Smart beta ETF provider Ossiam has announced that its Ossiam Shiller Barclays CAPE US Sector Value TR UCITS ETF has attracted more than $400m since its launch in June last year. The ETF, which tracks the Ossiam Shiller Barclays CAPE US Sector Value TR Index, has returned 5.73% since it launched, which compares with the 0.44% delivered by the S&P 500 Net TR Index over the same period. The ETF’s underlying index is part of the CAPE indices, which was developed between Barclays and Prof. Robert Shiller. He said: “I am pleased to mark the first anniversary of the Ossiam Shiller Barclays CAPE US fund.”

US-based asset manager RiverFront Investment Group has launched the RiverShares series of asset allocation model portfolios, consisting solely of actively managed exchange-traded funds sub-advised by RiverFront. The firm has partnered with First Trust Portfolios and ALPS to offer the ETFs, which can be purchased as individual products or used within a RiverShares model. Michael Jones, RiverFront’s chairman and chief investment officer, commented: “We are very excited to bring to the marketplace an innovative new set of asset allocation solutions. These portfolios are designed to meet the needs of investors seeking active management of their ETF portfolios, but in a platform that makes greater use of the inherent tax advantages of the ETF structure.

US-based exchange-traded fund provider Guggenheim Investments has launched the Guggenheim S&P 100 Equal Weight ETF (NYSE Arca: OEW), the first smart beta ETF to provide investors with equal-weight access to the S&P 100 Index, which is made up of 100 of the largest and most stable companies from the S&P 500. “OEW offers strategic beta exposure to large, blue-chip stocks across multiple industry groups and could serve as a core holding in a diversified portfolio,” said William Belden, Managing Director and Head of ETF Business Development for Guggenheim Investments. “OEW’s portfolio constituents typically are household names with strong brand recognition and global operations.”

Exchange-traded fund provider State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) has listed the SPDR S&P Technology Hardware ETF (XTH) and the SPDR S&P Internet ETF (XWEB) on NYSE Arca. The two new US equity ETFs are offered on the back of investor demand for refined exposures to the sub-industries of the technology and consumer discretionary sectors.The funds are part of SSGA’s suite of modified equal-weighted S&P Industry ETFs, which now includes 20 funds and more than $13bn in assets under management. The ETFs have net expense ratios of 0.35%.

The last four months have seen strong asset growth in European-based ETFs, but the majority of investor assets are still highly concentrated in just a handful of funds, according to new data. Total European ETF assets hit €454.6bn at the end of May across 2,000 exchange-traded instruments, but according to data from Thomson Reuters Lipper, the 10 largest ETFs in Europe account for just over 17% (€77.8bn) of the total market. Only 96 of the 2,118 exchange-traded instruments contain more than €1bn in assets. The largest funds are all in mainstream equity markets, bar one.

Abu Dhabi-based asset manager Afkar Capital has launched the first UCITS-compliant exchange-traded fund to list in the Middle East. The Afkar S&P UAE UCITS ETF (UAETF) will list on local stock exchange Dubai Financial Market on Wednesday. The fund tracks the S&P UAE BMI Liquid 20/35 Capped Index, a reference for the largest stocks by market capitalization in the UAE. His Excellency Essa Kazim, Chairman of Dubai Financial Market, said in a statement: “Dubai Financial Market is delighted to welcome this significant step from Afkar Capital, in line with our strategy to provide investors with innovative and diversified investment products.

Investors have historically had to choose between passive or active management, but in recent years they have been offered a combination of the two, or – blending – as it is often referred to, an approach that has seen good results. One such firm offering this ‘blended’ service is discretionary investment management firm JM Finn. It offers a core satellite managed portfolio service (MPS), which has been running for five years and has £150m in AUM. The service uses ETFs, index funds and active funds for varying reasons and the team building and managing these is headed up by Mike Mount, Director of Intermediary Solutions.

Newly formed exchange-traded fund issuer Strategy Shares, previously branded Huntington Strategy Shares (of US-based Huntington Bank), has launched its first two ETFs on the NYSE. The actively managed funds offer exposure to global environmentally-focused firms, and US-listed firms with a segment rotation overlay. Jerry Szilagyi, CEO of Strategy Shares, commented in a statement: “As we expand our portfolio of fund offerings, our focus will remain rooted in the brand’s core mission: to offer investors unique, alternative strategies that rely on the expertise of top-performing investment teams.”

Canadian investment fund manager BMO Asset Management has cut its fees on five ETFs providing access to the broad Canadian fixed income market, regular and currency hedged exposures to the S&P 500, and investment in the short-term Canadian corporate bond market. The reduction in fees of two ETFs, the BMO Aggregate Bond Index ETF and BMO Discount Bond Index ETF, from 0.20% to 0.09% has earned BMO the title of the lowest-cost provider of fixed income ETFs in Canada.The lower fees will come into effect as of 22 June 2016.

Exchange-traded product provider Boost ETP, a WisdomTree Europe company, has listed three new ETPs on the London Stock Exchange. The three funds offer investors leveraged exposure to the VIX Index, as well as leveraged and short exposure to emerging market equity. Viktor Nossek, Director of Research at WisdomTree Europe, said: “This years’ volatility underpinned by China’s slowdown and slumping commodities has soured sentiment in risk assets, forcing global growth expectations down and creating opportunities to position bearishly in equities…These new products provide investors with a new set of momentum and hedging opportunities within the Boost S&L ETP range.”