Amplify ETFs, creator of the Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY), has filed in the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) the Amplify Blockchain Leaders ETF. The actively-managed exchange-traded fund (ETF) seeks to outperform an undisclosed benchmark that invests in companies that are well-positioned to profit from blockchain technologies, and exchange-listed products that invest in blockchain-based applications such as digital commodities.
The benchmark was created and is maintained by Emerita Capital Indices Inc. in collaboration with EQM Indexes. The initial selection universe for the benchmark consists of all the companies classified as 'Blockchain Companies'. The determination regarding whether a company is a Blockchain Company is based on an examination of whether a company is actively engaged in the research and development, proof-of-concept testing, and/or implementation of blockchain technology; profits from the demand for blockchain-based applications such as cryptocurrency and mining; partners with and/or directly investing in companies that are actively engaged in the development and/or use of blockchain technology; and are members of multiple consortiums or groups dedicated to the exploration of blockchain technology use, among others.
The security must be listed on a regulated stock exchange in the form of shares tradable for foreign investors without restrictions; Amplify ETFs, sponsored by Amplify Investments, has over US$320m in assets across ETFs.
Lyxor debuts 'gender equality' ETF
Lyxor Asset Management has licensed the Solactive Equileap Global Gender Equality Index to be used as the reference index for the newly launched Lyxor Gender Equality ETF (ELLE FP Equity), which has been listed on Euronext.
Equileap, an organisation aiming to accelerate progress towards gender equality in the workplace, joined forces with Solactive back in April 2017 to design a family of indices tracking leading companies in the field of gender equality. Equileap gathered data on over 3000 publicly-listed companies in 23 countries and ranked them according to 19 gender equality criteria covering leadership, career development, work-life balance, equal pay, family leave, as well as health & safety. Solactive developed the indices based on standard liquidity criteria, as well as a light ESG and an in-depth gender screenings provided by Equileap.
The Equileap Global Gender Equality Index replicates the performance of a global basket of
150 shares, including companies such as L'Oreal, Sanofi, and Nike. The launch of the Lyxor Gender Equality ETF follows the release of the Evolve North American Gender Diversity Index ETF (HERS) in September 2017, tracking the Solactive Equileap North American Gender Equality Index Canadian Dollar Hedged and providing exposure to companies listed and domiciled in Canada or the United States.
Mirae lists AI-based active ETF on Canada's TSX
Mirae Asset Global Investments has listed an ETF, which invests in the global market using artificial intelligence (AI), on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) in Canada. This is the world's first global ETF run by AI, according to Mirae. The Horizons Active AI Global Equity ETF (Ticker MIN) will invest in global equities using a basket of primarily North American-listed ETFs and will make its decisions using AI.
MIND ETF monitors more than 50 investment metrics as the key development inputs from which it analyzes patterns and makes investment decisions. It rebalances its holdings on a monthly basis to give the AI more flexibility around the investment allocation process. Additionally, it controls liquidity and regional and investments considering expected earnings, correlation and variability.
Mirae Asset Global Investments established an AI-run financial research center in October last year for the first time in the domestic industry and has been researching on the application of deep learning to investment through artificial neural networks. The company has been operating the Mirae Asset AI Smart Beta Fund since its release in January. According to global ETF research firm ETFGI, Mirae Asset Global ETFs rank 21st in terms of net assets among fund managers around the world as of the end of September and 17th in terms of capital inflow since beginning of the year.
VanEck beefs up ETF team
VanEck Australia has announced two new appointments to its business development team in a move to better support the distribution of its ETFs and promote funds to financial advisers and stock brokers.
The new hires are Campbell Stevens and Julian Moore who joined VanEck from JBWere and Bell Potter Securities, respectively. VanEck Australia runs a number of equity ETFs and two fixed income ETFs: VanEck Vectors Australian Corporate Bond Plus ETF (PLUS) and VanEck Vectors Australian Floating Rate ETF (FLOT).
VanEck expects the Australian ETF market to be valued at between AD$70bn (US$53.6bn) to AD$80bn within five years, as investors continue to enjoy their liquidity advantages, transparency and lower costs.
Amundi expands European range
French provider Amundi ETF has launched the first European equity multi factor market neutral ETF, targeted at investors seeking exposure to factor risk premia while protecting them from the exposure of European equity markets. The Amundi European Equity Multi Factor Market Neutral Ucits ETF is available on Euronext Paris and will be also listed on the main European stock exchanges in the coming weeks.
The underlying index, the iStoxx Europe Multi-Factor Market Neutral strategy index, is based on a long exposure into the iStoxx Europe Multi Factor strategy index (net return), made of six factors (carry, low risk, momentum, size, value and quality), and a short position against the Stoxx Europe 600 Futures Roll EUR Excess Return index to achieve the market neutral stance.
Newcomer enters ETF market with 'entrepreneurs' play
EntrepreneurShares a new provider of ETFs in the US has filed an ETF with the SEC that aims to replicate the successes of American entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneur 30 ETF tracking the performance of the Entrepreneur 30 Index.
The index comprises 30 US Companies with the highest market capitalizations and composite scores based on six criteria. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities of companies included in the Entrepreneur 30 Index. The Entrepreneur 30 Index is constructed using a rules-based methodology by selecting equity securities from a pool of companies whose securities trade on Nasdaq, the NYSE or another major exchange in the US.
The Entrepreneur 30 Index selects companies from Index Universe using six factors including management, compensation, revenue, ownership, profitability and company statistics. To construct the Entrepreneur 30 Index, each constituent in the index universe that meets all six of the entrepreneurial standards is ranked by its market capitalization, with the 30 largest companies by market capitalization being selected to be in the index.