The exchange traded fund business is picking up where it left off in 2011, ringing in the new year with a slew of new product launches.
With most pure beta ETF indexing strategies filled out, fund providers are looking to expand into niche areas and other corners of the market.
Earlier this month, BlackRock’s iShares launched three more ETFs that provide exposure to developed foreign equity markets, including the iShares MSCI World Index Fund (NYSEArca: URTH), iShares MSCI Hong Kong Small Cap Index Fund (NYSEArca: EWHS) and iShares MSCI Singapore Small Cap Index Fund (NYSEArca: EWSS). [iShares Launches Three New Developed Market ETFs]
Additionally, State Street Global Advisors offered up the SPDR S&P Small Cap Emerging Asia Pacific ETF (NYSEArca: GMFS), which has an expense ratio of 0.65%, Don Dion for TheStreet reports..
PowerShares, playing off the very successful PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility Portfolio (NYSEArca: SPLV), which garnered about $1 billion in less than a year, also launched two new low volatility funds, the PowerShares S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility Portfolio (NYSEArca: EELV) and the PowerShares S&P International Developed Low Volatility Portfolio (NYSEArca: IDLV). [PowerShares Adds International Low-Volatility ETFs]