Vanguard is to modify the investment advisory arrangements of the USD45.5 billion Vanguard US Growth Fund and USD1.2 billion Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds – Growth Portfolio. 

A real mixed bag of new ETF launches includes several new bond funds, including a new WisdomTree offering focused on EU bonds dedicated to financing the bloc's coronavirus recovery efforts. Elsewhere, L&G debuted a new ETF providing access to green bonds, while the latest offerings from BNP Paribas Easy focus on sustainable eurozone bonds and emerging markets bonds.  

MMC Ventures has launched an HMRC Approved Knowledge Intensive EIS Fund offering retail investors an opportunity to invest in the transformative technology companies MMC is known for and access tax planning and administrative advantages.

This week's new launches include two funds with green credentials, the new Climate Change Innovations ETF from Australian issuer BetaShares, and the world's first Paris-aligned fixed income fund from Tabula Investment Management. Elsewhere, Gabelli Funds debuted its actively managed Growth Innovators ETF which invests in businesses both enabling and benefiting from digital acceleration, while Invesco launched a new fund offering exposure to taxable municipal bonds, and Evolve got the green light for a bitcoin ETF.

The week to 7 Feb 2021 saw the highest inflow into VCTs of the tax year so far, with GBP33.5 million raised. For comparison, the equivalent week in 2020 saw GBP19 million raised. No individual week in 2020 was higher than last week.  

Baillie Gifford, an independent investment management partnership, has launched the Keystone Positive Change Investment Trust plc, formerly known as the Keystone Investment Trust plc.

This week's new launches include not one, but two funds focused on Nasdaq-listed companies – Lyxor International Asset Management's Lyxor Nasdaq-100 UCITS ETF - Daily Hedged to EUR on Xetra and Börse Frankfurt, and Agio Funds TFI's Beta ETF Nasdaq-100 PLN-Hedged, on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW). Elsewhere, LGIM launched what it says is the first pure hydrogen economy ETF in Europe, Brazilian asset manager Hashdex debuted a cryptocurrency fund, and AdvisorShares launched an actively-managed, hedged equity ETF. Global X meanwhile listed two new thematic ETFs focused on video gaming and esports and telemedicine and digital health.

Sanlam UK has published its half-yearly Income Study, the definitive investor guide to the best and worst funds in the UK equity income sector. 

Specialist tax-efficient investment manager Downing LLP has launched a new Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), giving investors the opportunity to support the unprecedented growth of companies at the cutting edge of healthcare.

BITE Investments, a fintech company with an alternative investment platform, has published a new white paper which presents a strong case for private equity investments and important factors for success.