Barclays has launched the Barclays Rates Factor Indices, a suite of indices designed to capture risk premia (including carry, value, and momentum factors), from interest rate markets.

Asset management titan Vanguard has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch six new actively managed smart beta ETFs providing exposure to US equities. The firm’s foray into the active ETF space will initially include momentum, liquidity, quality, value and low volatility single factor ETFs as well as a multi-factor fund.

US financial stocks have helped push the S&P 500 Index to fresh highs this week. ETFs tracking the sector, such as the iShares S&P 500 Financials Sector UCITS ETF (IUFS LN), are up approximately 4.8% this week as the S&P 500 put on 0.9% to hit a record close of 2627.04 on 28 November.

Invesco PowerShares has launched five European equity ETFs, each offering focused exposure to a single factor – value, quality, low beta, price momentum, and earnings momentum. Chris Mellor, equity product specialist at Invesco PowerShares, commented: “We expect these new ETFs to attract a variety of investors who want to pursue factors from either a tactical or a strategic perspective.”

The world’s largest 1,200 companies distributed a third-quarter record of $328.1 billion (£248bn) in dividends, according to research from Janus Henderson, putting a new full-year record for 2017 comfortably within reach. The dividend windfall is likely to enhance the appeal of equity income ETFs to yield-seeking investors.

Invesco has cross-listed the PowerShares Preferred Shares UCITS ETF (PRFD SW) on SIX Swiss Exchange. PRFD provides exposure to fixed rate US dollar denominated preferred securities issued in the US domestic market.

ETF flows have started to chase the fund fee cuts that have become a staple of the industry in recent months, according to new research released by FactSet. The report comes in the wake of numerous announcements in the last few months of fee reductions and new ultra-low-cost funds from major players, including Charles Schwab, State Street Global Advisors, Franklin Templeton, Deutsche Asset Management and Invesco PowerShares.

Satisfaction with smart beta products among users has hit a record 97%, up from 96% in 2016 and 91% in 2015, according to the results of the fourth annual European smart beta survey commissioned by ETF provider Invesco PowerShares.

WisdomTree has entered into a definitive agreement to buy the European exchange-traded product operations of London-based ETF Securities, comprising 307 ETPs, including commodity, currency, and short & leveraged exposures, with over $17.6 billion of AUM combined. Graham Tuckwell, founder and chairman of ETF Securities, commented: “I believe this combination creates a uniquely positioned firm which will flourish in the years ahead, continuing to deliver huge value for customers and stakeholders.”

BlackRock has launched the iShares US Dividend and Buyback ETF (DIVB US) on Cboe ETF Marketplace, providing access to US equities with a history of dividend payments, share buybacks or both. Martin Small, head of US iShares at BlackRock, commented: “We believe all investors should evaluate DIVB as a complement, or wholesale replacement, for the traditional high dividend or dividend growth allocation.”