By the Cross Asset and ETF Research Team at Lyxor Asset Management.

Question: if you want to invest sustainably, should you go with an active manager or an index fund? The answer depends on who you ask.

BlackRock has launched the iShares MSCI China UCITS ETF in Europe. The fund is linked to the MSCI China Index which provides broad exposure to multiple Chinese share classes including A shares, H shares, B shares, Red chips, P chips, and foreign listings.

By the Cross Asset and ETF Research Team at Lyxor Asset Management.

After the soggiest of summers so far, our thoughts are turning to the holidays and long, relaxing days by the pool. But before you go, remember to check the forecasts and ensure your investment portfolio also has the requisite protection in place. Like an unruly child, today’s markets and politics demand constant attention, however wearisome it may be. Here’s our guide to a successful and stress-free summer.

Invesco has launched a suite of low-cost ETFs in Europe that screen companies based on ESG characteristics within the global developed, US, and European equity markets. With expense ratios ranging between 0.12% and 0.19%, the Invesco MSCI World ESG Universal Screened UCITS ETF, Invesco MSCI USA ESG Universal Screened UCITS ETF, and Invesco MSCI Europe ESG Universal Screened UCITS ETF have been priced to compete with similar funds offered by rivals such as BlackRock, Lyxor, and UBS. Chris Mellor, Head of EMEA ETF Equity Product Management at Invesco, commented, “As ESG strategies become mainstream, many investors are now wanting to use them as core holdings for their portfolios. That places a greater emphasis on transparency, overall costs, and the volatility compared to other funds.”

FTSE Russell is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the FTSE MIB Index, the preeminent stock market index for the Borsa Italiana. The index, which consists of the 40 largest and most liquid stocks listed in Milan, is the most widely followed barometer of the health of the Italian equity market. It also serves as the underlying reference for eight ETFs, including the €400m Lyxor FTSE MIB UCITS ETF.

By the Cross Asset and ETF Research Team at Lyxor Asset Management.

The stock markets rose strongly over the first few months of the year, but they’ve been struggling in recent weeks due to a resurgence of the trade war between the US and China. Meanwhile, bond yields are still painfully low. One option for investors to navigate this tricky environment could be to allocate to a quality income equity strategy.

Lyxor has cross-listed the Lyxor Hwabao WP MSCI China A (DR) UCITS ETF onto Xetra. The fund provides physical exposure to China A-share companies – firms domiciled in China, and listed in renminbi on either the Shanghai or Shenzhen stock exchanges – via the MSCI China A Index.

BlackRock has slashed the fees on two of its largest fixed income ETFs providing exposure to UK government bonds, commonly known as gilts. The ongoing charges figure (OCF) for the iShares Core UK Gilts UCITS ETF (IGLT LN) has been reduced to 0.07% from 0.20%, while the iShares GBP Index-Linked Gilts UCITS ETF (INXG LN) has been trimmed to 0.10% from 0.25%.

In a further bid to shake up the indexing space, Morningstar has introduced a comprehensive suite of fixed income indices that track the performance of all major global bond market asset classes. The indices, which have been designed for use as performance benchmarks or as bases for investable index products such as ETFs, cover Treasury, inflation-protected, government-related, corporate, securitized/covered, mortgage-backed, and asset-backed exposures. “We have constructed a comprehensive global family of bond indexes that represent discrete asset class exposures, without any gaps or overlap,” said Sanjay Arya, Head of Indexes at Morningstar.

By Lyxor Asset Management’s ETF research department.

Nothing seems to be making developed market bond yields rise at the moment, leaving investors with a serious headache – where can they find the income they need? One answer might be in emerging market bonds. Even though they’ve rallied with most other risky assets this year, there is reason to believe they could rise further from here.