rates.”