PowerShares is officially the unofficial provider of the first actively managed exchange traded fund (ETF), tentatively schedule to hit the market in April. Bear Stearns, for a time, looked like it was going to be first but its woes have taken center stage.
But it ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings. After all, there are other providers who have active ETFs in registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Vanguard and Barclays Global Investors.
Jane Bryan Quinn for the Washington Post questions whether investors will gravitate toward these new funds. After all, active ETFs will have a manager behind them, which will mean more expenses. And then there’s the question of whether these managers will be able to beat the market.
As with other ETF products, it’s up to investors to do the legwork when it comes to deciding what’s right for them. PowerShares President Bruce Bond believes that when investors decide to compare mutual funds with actively managed ETFs, the new breed of ETFs will come out ahead because they’ll be more transparent, tax-friendly and cost-effective.
The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.