Euronext has launched the Euronext Family Business Index, tracking the performance of 90 family-run companies listed across the four Euronext exchanges – Amsterdam, Paris, Lisbon and Brussels. The index has been designed to serve as the underlying reference for future investment products including ETFs.

Solactive has introduced the Solactive Green Bond EUR USD IG Index, a first-of-its-kind reference for the performance of investment grade green bonds denominated in euros or US dollars. The index harnesses the global green bonds data capabilities of Climate Bonds Initiative, an investor-focused not-for-profit working to mobilize bond markets for climate change solutions. Leading European asset manager and ETF issuer Lyxor Asset Management has licensed the index for the creation of future investment products.

Solactive has launched the Solactive US Preferred Share Select Indices, tracking the performance of higher dividend paying US-listed preferred shares, with an alternative version offering currency-hedging relative to the Canadian dollar. The dividend-weighted indices have been licensed to BMO Asset Management to act as underlying references for newly-launched ETFs. Henning Kahre, Head of Research, Solactive AG, commented: “Products linked to these indices allow investors to gain diversified and cost-efficient exposure to high-rated US preferred shares with an above average distribution yield.”

BMO Asset Management has rolled out three ETFs on Toronto Stock Exchange, providing investors with new income solutions for defensive equity plays on the Canadian and US markets. The strategies include enacting a covered call strategy on Canadian high dividend equities, writing put options on US large cap equities, and investing in the US preferred share market.

Solactive AG has launched the Solactive SuperRegion Select Index, a new smart beta reference for high dividend firms with low price volatility listed in Asia, Europe and the US. The strategy selects 25 high yielding firms with low volatility from each region and weights them by inverse volatility, while assigning a 50% weighting to the region with the highest near-term historical performance. Astrid Ludwig, Head of Indexing, Solactive AG, commented: “The [index] can provide investors with the possibility of taking advantage of potential regional momentum, while seeking to avoid geographical concentration.”

Solactive has launched the Solactive Swiss Family Owned Companies Index, tracking the performance of publicly-traded family-owned companies that are domiciled and listed in Switzerland. Family-owned businesses may outperform non-family ones over the long-term as strategic decisions tend to be influenced by longer-term goals, incentivized by the desire of handing control to future generations. The index may serve as the underlying for future investment products including ETFs.

Solactive has released two new fixed-income benchmarks designed to track the performance of the global US dollar- and euro-denominated high yield bond markets. The Solactive USD High Yield Corporate Index and the Solactive Euro HY Corporate Index may serve as reference standards to compare and evaluate portfolio results, a starting universe on which to build investment strategies or smart-beta indices, or as a basis for investment products such as ETFs.

Solactive has unveiled the Solactive Power Factor High Dividend Index, tracking the performance of 50 US-listed stocks exhibiting high dividend yields and strong fundamentals. The index has been licensed to WBI Investments as the underlying for the recently launched ‘smart beta’ WBI Power Factor High Dividend ETF (NYSE: WBIY). Don Schreiber, Jr., Founder and CEO of WBI Investments, commented: “We’re introducing a smarter approach for yield starved investors at a time when the need for consistent capital growth and capital preservation is absolutely critical.”

Deutsche Asset Management has launched the Deutsche X-trackers USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE: HYLB). At a total expense ratio of just 0.25%, the fund is the cheapest high-yield ETF in the US market. Fiona Bassett, Head of Passive in the Americas for Deutsche Asset Management, commented: “For investors seeking pure high-yield beta exposure as part of their diversification strategy in their overall asset allocation, they can now do so in a fast and cost-effective way.”

Solactive has launched the Solactive Sustainable Development Goals World Index – a reference for the performance of 50 global companies identified as making a significant contribution to the advancement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adopted by UN member countries in September 2015, the SDGs seek to guide international cooperation on issues such as water sanitation, poverty, climate change and gender equality. The index has been designed to serve as the underlying for future investment products such as ETFs.