Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM), the asset management arm of the global investment bank, has added to their growing lineup of smart beta ETFs with the launch of the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta International Equity ETF (GSIE). The fund employs a multi-factor smart beta approach that weights international equity holdings based on established drivers of performance, namely: value, momentum, quality and low volatility. “The Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta International Equity ETF leverages our broad global expertise to deliver access to slices of international markets in a sophisticated and cost-effective way,” said Michael Crinieri, GSAM’s Global Head of ETF Strategies.

AlphaClone, the investment advisor behind the innovative AlphaClone Alternative Alpha ETF (ALFA), has launched an ETF tracking their latest equity index of “best ideas” cherry-picked from the portfolios of established hedge fund managers. “Following a similar methodology used inside separately managed accounts since 2010, we’re excited to offer an international ETF to help long-term investors navigate international opportunities,” said Maz Jadallah, CEO of AlphaClone. “Our approach seeks to combine the best of man and machine by leveraging the most established investors while offering a rules-based investment methodology.”

ETF Securities, a leading provider of commodity-based exchange-traded products, has released its latest weekly multi-asset research report highlighting trends in commodities markets. The following is a summary of the main moves over the week. A strengthening dollar weighed heavily on ETPs covering gold and energy markets while platinum- and palladium-based products were affected by industry specific events such as financial trouble of major suppliers as well as Volkswagen’s broadening emissions scandal.

Market Vectors, the exchange-traded fund division of asset manager Van Eck Global, has announced the listing of the Market Vectors Morningstar US Wide Moat UCITS ETF on Deutsche Borse’s Xetra exchange. The move follows the fund’s primary European listing on the London Stock Exchange which took place on 16 October 2015. The fund offers exposure to US firms that are identified through Morningstar’s proprietary equity research model as exhibiting ‘wide moats’ – a structural competitive advantage that enables the company to generate long-term above average returns on invested capital.

S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) has launched the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Diversified High Beta High Dividend Index which is designed to measure the performance of high yielding stocks with high historical betas constructed from an eligible universe of companies which operate responsibly with regards to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. “We are excited to launch a smart beta ESG index that will allow investors to measure performance of sustainable firms that also have desirable dividend income and tradability characteristics,” said Tianyin Cheng, Associate Director, Strategy Indices, S&P Dow Jones Indices.

WisdomTree, a leading provider of currency-hedged exchange-traded funds, has announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire GreenHaven Commodity Services, a provider of commodity-based ETFs. This acquisition facilitates WisdomTree’s entrance into the commodities space in the US, a market in which the company has already had success with in Europe through their Boost ETP platform. WisdomTree CEO and President, Jonathan Steinberg, commented: “WisdomTree’s planned acquisition of these unique commodity funds emphasises our continued commitment to providing differentiated solutions in response to developments in the market and investor preferences.”

ZyFin, a Singapore-headquartered asset manager with advisory operations based in India, has announced plans to launch the world’s first Indian fixed income ETF, the LAM Sun Global ZyFin India Sovereign Enterprise Bond UCITS ETF. The fund will provide an attractive option for global fixed income investors to address their thirst for higher yields in an otherwise challenging market. Nina Shapiro, Senior Advisor at ZyFin commented: “With high GDP growth, reducing inflation and budget deficits and a progressive government focused on economic development, the investment case for India is compelling and this is a fantastic time for ZyFin to be at the forefront of bringing India closer to global investors.”

WisdomTree, a leading currency-hedged exchange-traded fund issuer, has announced the launch of multiple new share classes across a range of its existing smart beta funds, adding increased flexibility and improving access for investors. “This increased range of new currency hedged and unhedged share classes fit into the many ways that our clients manage their portfolio currency exposures,” said Hector McNeil, Co-CEO of WisdomTree Europe. “In addition investors will have the opportunity to switch efficiently between share classes, allowing them to maintain their core equity exposure whilst offering the flexibility to implement their view of currency movements.”

BlueStar Global Investments, a research-focused firm specialising in the Israeli capital markets, has constructed a sector-specific index which is the engine behind a recently launched exchange-traded fund that invests in Israeli companies operating in the technology sector. The BlueStar TA-BIGITech Israel Technology ETF (Nasdaq: ITEQ) tracks the TASE-BlueStar Israel Global Technology Index, providing access to a highly diversified benchmark of innovative firms with a global operational reach.

AlphaClone, the investment advisor behind the AlphaClone Alternative Alpha ETF, has announced the launch of the AlphaClone International Downside Hedged Index, which applies their alpha-seeking investment strategy, culled from the investment ideas of established hedge funds, to equity markets outside the US. “Pursuing the potential for alpha is even more important today for long-term investors, given the anaemic growth forecasted for equities and bonds over the next several years,” says Maz Jadallah, CEO of AlphaClone.