Institutional investors are finally returning to the energy sector after a prolonged stretch of under-performance aided by collapsing oil prices, according to Simon Lack, managing partner at SL Advisors and manager of the American Energy Independence ETF (USAI). »

Amundi, Europe’s largest fund manager, has announced ambitious plans to double the assets under management of its ETF, Indexing and Smart Beta business line to EUR200 billion by 2023.  »

Morningstar has published its fifth annual Global Guide to Strategic-Beta Exchange-Traded Products, revealing that while smart beta ETP assets expanded just 0.5 per cent in 2018, organic growth in the strategy was strong. »

The etfexpress Awards 2019 recognise excellence among managers and service providers of exchange traded funds. The winners, who were presented with their awards in London on 7 March, were decided by a poll of etfexpress readers, both investors and managers, as well as other industry professionals at firms including fund administrators, custodians, accountants and auditors, law firms, consultants and distributors. »

Last week saw the launch of the Defiance 5G Next Gen Connectivity ETF (FIVG) from Defiance ETFs, the first, and only ETF in the US to provide targeted exposure to the 5G ecosystem, the firm says. »

BNP Paribas Securities Services is pushing ahead in its campaign to bring its services offering to the ETF industry in the US and Ireland. »

Brexit, and its many possible forms, holds few fears in relation to structuring ETFs for Brian Higgins, partner, Asset Management and Investment Funds at Dillon Eustace in Dublin.  »