S&P Dow Jones and Deutsche Bank have unveiled the S&P-DB ORBIT Index, a co-branded index designed to measure the performance of the fast-growing offshore renminbi-denominated fixed income market. The offshore RMB, or so-called ‘dim sum’, bond market continues to grow as investors look for exposure to both the yuan and debt markets in China.

BlackRock has announced the launch of the iShares MSCI Frontier 100 Index ETF (FM), the first exchange-traded fund (ETF) benchmarked to the MSCI Frontier Markets 100 Index. The fund provides exposure to 20 frontier market securities that are specifically screened for liquidity. Representing 30% of the global population, frontier markets are forecast to be among the world’s fastest growing economies, driven by an expanding consumer class and a rich supply of natural resources.

Global X Funds, a New York-based provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), has launched the Global X Junior Miners ETF (JUNR), the first ETF to provide access to junior mining companies across multiple resource sectors globally.

Deutsche Bank has announced the launch of the DB Core US CPI Index (Bloomberg ticker: DBLNCPI, Reuters RIC: DBLNCPI), the first tradable index that tracks core inflation. The DB Core US CPI Index, tradable on an over-the-counter basis, is designed to track the Core Consumer Price Index (CPI).

First Trust Advisors, a US-based investment manager, has announced the launch of the First Trust CBOE S&P 500 VIX Tail Hedge ETF (VIXH), an S&P 500-tracking exchange-traded fund (ETF) with an inbuilt insurance mechanism to help protect against extreme market swings. The NYSE-listed fund employs a tail-hedging strategy which utilises call options on the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) in an attempt to offset some of the potential losses associated with extreme unexpected events, so-called “black swans”.

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index showed that US home prices gained in the second quarter, and for the fifth straight month. David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the S&P Dow Jones Index Committee, said: “We seem to be witnessing exactly what we needed for a sustained recovery: monthly increases coupled with improving annual rates of change.” This represents yet more good news for US homebuilder ETFs, which have already enjoyed outstanding performance so far this year.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to the US homebuilding industry have been boomed this year, as US house prices and home sales have rebounded. Leading the pack has been the highly targeted iShares Dow Jones US Home Construction Index ETF (ITB), which has rallied over 51% year to date. Meanwhile the SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB), the largest homebuilder ETF by assets, has gained 37%. Recent data suggest the strong performance of ETFs such as these will continue.

PowerShares Canada has announced the launch of the PowerShares Tactical Bond ETF (PTB), an actively managed fixed income ETF that seeks to provide both income and capital growth. Strategically diversified across fixed income asset classes, the fund will invest primarily in a mix of Canadian government, investment-grade corporate and real return bonds, and US high-yield bonds.

Contrary to what you might expect, internet and social media exchange-traded funds (ETFs), such the PowerShares Nasdaq Internet Portfolio ETF (PNQI), the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index ETF (FDN) and the Global X Social Media ETF (SOCL), have held up relatively well this year despite the slump in well-known names such as Facebook, Groupon, Zynga and Angie’s List.

S&P Dow Jones Indices has announced the launch of the S&P Europe 350 Low Volatility Index, which is designed to measure the performance of the least volatile stocks within the S&P Europe 350, an equity index drawn from 17 major European markets, covering approximately 70% of the region’s market capitalisation. The launch of the S&P Europe 350 Low Volatility index comes after interest from exchange-traded fund (ETF) providers and follows similar low volatility launches of indices covering emerging markets and developed countries ex-US.