ETFs tracking the FTSE 100 Index have rallied as the UK blue-chip index closed at a new record high of 7,560 on Friday 3 November 2017, driven by a strong global economy and a weak pound. Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at brokers Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Stock market investors continue to reap the rewards of loose monetary policy and an improving global economy.”

SIX Swiss Exchange reported a 13.7% drop in Q3 ETF trading volumes compared to Q2, with the majority of the decrease accounted for by equity ETFs, after the benchmark Swiss Market Index SMI traded sideways for much of the quarter. The year-on-year decline was a relatively modest 3.6%.

ETF providers have taken the top three places in a ranking of global asset managers by assets under management (AUM), according to research from risk management and investment consultants Willis Towers Watson.

Bloomberg has announced the 2018 target weights and composition of the Bloomberg Commodity Index (BCOM), a well-known benchmark for the performance of the broad commodities universe. The rebalancing, effective January 2018, is set to affect several large ETFs that track the flagship index.

ETFs domiciled in Europe saw $7.4bn of inflows during September 2017, marking the 36th consecutive month of net inflows, according to analysis by ETF industry consultants ETFGI.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has released its monthly ETF roundup for September 2017. Total on-exchange value traded for ETFs during the month was £28.2 billion through 289k trades, up 18% compared to September 2016.

MSCI has announced the launch of a new range of indices, the MSCI Factor ESG Target Index Series, designed to provide exposure to target factors while integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) stock selection filters. Diana Tidd, head of index at MSCI, commented: “MSCI is seen as a thought leader in ESG and factor investing, and this new suite of indexes helps our clients integrate ESG while still focusing on the benefits of Factor Investing.”

UBS has listed a distributing Australian dollar share class for its UBS ETF MSCI Australia UCITS ETF (AUAD) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) . The new trading line complements the existing accumulating and currency-hedged versions already listed on the exchange. The ETF, which is linked to the MSCI Australia Index, offers investors exposure to 70 large- and mid-cap Australian-domiciled equities that represent approximately 85% of the total Australian listed equity market.

The results from Germany’s election are in and Angela Merkel’s centre-right coalition remains the largest force in parliament. But with the two largest parties recording their worst result since the 1940s and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party enjoying considerable support, the political direction of Germany has an added air of unpredictability. How has all this affected markets and, in turn, what’s been the impact on ETFs linked to German equities and bonds?

UBS has launched the UBS MSCI Australia UCITS ETF (AUSAUY) on Switzerland’s SIX Exchange, providing exposure to the large- and mid-cap segments of the Australian equity universe.