Exchange traded fund provider ProShares has launched the ProShares Managed Futures Strategy ETF (BATS: FUT) to replace the ProShares Managed Futures Strategy (FUTS) in a bid to generate greater investor appeal by providing active management and a more efficient tax-structure. Managed futures strategies attempt to identify price trends in the futures markets, and can establish either long or short positions across asset classes such as commodities, currencies and fixed income to capture enhanced returns. FUT uses a risk-weighting methodology, applied at each monthly rebalancing period, which involves optimising the portfolio to ensure each commodity, currency, and fixed income position contributes an equal amount of estimated risk.

BATS Global Markets, an electronic stock exchange group, welcomed a further 11 exchange-traded funds to its US ETF trading venue, BATS ETF Marketplace, in January. The figure represents 85% of all US ETF listings that occurred during the month. BATS was the number one operator for US ETF trading for every month of 2015, a record it has continued into 2016 by executing 26.9% of all US ETF trading in January. The group currently has 67 ETFs, from eight providers, listed on its US exchanges and 11 ETFs, from three issuers, listed in Europe.

US-based exchange traded fund provider ProShares has launched the ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers ETF (BATS: EMDV) further expanding its suite of funds targeting companies with long-term records of consistent dividend increases. The strategy targets sustained dividend growth, which enhances income potential but also indicates financial strength meaning it can avoid lower quality firms. As a long-term strategy there is academic support for dividend investing. According to independent research firm Ned Davis Research, both US and international companies that grew their dividends year-on-year outperformed companies that did not between 1996 and 2015.

iShares, the exchange-traded fund division of the world’s largest asset manager BlackRock, has become the second ETF issuer since November to announce the de-listing of a fund from NYSE Arca and transfer to the BATS ETF Marketplace. The iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU) will be re-listed with BATS Global Markets, the Kansas-headquartered exchange, on or around 2 February 2016. The move comes swiftly after ProShares, a provider of specialist ETFs, withdrew four funds during December 2015 from the New York exchange in favour of the incentives offered through the BATS trading model.

ProShares, a US-based provider of exchange-traded funds, has announced that the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) has surpassed $1bn in assets under management. The milestone was reached just over two years since the fund’s inception in October 2013. The fund tracks the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, an equal-weighted index of companies within the S&P 500 that have increased their dividends every year for at least 25 consecutive years. “Investors are attracted to NOBL because the Dividend Aristocrats are quality companies with long-term return potential,” said Michael L. Sapir, co-founder and CEO of ProShares. “Indeed, since its inception, NOBL’s index has outperformed the S&P 500 with lower volatility.”

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed a new rule that would limit the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, including exchange-traded funds. If it were to come into force, the proposed rule could have a significant impact on US-listed leveraged long and short ETFs, potentially forcing providers such as Direxion and ProShares to change the legal structure or leverage factor of affected products, or even close them down.

BATS Global Markets (BATS), a leading US-based exchange, has welcomed the listing of the MomentumShares US Quantitative Momentum ETF (QMOM), drawing attention to the attractiveness of their exchange as a destination for the listing of ETFs. BATS ranks as the top exchange operator for ETF trading in the US with the BATS Exchanges executing 26.5% of all ETF trading in November. The growing popularity of ETFs as the product wrapper of choice for investors coupled with the firm’s efforts to encourage ETF trading on their platform have been a key driver of this success.

BATS Global Markets, a leading electronic stock exchange group, has announced that ProShares, a US-based provider of specialist exchange-traded funds, will be transferring four of their NYSE Arca-listed ETFs to their exchange. The relocation, which sees the number of ProShares ETFs listed on the BATS ETF Marketplace increase to 11, is indicative of the growing presence of BATS as a listing destination for ETFs in the US.

ProShares, a US-based provider of specialist exchange-traded funds, has launched a suite of four S&P 500 Ex-Sector ETFs. The ETFs each provide exposure to the S&P 500 minus a particular sector – either energy, financials, technology or health care. “S&P 500 ETFs force you to invest in a sector you might already have a desired level of exposure to or you may want to avoid,” said Michael L. Sapir, co-founder and CEO of ProShares. “Now, for the first time, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF and leave behind the sector [energy, financials, technology or health care] you don’t want.”

ProShares, a US-based provider of exchange-traded funds, has launched the ProShares MSCI Europe Dividend Growers ETF (EUDV), a smart beta fund targeting European companies that have a history of consistently growing dividends. The fund has been listed on the NYSE Arca. “Dividend growth has historically been an indicator of a company’s financial strength and return potential,” said Michael L. Sapir, co-founder and CEO of ProShare Advisors. “We are pleased to add a Europe-focused fund to our suite of dividend growers ETFs.”