O-IM, a new investment management firm, launches today, aiming to provide affluent and HNW UK investors with the levels of personal service, bespoke portfolio construction and wide-reaching market access they would expect from a private bank – without the high investment thresholds or performance-threatening fees. 

Micro-investing platform Wombat is offering investors the opportunity to plug into the booming battery market with the launch of its latest theme-based ETF.

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.

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.

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. 

Crypto launches took centre stage this week, with CoinShares listing bitcoin, ether and litecoin ETPs on Borse Xetra. 21Shares also launched a UK bitcoin ETP on Aquis Exchange, designed to provide institutional investors with secure and cost-effective exposure to the cryptocurrency. ESG launches were also popular, with iClima Earth listing the world’s first ESG UCITS ETF providing exposure to companies promoting the decentralisation of energy generation. State Street Global Advisors also launched three new SDPR ETS focusing on companies with steady dividend growth and a good ESG profile. Funds also focused on Europe, with a new Lyxor ETF on Xetra giving investors access to fixed-income and euro-denominated eurozone government bonds, and the Polish WIGtechTR ETF listed on GPW providing investors with exposure to the top 49 stocks listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. KraneShares has it's sights set on the Far East meanwhile with the Bloomberg Barclays China Bond Inclusion ETF which tracks Chinese RMB-denominated securities. Finally, it was all bout biotech for WisdomTree, with the of listing the WisdomTree BioRevolution Fund (WDNA) offering diversified exposure to a basked of companies positioned at the intersection of biology and technology.

Vitality has launched a new EnVIRO fund range, a ready-made investment solution that integrates environmental, social and governance considerations (ESG), making it easier for advisers to offer their clients a way to invest in a more sustainable future.