By Ryan P. Blute, Head of Global Wealth Management, Europe, PIMCO.

PIMCO’s European global wealth management team recently surveyed financial intermediary clients across Europe. Drawing on the responses of 70 investors, including advisors, fund buyers and researchers, we can identify four themes as top-of-mind in 2018.

Net inflows into actively managed ETFs and ETPs listed globally amounted to $24.9 billion in 2017, up substantially on the $11.6bn recorded in 2016, according to ETF industry consultants ETFGI.

By Nicola Mai, portfolio manager, sovereign credit analyst at PIMCO.
While things look good over the cyclical horizon, investors shouldn’t be complacent about the long-term outlook, as the region is still far from resolving its existential challenges.

Ten new ETFs and 27 ETPs were listed on London Stock Exchange in December 2017, making it exchange’s busiest month of the year for new listings. On-exchange ETF/ETP trading, however, was down for the month and broadly flat for the year.

Deutsche Asset Management has expanded its range of US-listed ETFs with the launch of the Xtrackers Short Duration High Yield Bond ETF (SHYL US), targeting short-term, US dollar-denominated corporate debt with credit ratings below investment grade.

Tradeweb has reported net selling of ETFs across all asset classes on its European ETF marketplace during December.

Loomis, Sayles & Company, a US-based affiliate of French asset manager Natixis Investment Managers, has launched the Natixis Loomis Sayles Short Duration Income ETF (LSST US), providing actively managed short-duration bond exposure.

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.

The Bank of England (BoE) has announced a widely expected increase in the base rate from 0.25% to 0.50%, the first rise in over a decade, after the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 in favour of the hike. Market commentators from across the ETF industry share their interpretations of the rate rise.

Invesco PowerShares has unveiled a eurozone short-term high yield ETF to complement its existing $1.2 billion US-focused product. Launched in partnership with fixed income specialists PIMCO, the ETF is likely to appeal to investors who are seeking higher income than they can get from government or investment grade corporate bonds.