Stoxx, a leading European index provider, has launched the iStoxx Europe Centenary and the iStoxx Europe Centenary Select 30 indices which are designed to track the performance of European companies that were founded more than 100 years ago. The systematic nature of the indices makes them suitable as the basis for index-linked products such as ETFs. “With the launch of the iStoxx Europe Centenary Indices, we are offering market participants an index concept to filter the companies in Europe’s most well-known benchmark for those who have been founded over 100 years ago, and are thus recognised as well established and trusted firms,” said Hartmut Graf, chief executive officer of Stoxx.

Amundi, a leading European provider of exchange-traded funds, has announced the launch of a smart beta strategy ETF providing exposure to European companies that are undertaking share buyback programmes. The London Stock Exchange-listed ETF is the first to track the MSCI Europe Equal Weighted Buyback Yield Index and has been launched in response to client demand following the success of their US-focused buyback ETF. Valerie Baudson, CEO at Amundi ETF, Indexing and Smart Beta, said: “This innovative ETF adds to our smart beta range and reinforces the positioning of Amundi as a leading innovative player in the European ETF market.”

Amundi, a leading European provider of exchange-traded funds, has listed two more ETFs on Deutsche Börse’s XTF segment. The ETFs track the performance of global low-carbon companies and currency-hedged exposure to Japanese companies exhibiting good corporate governance characteristics. The Amundi ETF MSCI World Low Carbon UCITS ETF is comprised of large and mid-cap corporations who emit low levels of carbon in their business activities. The Amundi ETF JPX-Nikkei 400 UCITS ETF – Daily Hedged EUR enables investors to participate in the performance of the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 while mitigating the risk that the Japanese yen will depreciate against the euro.

ETF.com, an exchange-traded fund news source, has released the results of their annual European survey highlighting investor perceptions of the ETF industry and their thoughts on where the market is heading. The survey points to strong interest and continued demand for ETF products, but also shows that a lack of understanding and structural barriers are impeding European investors from embracing ETFs in the same way US investors have.

ETF Securities, a London-headquartered exchange-traded fund provider, and Lombard Odier Investment Managers (LOIM), a leading smart beta specialist, have begun to roll out their co-branded smart beta fixed income ETF range on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Bernhard Wenger, Co-Head of European Distribution, ETF Securities, commented: “We’re very pleased to be listing these ETFs on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Switzerland is an important growth market for us and we are fully committed to making our products accessible to all investor types.”

UBS, a leading European exchange-traded fund issuer, has announced the launch of an ethical US corporate bond ETF on the London Stock Exchange. The fund is linked to the Barclays MSCI US Liquid Corporates Sustainable TR Index, which tracks the performance of bonds issued by US corporates that adhere to strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. Andrew Walsh, head of UBS ETF Sales UK & Ireland, commented: “Demand for ethical investments continues to grow not only in the equities space, but also in fixed income. Our new ETF listing is a reflection of meeting clients’ needs for an easy to access US corporate bond product that tracks an index which screens for companies which have strong ESG profiles.”

Lyxor Asset Management, a Paris-based exchange-traded fund provider and subsidiary of Societe Generale, has announced the launch of pound sterling-hedged versions of two existing ETFs. Aimed primarily at UK-based investors, the new share classes offer exposure to their respective equity indices – the SG Global Quality Income Index and Euro Stoxx Index – whilst mitigating the impact of adverse currency movements against the pound.

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.”

Cambria Investment Management, a US-based provider of innovate exchange-traded funds, has launched the Cambria Value and Momentum ETF (VAMO), a smart beta fund that aims to provide superior risk-adjusted returns through a combination of value and momentum exposures and an equity hedging strategy. “The recent volatility in the US markets is a classic example of why investors may want to consider hedging their investments,” said Meb Faber, Cambria Chief Investment Officer. “Value and momentum have long been important factors when selecting equity investments. Combining these two factors with hedging provides a strong portfolio of companies with the potential to minimize downside losses.”

iShares, a leading provider of ETFs, has unveiled a new suite of smart beta ETFs, branded as “FactorSelect”, offering equity exposure to a combination of factors that have historically added value over the long term. “Research has shown that certain investment styles have, over time, provided a higher risk-adjusted return than the overall market. These themes are well understood by investors – seeking high quality balance sheets or inexpensive stocks, for example – and have long been a staple of active mutual fund strategies. The FactorSelect series now allows investors to access these intuitive and time-tested investment ideas through low-cost, transparent ETFs,” said Tom Fekete, Head of EMEA Product, iShares at BlackRock.