The UBS Global Gender Equality UCITS ETF (GENDER SW) has surpassed $100m in assets under management just eight months after its launch. Listed on SIX Swiss Exchange, the fund provides exposure to global companies perceived to be leading the field in terms of gender equality. Suni Harford, Head of Investments at UBS Asset Management, commented, “The success of our ETF serves as further proof that sustainable goals such as gender equality are a key priority for our clients.”

UBS Global Asset Management has launched the UBS JP Morgan EM Multi-Factor Enhanced Local Currency Bond UCITS ETF on Xetra and SIX Swiss Exchange. The fund provides exposure to local currency government bonds from emerging market issuers while seeking to enhance returns through a multi-factor foreign exchange overlay.

WisdomTree has launched the WisdomTree US Multifactor UCITS ETF on London Stock Exchange. The smart beta fund tracks a proprietary in-house index that provides exposure to large and mid-cap US equities selected using a multifactor methodology. “For those clients who don’t believe that they can add value by timing factors and don’t want to risk being overweight in the wrong factor at the wrong time, this provides a potential solution,” said Christopher Gannatti, WisdomTree head of research in Europe.

Gold-backed ETFs exhibited particularly low volatility in 2017 with prices so far remaining stable into 2018. Matthew Turner, precious metals analyst at Macquarie, suggests the historically low volatility in the gold market may reflect fundamental changes which could be here to stay.

UBS Asset Management has launched two new multi-factor equity ETFs targeting eurozone and developed global markets stocks. The funds, the UBS MSCI EMU Select Factor Mix UCITS ETF and UBS MSCI World Select Factor Mix UCITS ETF, seek to capture the returns attributed to six risk premia – momentum, value, quality, shareholder yield, volatility and size. They have been listed across various exchanges, including Xetra, London Stock Exchange, Six Swiss Exchange and Borsa Italiana.

Amundi has launched the Amundi Index US Corp SRI – UCITS ETF (UCRP FP) on Euronext Paris, providing exposure to US dollar-denominated corporate bonds while applying environmental, social and governance (ESG) selection filters. Fannie Wurtz, managing director at Amundi ETF, indexing & smart beta, said, “This exciting expansion to Amundi’s ETF fixed income range underlines our commitment to deliver passive solutions for our clients that are in-line with their social responsibility goals.”

Solactive and UBS have launched the Solactive UBS Development Bank Bond Indices, a family of 36 total return indices tracking the performance of high-grade debt issued by the World Bank and other development banks. Steffen Scheuble, CEO of Solactive, said the indices “play a critical role in attracting capital to sustainable development.”

The number of ETFs and ETPs listed on London Stock Exchange rose significantly in March, with 27 new ETFs and 76 ETPs added during the month. New listings on the exchange were provided by VanEck, UBS, Societe Generale, BlackRock, Lyxor and Deutsche Asset Management.

Pacer ETFs has introduced the Pacer Military Times Best Employers ETF (VETS US), a new thematic fund tracking US-listed firms that support training and professional development of military veterans, service members and their families.

Lyxor has introduced the Lyxor Global Gender Equality (DR) UCITS ETF – Monthly Hedged to EUR (ELLH GY), a currency-hedged share class of its global gender equality ETF. Listed on Deutsche Börse, the share class hedges the fund’s US dollar exposure to the euro, the fund’s trading currency.