Search this Site

Four new low volatility ETFs came to market this month, adding to a growing landscape of factor-based investment vehicles.  Invesco PowerShares has first-mover status in the low volatility equity category with its May 2011 introduction of the PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility Portfolio (SPLV). .

Business Development Companies (“BDCs”) fall under a special designation of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“the 40 Act”).  BDCs typically lend capital or provide services to private companies and public companies with thinly traded securities, often taking positions in both the equity and.

The Yorkville High Income Infrastructure MLP ETF (YMLI) began trading on February 12, 2013.  Don’t let the name fool you.  Unlike thousands of other exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) and mutual funds that are Regulated Investment Companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940, YMLI has chosen.

Today (1/15/13), Global X launched another C-corporation masquerading as an ETF.  The Global X Junior MLP ETF (MLPJ) elected not to be a regulated investment company.  Like the other C-corporation ETFs that came before it, I believe MLPJ’s marketing literature falls far short of informing potential.

Exchange-traded product launches numbered 178 in 2012.  Despite the rapid start to the year, the final tally was only the fifth largest on record.  The quantity represented a decrease of 42% from the record of 308 introductions set a year ago.  New products in 2012 consisted of 155 ETFs and 23 ETNs. .

The PowerShares S&P 500 Downside Hedged Portfolio (PHDG) was launched December 6, becoming the first ETF to be both actively managed and indexed.  The fund uses an absolute return strategy that seeks to achieve positive returns in rising or falling markets not directly correlated to equity or bond.

FactorShares, the sponsor that introduced spread trading in an ETF wrapper back in early 2011, launched a new line of ETFs under a new PureFunds brand.  According to the firm’s literature, PureFunds was designed to provide the market with easy access to niche sectors through Pure-Play ETFs.  PureFunds.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) introduced five new exchange traded notes (“ETNs”) on November 15.  The new ETNS are based on “enhanced” versions of Rogers International Commodity Indexes (“RICI”).  The underlying indexes were developed by RBS and Jim Rogers in October 2007 and have been maintained.

Pyxis Capital, the fund investment advisory spun-off from Highland Capital Management earlier this year, made its initial foray into the ETF arena with its November 7 launch (press release) of the Pyxis/iBoxx Senior Loan ETF (SNLN).  The underlying Markit iBoxx USD Liquid Leveraged Loan Index is comprised.

BlackRock (BLK) strengthened its core lineup of ETFs by repositioning six of its existing ETFs and launching four new ones.  The 10 ETFs cover three major asset classes, feature aggressive pricing, and constitute the new “iShares Core” class within the iShares brand.  This move essentially eliminates.