Investment platform, eToro, has launched a portfolio that allows investors to back companies playing an integral role in semiconductor manufacturing and commercialisation.

ESG concerns dominated fund launches this week. Carbon offsetting specifically was a key theme, with BNP Paribas listing the BNP Paribas Easy Low Carbon 300 World PAC UCITS ETF, a thematic listed index fund offering savers an investment solution to reduce the carbon footprint of their portfolio, and Purpose Investment and HANetf launching Europe’s first carbon offset ETF on the LSE. HANetf also debuted new renewable energies and aviation thematic ETFs on Xetra, focusing on 50 companies worldwide that supply products for decentralised renewable power generation. IndexIQ launched a new ESG Core Plus Bond ETF in partnership with MacKay Shields, and iShares listed new sustainability-focused ETFs on Xetra, tracking the performance of medium-sized and large companies from the USA selected on the basis of standardised ESG exclusion filters. The first ESG-focused Gold Mining ETF is to launch on the LSE, allowing investors to access the gold mining sector in a responsible way. Finally, moving away from sustainable investing, 21Shares listed the Solana ETP on SIX Exchange, offering additional yield through staking rewards by validating transactions on the Solana blockchain.

Fast-growing Asian markets were the focus for Dawn Global this week, with the listing of the Asian Growth Cubs ETF on the NYSE offering investors actively managed exposure to emerging/frontier growth markets such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam. BNP Paribas turned its attention to sustainable investing, with the BNP Paribas Easy ESG Growth Europe UCITS ETF providing investors with the opportunity to participate in the performance of European companies with fundamental growth prospects, while excluding firms that violate the principles of the UN Global Compact. Elsewhere, the Global Palladium Fund launched what it says are the world’s only physically-backed copper and nickel ETCs, offering a cost-effective way for European-based investors to achieve exposure to the metals. Finally, Horizons ETFs had a big week, launching the tech-focused Horizons Global Semiconductor Index ETF (CHPS) on TSX, Canada’s first ETF to offer exposure to the semiconductor space, as well as two new lithium- and hydrogen-focused ETFs, adding to the company's suite of alternative energy ETFs.

Ross Klein (pictured), Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Changebridge Capital, writes on the potential effects of a proposed tax law change in the US on ETFs. 

Franklin Templeton has launched the Franklin K2 Cat Bond UCITS Fund and Franklin K2 Athena Risk Premia UCITS Fund, the latest additions to its Luxembourg-domiciled Franklin Templeton Alternatives Funds (FTAF) range.

Space and aviation were the focus this week, with the listing of the US Global Jets UCITS ETF (JETS) on the HANetf platform, delivering exposure to the commercial airline, airline manufacturing and terminal service industries. HANetf also launched a new ETF on Xetra providing investors with access to companies in the space industry and satellite technologies sectors, plus a fund focused on sports betting and iGaming. New tech funds included an Invesco ETF aiming to track technology companies in China, with a focus on innovative tech rather than computer hardware and software businesses. ETFMG also issued two leveraged ETFs giving investors exposure to travel technology. Over in the US, BMO Investments launched the BMO US All Cap Equity Fund ETF Series, providing long-term capital growth by investing in equity securities of US companies of any size of market capitalisation, and Syntax Advisers listed the Syntax Stratified US Total Market Hedged ETF on NYSE, offering an alternative to cap weighted and equal weighted index products through a suite of ETFs covering US LargeCap, MidCap, SmallCap and US Total Market exposure.  

Deutsche Bank International Private Bank (IPB) has launched four Strategic Income Allocation (SIA) funds, utilising the capabilities of DWS as a fund manager.

Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) has announced the addition of its Positive Impact Funds to the retail investment platforms Nucleus and Elevate. With these inclusions, UBP is continuing to increase its presence in the UK wholesale market. The platforms will offer the UBAM – Positive Impact Equity and UBAM – Positive Impact Emerging Equity Funds to retail investors enabling them to invest purely in businesses that have a positive impact on society and/or the environment. 

Connection Capital, the specialist private client investment business, has secured an opportunity for private investors to participate in a tech-focused venture capital (VC) fund managed by top quartile, VC fund manager, DN Capital – the third time it has done so in four years. 

Allfunds, one of the world´s largest fund distribution platform and wealthtech industry leaders, and iCapital Network, a global financial technology alternative investing platform for the asset and wealth management industries, have formed a strategic partnership through which iCapital will provide private market investment opportunities complementing the sub-advisory solutions currently available to the Allfunds global distributor network.