Japanese asset manager Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai AM has launched the MAXIS TOPIX Ex-Financials ETF (2523 JP) on Tokyo Stock Exchange, providing broad exposure to Japanese equities excluding those operating in the financials sector.
ETFs in Asia are showing strong growth potential, with assets under management rising in key markets over the last few years, according to global research and consulting firm Cerulli Associates. Almost all markets in Asia Pacific saw growth in their ETF AUM in the first half of 2018 over 2017, and the growth rate of ETF AUM has outpaced that of mutual funds.
BlackRock Japan has launched the iShares Automation & Robotics ETF (2522 JP) on Tokyo Stock Exchange. The fund provides exposure to a globally diversified portfolio of companies developing technologies in more than 40 robotics and automation fields including manufacturing robotics, automatic driving vehicles, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence.
ETPs collected $31.0 billion in net inflows globally during October, bolstered by robust demand for Japan equity ETPs which gathered $12.8bn, according to BlackRock’s latest ETP Landscape report.
Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) has unveiled a range of core low-cost equity ETFs on the London Stock Exchange. The ETFs include Global, US, Europe, UK, Japan and Asia Pacific exposures and are linked to indices designed to mitigate the risks of crowded indices while also incorporating a responsible investment screen. Simon Hynes, Head of Retail Distribution, EMEA, at LGIM, said: “We believe our core range will be of interest to our clients due to the low cost and additional value they deliver compared to what’s currently available in the market.”
By Christopher Gannatti, Associate Director of Research, WisdomTree.
As we have discussed many times at WisdomTree, small companies—and especially small companies that pay dividends—may offer investors some rather large opportunities. And these opportunities can be quite global.
Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) has unveiled details of a new index – the Topix Small500 Index – that will go live on 9 October 2018. The index will tracks exposure to the small-cap segment of Japan’s Topix Index.
WisdomTree has cross-listed two ETFs onto Borsa Italiana. The new additions provide smart beta exposure to US equities selected using a multifactor methodology and to dividend-paying small-cap stocks listed in Japan. The funds both launched on London Stock Exchange last month.
WisdomTree Canada has launched a pair of Asia-focused ETFs on Toronto Stock Exchange. The first provides exposure to dividend-paying equities listed in Japan. The second provides access to the broad Chinese equities.
The Bank of Japan has announced changes to its ETF buying programme following concerns that the purchases were having an outsized effect on some stock prices. Whilst the central bank remains committed to buying ¥5.7 trillion ($51 billion) worth of domestically listed Japanese equity ETFs annually, it has re-weighted the allocations to each tranche of ETF purchases and introduced a degree of flexibility.