iShares filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch its own actively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs). It’s the latest big name to express interest in joining the growing ranks of would-be active ETF providers.
In the filing, iShares said that any actively managed ETF it launched would be fully transparent. The statement is noteworthy because actively managed ETFs haven’t yet gathered serious assets. Some watchers have suggested that a way to remedy this situation is to make them less transparent, the way that mutual funds are, Olivier Ludwig for Index Universe says.
However, the SEC would need to rule on that, because the current rules require transparency in active ETFs. [How Active ETF Managers Cope With Transparency.]
iShares’ new actively managed ETFs would focus on equities, fixed-income and some funds may combine the two. [New Tactical Active ETF Launches.]
It will be interesting to see what happens with iShares’ actively managed ETFs when they come to market. The provider is joining up with some other big names looking to launch such funds, including The Hartford, TD Ameritrade, Legg Mason and JP Morgan. With names like that, active management in ETFs may finally gain a strong foothold in the market.
Tisha Guerrero contributed to this article.
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