With money continuing to flow into ESG ETFs, it is perhaps worth taking a closer look at those ETFs which have been independently rated as offering ‘true’ ESG characteristics.
Data provider TrackInsight has been working with Consers to rate ETFs and has listed the top 130 on its ESG Observatory. These include best-in-class funds (selecting companies that are considered the most sustainable) and thematic strategies (investing in companies that reflect a given sustainability theme).
The top US ETFs listed by TrackInsight for their ESG criteria include iShares Global Clean Energy (ICLN), Invesco Solar (TAN) and Invesco Water Resources (PHO). In Europe among the leaders are iShares Global Clean Energy (INRG), iShares MSCI Europe SRI (IESG) and Amundi Index MSCI Europe SRI (EUSRI). For more information and to crunch the numbers for yourself, please visit TrackInsight’s ESG Observatory.
BMO InvestorLine makes 80+ ETFs commission free
BMO InvestorLine decided to make over 80 ETFs on its InvestorLine platform commission free for self-directed clients. The ETFs concerned cover a wide range of asset classes and geographies. Most of them come from the three biggest Canadian ETF managers, namely iShares, Vanguard and BMO. The list of the ETFs under this commission free umbrella will be periodically reviewed and may be adjusted as the ETF landscape evolves, the wealth manager said. The funds are grouped into dedicated Canadian, US, international, and emerging markets strategies.
TrueMark structured outcome ETFs
TrueMark Investments launched JUNZ this week, the 12th ETF in its structured outcome product suite. The ETF is being sub-advised by SpiderRock Advisors in Chicago. It is looking to provide investors with a structured outcome on the S&P 500 – i.e with built-in downside buffers but also uncapped possible upside. The fund will try to track the index but with an 8-12% buffer on index downside losses over a one year investment period. The fund advisor – SpiderRock – is going to aim for a 10% target downside buffer. Michael Loukas, CEO at TrueMark Investments, said “the current market environment continues to challenge investors, perpetuating the need for a solution that can both preserve capital and capture upside gains.”
WisdomTree unveils ETF tracking the biotech revolution
WisdomTree Investments launched its new BioRevolution ETF (WDNA) on the CBOE. This will be tracking the price and yield performance of the WisdomTree BioRevolution Index with an expense ratio of 0.45%. The fund is invested in a basket of stocks that are active in the biology meets technology thematic space. The index was constructed with the help of Dr Jamie Metzi, considered to be one of the world’s leading futurists who is also working with the fund manager as a special strategist. It is really focused on companies that are innovators in the field of biotechnology and genetics. Metzi may be known to readers from his book, Hacking Darwin – Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity. Among the stocks already in the ETF are Eli Lilly & Co (LLY), Dow Inc (DOW), Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and PerkinElmer (PKI).
- Crude oil futures ramping up fast on Middle East escalation fears
- Gold price passes major milestone: up 23% YTD in sterling terms
- Why European investors are not being offered active ETFs
