Sustainability is the name of the game this week with both Invesco and Fidelity launching new funds offering access to investments in companies with a strong ESG ethos in Japan and the wider Pacific region. Elsewhere, KraneShares debuted a China healthcare ETF on the LSE, ETYC Group listed bitcoin ETP on SIX, and CI Global Asset Management launched the CI Gld Bullion Fund on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Invesco has launched the Invesco Summit Responsible Range – five risk-targeted global multi-asset funds, aiming to make responsible investing accessible to all.  

Parkwalk has launched one of the first HMRC Approved Knowledge Intensive EIS Funds to open to retail investors, offering an opportunity to invest in ground-breaking deeptech businesses spun out of UK universities, but with a facility to carry back income tax relief to the previous tax year and reduced admin for investors. 

Albion Capital is seeking to raise up to GBP45 million through top up offers for five of its venture capital trusts. The fundraising targets the following amounts across the Albion VCT range: Albion Technology & General VCT PLC – GBP14 million; Kings Arms Yard VCT PLC – GBP12 million; Albion Development VCT PLC – GBP7 million; Albion Enterprise VCT PLC – GBP6 million; and Crown Place VCT PLC – GBP6 million.

Private markets investment management firm Hamilton Lane has launched the Hamilton Lane Private Assets Fund (PAF), a closed-end investment vehicle registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 (’40 Act). 

The pick of the latest ETF launches is Compound Kings from Upholdings, a new provider led by former hedge fund analyst and Everlane CFO Robert Cantwell. Elsewhere, Invesco, Sound Income Strategies and Euclid Investment Advisory all launched actively managed fund, while TrueMark and Pacer ETFs debuted new structured outcome offerings. We also have new index-based funds from Blue Horizon Capital, Lyxor, Distillate Capital and Global, and the first ETF from Swan Global Investments, which pairs the benefits of passive investing in equity index ETFs with actively managed options strategies.

Alternative investment firm SkyBridge Capital has launched of the SkyBridge Bitcoin Fund LP, which provides mass-affluent investors with an institutional-grade vehicle to gain exposure to Bitcoin. 

Swan Global Investments (Swan) has launched its first ETF, the Swan Hedged Equity Exchange-Traded Fund (HEGD). 

A bumper week for new ETF launches includes a couple of unusual funds, including a new 'social justice' ETF from Adasina Capital, and Tuttle Tactical Management's latest offering which aims to provide access to Special Purpose Acquisition Companies or SPACs, normally the preserve of institutional investors. The week's other newcomers include a new corporate bonds from from Tabula, a new ETF from HSBC GAM focused on the largest technology companies from the Greater China region, and a suite of eight active funds from Vanguard allowing investors to invest in an actively managed portfolio of equity and fixed income ETFs.

A busy week for new launches included a new five-fund range of fixed income ETFs from LGIM aimed at wholesale and institutional investors seeking exposure to core assets with integrated ESG and liquidity considerations. Other debutants included gold funds from both WisdomTree and Amplify, a fee-free, bitcoin fund from Valour, a semi-conductor fund from Van Eck, and Amundi’s new DAX 50 ESG UCITS ETF, as well as an absolute return bond ETF from Horizons ETFs, and a new Lyxor fund providing access to the 1000 largest US companies with 2x leverage.