European white-label ETF and ETC platform HANetf broadened its horizons this week with news of its first five launches on the SIX exchange in Switzerland offering investors transparent and liquid exposure to long-term social, medical and technological ‘megatrends’. Elsewhere, bonds where the focus for both KraneShares and DWS with the former launching a new Chinese bond market ETF, and the latter a brace of funds offering access to US government and Eurozone bonds. JP Morgan meanwhile launched two new active transparent equity ETFs.

VTB Capital Investment has launched responsible investment funds. When managing assets, the investment team is guided by the ESG criteria (environmental, social, governance) and focuses not only on financial aspects, but also on factors related to the company's environmental, social and management policies. VTB offers clients two such funds - for investment in shares and bonds of Russian companies.

The pick of this week’s new ETF launches saw veteran event-driven manager Water Island Capital make its debut in the space with the AltShares Merger Arbitrage ETF, which is designed to offer exposure to a proven, ‘pure play’ merger arbitrage strategy capable of capitalising on the idiosyncratic opportunities in today’s uncertain environment. Elsewhere, CI Investments debuted an Altrenative Enhanced Yield ETF, LHA launched the second in a planned Market State Shares family of alternative ETF strategies, while BlackRock launched a new iShares Corporate Bond ETF on Xetra and ROBO Global listed its AI fund on the NYSE…

Alternative asset management specialist Standpoint Asset Management has launchd the Standpoint Multi-Asset Fund.

Lyxor clearly has an eye on investors who have are looking to the future with the launch this week of a suite of five new Thematic ETFs offering access to the investment themes and megatrends reshaping industries across the globe – the digital economy, disruptive technology, future mobility, smart cities, and the consumption habits of Millennials. Elsewhere this week, UBS launched a new sustainable ETF while Water Island Capital debuted a merger arbitrage fund.

Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) has launched its first unlisted thematics index fund targeted at the UK retail market – the  Legal & General Global Robotics and Automation Index Fund (the Fund), to service a growing client demand. 

Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) has launched the UBAM - Positive Impact Emerging Equity fund, broadening its impact investment platform. 

In a fairly quiet week for new ETF launches, UBS responded to the seemingly ever-increasing demand for ESG investment products with the launch of two sustainable investing funds on Xetra and Börse Frankfurt. Elsewhere, Brompton launched two new actively managed dividend ETFs focused on real asset and low volatility securities, while First Trust also launched a new actively managed fund sub-advised and managed by TCW Investment Management Company.

Franklin Templeton Canada has launched the Franklin Global Aggregate Bond Fund to make it easier for financial advisors and investors to access its popular global investment grade bond ETF in a mutual fund structure. 

The big news in terms of new ETFs this week is the launch by ETF industry giant BNY Mellon of its very first exchange traded funds, a suite of three Morningstar-benchmarked equity ETFs. Elsewhere, Lyxor launched a range of five sustainable investing funds on Xetra and Borse Frankfurt, while BlackRock debuted a new government bonds iShares, also on Xetra and Norse Frankfurt.