This was a big week for European digital asset investment house CoinShares - which partnered with 3iQ to launch the 3iQ CoinShares Bitcoin ETF on the TSX, and also launched the CoinShares Physical Litecoin (LITE), bringing the company's total of investment products to seven. Following the digital assets trend, SEBA Bank AG listed a suite of digital assets-based ETPs on SIX Swiss Exchange, consisting of bitcoin and ether Tracker Certificates and the first CHF currency-hedged bitcoin tracker in the market. Space returned as a theme this week, with Harvest debuting the Harvest Space Innovation Index ETF on TSX, providing Canadian investors with access to the growing space industry sector. Other newcomers include TrueMark's new structured outcome ETF APRZ providing investors with exposure to the S&P 500 Index, and Vanguard’s first actively managed Ultra-Short Bond ETF, offering low-cost diversified options for investors seeking income and limited price volatility.

Sustainability was once again the theme of the week, with the listing of two new ETFs focussed on the hydrogen sector: the VanEck Vectors Hydrogen Economy UCITS ETF on the London Stock Exchange, and the Direxion Hydrogen ETF (HJEN) giving exposure to clean hydrogen economy companies. UBS Asset Management launched a suite of equity ETFs aligned with the standards of the Paris Climate Agreement, and Amundi listed two new ETFs with an ESG focus on Xetra. Blackrock also expanded its iShares fixed income ETF range with two new funds providing exposure to green bonds, and GraniteShares launched the world’s first leveraged single stock ETPs on NIO, an electric vehicle maker known as the ‘Chinese Tesla’. Elsewhere, ARK turned its attention to the skies with its Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (ARKX) focussing on companies engaged in space exploration and innovation. Finally, crypto remains key with a new VanEck ETN listed on Xetra and Borse Frankfurt that provides investors with access to ether without having to set up a crypto wallet.  

This week’s launches include a raft of ESG focused ETFs. UBS Asset Management debuted a climate neutral UCITS fund applying sustainability criteria to the S&P 500 equity universe, and Invesco launched the first ETF tracking the new FTSE All Share ESG Climate index. FlexShares and Lyxor International Asset Management both listed two new ESG ETFs on Xetra and Borse Frankfurt. Elsewhere, VanEck expanded its global offering into the Latam market with a new ETF in Peru – the Fondo Bursátil VanEck El Dorado Perú ETF. Another newcomer in the US was the Hartford Fund’s HLGE ETF, providing access to the 'longevity economy'.  

Cryptocurrency funds were the main theme of the week, with a new bitcoin fund, the CI Galaxy Bitcoin ETF, now trading on the TSX. ETC group meanwhile, listed an ether ETP, and 21Shares launched ETPs tracking both ether and bitcoin. Other newcomers include the first US-listed hydrogen ETF from Defiance ETFs, plus Europe’s first carbon avoidance solutions and 5G digital infrastructure ETFs from HanETF on the Swiss Stock Exchange. Elsewhere, two fund sponsors turned their attention to Asia, with new funds from Xtrackers and Invesco offering access to emerging Asian markets and Chinese companies, respectively. 

The big news in terms of launches this week is the debut of Northern Trust's FlexShares ETFs in Europe with the launch of two climate focused funds. Staying with the green theme, UBS GAM's latest offering is a low CO2 emissions ETF, while Invesco launched a Global Clean Energy fund as well as the first China All Shares ETF. Elsewhere, Invesco added an international equities fund to it's multi-factor suite, and Alger debuted its first active ETF, focused on 40 mid-cap growth stocks.

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.

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.