This week saw the ETF launch news dominated by themes again. Goldman Sachs launched its first transparent, actively managed equity ETF, the Future Planet Equity ETF, designed to expand the firm’s existing suite of thematic ETFs, to help investors position their portfolios on the right side of disruption by providing focused exposure to long-term secular growth trends.

Despite a shorter week in the US, with the fourth of July celebrations taking place on the Monday, ETF launches continued apace this week.

Saturna Capital and HANetf have today announced the launch of an actively manged, sustainable ETF, the Saturna Sustainable ESG Equity HANzero UCITS ETF (SESG) ‘SESG’. The ETF will launch via the HANetf platform and will list on the London Stock Exchange in early July.

ESG concerns dominated fund launches this week. Carbon offsetting specifically was a key theme, with BNP Paribas listing the BNP Paribas Easy Low Carbon 300 World PAC UCITS ETF, a thematic listed index fund offering savers an investment solution to reduce the carbon footprint of their portfolio, and Purpose Investment and HANetf launching Europe’s first carbon offset ETF on the LSE. HANetf also debuted new renewable energies and aviation thematic ETFs on Xetra, focusing on 50 companies worldwide that supply products for decentralised renewable power generation. IndexIQ launched a new ESG Core Plus Bond ETF in partnership with MacKay Shields, and iShares listed new sustainability-focused ETFs on Xetra, tracking the performance of medium-sized and large companies from the USA selected on the basis of standardised ESG exclusion filters. The first ESG-focused Gold Mining ETF is to launch on the LSE, allowing investors to access the gold mining sector in a responsible way. Finally, moving away from sustainable investing, 21Shares listed the Solana ETP on SIX Exchange, offering additional yield through staking rewards by validating transactions on the Solana blockchain.

Fast-growing Asian markets were the focus for Dawn Global this week, with the listing of the Asian Growth Cubs ETF on the NYSE offering investors actively managed exposure to emerging/frontier growth markets such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam. BNP Paribas turned its attention to sustainable investing, with the BNP Paribas Easy ESG Growth Europe UCITS ETF providing investors with the opportunity to participate in the performance of European companies with fundamental growth prospects, while excluding firms that violate the principles of the UN Global Compact. Elsewhere, the Global Palladium Fund launched what it says are the world’s only physically-backed copper and nickel ETCs, offering a cost-effective way for European-based investors to achieve exposure to the metals. Finally, Horizons ETFs had a big week, launching the tech-focused Horizons Global Semiconductor Index ETF (CHPS) on TSX, Canada’s first ETF to offer exposure to the semiconductor space, as well as two new lithium- and hydrogen-focused ETFs, adding to the company's suite of alternative energy ETFs.

Space and aviation were the focus this week, with the listing of the US Global Jets UCITS ETF (JETS) on the HANetf platform, delivering exposure to the commercial airline, airline manufacturing and terminal service industries. HANetf also launched a new ETF on Xetra providing investors with access to companies in the space industry and satellite technologies sectors, plus a fund focused on sports betting and iGaming. New tech funds included an Invesco ETF aiming to track technology companies in China, with a focus on innovative tech rather than computer hardware and software businesses. ETFMG also issued two leveraged ETFs giving investors exposure to travel technology. Over in the US, BMO Investments launched the BMO US All Cap Equity Fund ETF Series, providing long-term capital growth by investing in equity securities of US companies of any size of market capitalisation, and Syntax Advisers listed the Syntax Stratified US Total Market Hedged ETF on NYSE, offering an alternative to cap weighted and equal weighted index products through a suite of ETFs covering US LargeCap, MidCap, SmallCap and US Total Market exposure.  

Crypto launches took centre stage this week, with CoinShares listing bitcoin, ether and litecoin ETPs on Borse Xetra. 21Shares also launched a UK bitcoin ETP on Aquis Exchange, designed to provide institutional investors with secure and cost-effective exposure to the cryptocurrency. ESG launches were also popular, with iClima Earth listing the world’s first ESG UCITS ETF providing exposure to companies promoting the decentralisation of energy generation. State Street Global Advisors also launched three new SDPR ETS focusing on companies with steady dividend growth and a good ESG profile. Funds also focused on Europe, with a new Lyxor ETF on Xetra giving investors access to fixed-income and euro-denominated eurozone government bonds, and the Polish WIGtechTR ETF listed on GPW providing investors with exposure to the top 49 stocks listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. KraneShares has it's sights set on the Far East meanwhile with the Bloomberg Barclays China Bond Inclusion ETF which tracks Chinese RMB-denominated securities. Finally, it was all bout biotech for WisdomTree, with the of listing the WisdomTree BioRevolution Fund (WDNA) offering diversified exposure to a basked of companies positioned at the intersection of biology and technology.

For something a little different this week, Defiance ETFs launched the first US-listed psychedelic-themed ETF, the $PSY, giving investors exposure to companies involved in the development of the next generation of medicine, including psychedelics and cannabis. Crypto launches remained popular as always, with Osprey Funds bringing to market an ETF offering exposure to ALGO, the native token of the Algorand network, a proof-of-stake blockchain. ETC Group also listed the first UK bitcoin ETP on Aquis Exchange, marking the first time a cryptocurrency ETP has been available for trading on any UK market. One for the Star Wars fans, Europe’s first space ETF was listed by HANetf, the Procure Space UCITS ETF (YODA), on the LSE, designed to capture growth in the space industry. Elsewhere, Invesco turned its focus to tech, launching two new thematic technology ETFs in partnership with Nasdaq in Canada, allowing clients distinctive entry points to disruptive companies listed on Nasdaq. Finally, Horizons ETF turned its focus to ESG investing, launching Canada’s first ETF focused exclusively on providing exposure to a portfolio of global green bonds. 

ESG was a key theme this week, with the listing of the Solar Energy UCITS ETF on LSE offering Europe’s first pure-play exposure to the global solar energy industry. Vanguard launched the Vanguard ESG Global Corporate Bond UCITS ETF EUR providing investors with access to fixed-income bonds issued by ESG focused companies that have an investment grade rating. As always, crypto remained key, with ETC group listing exchange traded physical ether and litecoin ETCs on SIX. Simplify Asset Management launched the Simplify US Equity Plus GBTC ETF that invests at least 15 per cent of net assets in bitcoin via the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, and FiCAS AG debuted an actively managed crypto ETP on the Vienna Stock Exchange. SonicShares set its sights on post-pandemic recovery with the listing of the SonicShares Airlines, Hotels, Cruise Lines ETF (TRYP), the only US-listed ETF that provides investors with exposure to the three major components of the travel industry. Striking a more cautious note, the Fat Tail Risk ETF launched on NYSE, designed to protect investors’ portfolios against major market declines. Elsewhere, Strategy Shares launched the First Gold-Hedged Bond ETF (GDLB) designed to enable investors to generate income from a portfolio of investment grade corporate bonds while hedging against inflation with a gold overlay. Finally, ProShares launched the Nasdaq-100 Dorsey Wright Momentum ETF, the first ETF focusing on select Nasdaq-100 stocks identified as having the greatest potential to outperform.

Crypto themed ETFs led the way this week, with Wisebitcoin launching the SOL ETF, SOL being the native token for Solana, a platform providing scalable blockchain infrastructure for developers. Valour also launched the Cardano and Polkadot ETPs on the Nordic Growth Markets (NGM), both enabling investors to gain exposure to popular digital assets directly via their bank or broker. Loyalty Preference Index launched one of the first funds serving the principles of the LGBTQ community, the LGBTQ+ ESG100 ETF, that tracks the performance of corporations that embrace ESG principles in the workplace and advance equality. Launches this week also centred on the US: First Trust launched the First Trust New York Municipal High Income ETF investing in municipal debt securities issued by the state of New York, and Tabula listed the Tabula US Enhanced Inflation UCITS ETF (USD) providing investors with a strategy that enables protection against inflation risk. Back in Europe, a new iShares ETF was listed on Xetra allowing investors to participate in large and medium-sized companies from industrial sectors in 15 developed countries in Europe. Finally, ETFMG extended its suite of cannabis-themed ETFs with the US Alternative Harvest ETF listed on NYSE, offering investors access to companies producing and distributing cannabis products in the US.