Morgan Stanley crashes the ESG ETF party

Another juggernaut manager hits the ETF playing field with the announcement from Morgan Stanley that they are to launch a suite of six new ETFs – four indexed ESG strategies and two active ESG strategies across a range of asset classes.

Is Europe about to ban inducement fees?

Retrocession or inducement fees are the cancer of fund distribution in Europe (and Asia). So we were very interested to see the comments from the European Commissioner for Financial Stability, who said they are considering to ban them as part of its retail investment strategy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPY

30 years ago marked the real start of the ETF industry with the launch of SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY), the first U.S.-listed and still-largest ETF. Little did those involved realise at the time that its launch would spark a revolution in investing, a theme that continues to this day.

IS ESG THE ONLY SHOW IN TOWN NOW?

ETFs aligned with ESG outcomes accounted for 65 per cent of all net inflows into European ETFs in 2022, even as ESG strategies underperformed. Now there is €249bn in ESG-aligned ETFs in Europe, representing 18.8 per cent of total assets

2023 HERE WE COME

2022 is over and most will say good riddance to hit. The ETF industry has continued to grow, but certainly took some hits last year from the blow up in crypto to the closure of most Russia focused ETFs. We have lost some firms along the way but have added a few new entrants.

DIRECT INDEXING: IS IT WORTH THE FUSS?

We have launched a new report where we investigate what direct indexing really is, and what it is not. We assess the potential for disruption on the asset management industry in the US and in Europe and look at whether direct indexing is worth the hype for different investors’ profiles.

AXA IM jumps into passive ETFs

AXA Investment Managers expands their ETF line-up to include passive products and more mutual fund to ETF conversions.

A casualty on the ETF battlefield

etfs

UniCredit liquidated its two remaining ETFs showing just how hard it is to succeed in certain markets. Australia reported positive ETF flows for October and is quietly catching up to Europe and America.