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.

Invesco has launched two new ETFs, the PowerShares S&P 500 Value with Momentum Portfolio (Bats: SPVM) and the PowerShares S&P SmallCap Quality Portfolio (Bats: XSHQ), offering exposure to US large-cap value stocks with strong momentum and US small-cap stocks with quality characteristics.

Charles Schwab has launched an online wealth management service that combines automated investment planning technology with access to human advisors. Schwab Intelligent Advisory provides clients with a financial and investment plan comprised of a portfolio built exclusively with exchange-traded funds and managed by computer algorithms, as well as unlimited access to a human advisor via phone or video call.

Invesco PowerShares has announced an upcoming adjustment to the name, underlying index, investment objective and strategy for one of its US municipal bond ETFs – the PowerShares Build America Bond Portfolio. The changes will take effect from 31 May 2017.

Exchange-traded fund provider Invesco Powershares has launched two new smart beta ETFs on the NEO Exchange in Canada – the Powershares S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility Index ETF (UHD) and the Powershares S&P Global ex. Canada High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (GHD). The funds aim to give Canadian investors a source of income as well as stable growth potential by selecting high dividend, low volatility equities.

In a report on listed private equity (LPE), Rob Murphy, Global Head of Financials & Investment Trusts at Edison Investment Research notes that the asset class displays a similar risk-reward profile to major equity indices, US real estate investment trusts as well as other equity classes over the longer term. LPE may still be an attractive investment proposition with the report noting the asset class is trading at a 14% discount to NAV. Investors may gain access to LPE exposures through several ETFs, such as those from iShares, PowerShares or Lyxor.

London-based ETF research and consultancy firm, ETFGI, has reported that smart beta equity ETFs/ETPs assets have experienced a 5-year compound annual growth rate of 30.6%, according to data up to the end of January 2017. The data also reveals that assets invested in smart beta equity ETFs/ETPs listed globally reached a new record high of $534 billion at the end of January 2017.

PowerShares has launched four actively managed multi-asset ETFs, providing exposure to globally-diversified portfolios of equities and bonds with each fund catering to a different risk tolerance profile – from conservative to growth-oriented investors. Jason Bloom, Global Market Strategist at PowerShares, said: “Given the increasingly complex markets and varying risk profiles of our clients, we’re excited to bring Invesco’s broad range of capabilities together in simplified, single ticket solutions.”

Infrastructure Capital Advisors has licensed the recently launched Indxx REIT Preferred Stock Index to underlie the new InfraCap REIT Preferred ETF (NYSE: PFFR). The ETF provides exposure to high yielding, liquid preferred securities issued by real estate investment trusts (REITs) listed in the US, including a diversified combination of mortgage, office, hotel, healthcare, and retail REITs.

Invesco Canada is lining up a series of ETF launches on Aequitas NEO Exchange, having received approval from regulators to list two new series of its PowerShares DWA Global Momentum Index ETF (DWG). The new series will provide investors with the ability to purchase DWG in US dollars (DWG.U) or in a Canadian-dollar-hedged version (DWG.F), and both are expected to begin trading in the coming weeks.