The inaugural etfexpress Awards 2010, held in London earlier today (18 March), highlighted investors’ focus on factors such as ‘innovation, consistency and depth of expertise’ in choosing products.

Global Fund Media, the parent company of etfexpress, polled its 56,000 readers, including over 20,000 institutional investors, and asked them to choose the winners across all the ETF sectors, including product providers, exchanges and index providers.

The awards, which brought together a host of senior figures from the ETF industry, were hosted by celebrity actress Cherie Lunghi at Sketch, London.
 
In her opening address Ms Lunghi summarised recent events in the ETF industry.
 
She said: “2010 marks a key shift in the market. Fuelled by changing underlying economic fundamentals, the battle for assets in the European market between ETFs and ETCs intensified in the first two months of this year.
 
“The number of exchange traded commodity products now far outweighs the number of exchange traded fund products that track commodity returns.
 
“In fact, as of 5 March 2010, ETCs hosted just below 50% of the European Commodity Exchange Traded Products market, a balance that signals a change in investor risk appetite in the year ahead.
 
“Last week, both UBS and Deutsche Bank announced the launch of their ETC platforms, and we can expect more activity along these lines in the months to come.
 
“The proliferation of products is now leading to fresh challenges for ETF and ETP providers and listing exchanges, similar to those experienced in the mutual funds market several years ago.
 
“In a crowded market, how do ETF and ETP brands distinguish themselves from one another? What are the most effective ways to distribute brands cross-border across Europe, and globally into new markets in Asia and the Middle East? What are the most cost-effective routes for product providers to tap into the institutional and retail investor markets?”
 
The awards’ results were culled from over 1,000 reader responses, and winners were selected by readers not just for their performance, but for a number of distinguishing factors, including innovation, consistency, depth of knowledge and transparency.
 
The full list of etfexpress Awards 2010 winners follows, along with a summary of comments on each winner:
 
1. Best Commodity ETF Manager   
 
Deutsche Bank
 
Our readers’ comments included “Innovative product development, great liquidity and expert management”
 
2. Best Fixed Income (excluding cash) ETF Manager  
 
iShares
 
Our readers’s said “vast array of products, covers many areas of the fixed income universe”
 
3. Highly Commended Fixed Income (all excluding cash) ETF Manager
 
Credit Suisse Asset Management
 
Our readers noted that CSAM had “the best set of indices”
 
4. Best Fixed Income Cash (money market) ETF Manager
 
db x-trackers
 
Our readers said “EONIA set the benchmark for the fixed income sector. It is a great US dollar money market product”
 
5. Best North America Equity ETF Manager
 
iShares
 
Our readers said ishares had “the broadest product range combined with innovative products”
 
6. Best Emerging Markets Equity ETF Manager
 
db x-trackers
 
Readers noted that x-trackers “even offered access to small, illiquid markets”
 
7. Best Europe Equity ETF Manager
 
Amundi
 
Our readers said Amundi has “best overall suite of products”
 
8. Best Global (ex-US) Equity ETF Manager
 
Source
 
Readers said Source has introduced “revolutionary open architecture and an innovative suite of products”
 
9. Best Asia Pacific ETF Manager
 
Nikko Asset Management - Japanese Topix ETF
 
Readers described Nikko’s product as ”innovative and strong on liquidity”
 
10. Best Global Equity ETF Manager
 
Invesco PowerShares
 
PowerShares was praised for offering “ease of entry and liquidity”
 
11. Best Currency ETF Manager
 
ETF Securities Limited
 
Readers said “Good range of currency pair products that are logical and transparent”
 
12. Best Mixed ETF Manager
 
db x-trackers
 
Readers comments included “best offering, innovative products”
 
13. Best Alternative ETF Manager
 
db x-trackers
 
Readers said “best niche market alternative offering”
 
14. Most innovative ETF provider 
 
ETF Exchange 3rd Generation ETFs
 
Reader comments included “Good anticipation of market needs, speed to market, cutting edge of product development”
 
15. Most Innovative ETP provider
 
ETF Exchange 3^rd Generation ETFs
 
Readers said “Resolves counterparty and transparency issues, quick to react to market demand, innovative product development”
 
16. Best Exchange for Listing ETFs in Europe
 
Deutsche Bourse
 
17. Best Exchange for Listing ETFs in the USA
 
NYSE Arca
 
Readers said “robust settlement infrastructure and liquidity”
 
18. Most Innovative Index Provider
 
STOXX
 
Readers said “flexibility, variety and diversification of indices”
 
19. Highly Commended Innovative Index Provider
 
FTSE
 
Readers commended FTSE for its “conservative yet innovative set of indices”
 
20. Best ETF Administrator
 
State Street
 
Readers said “high level of technology and service, too big to fail.”