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July 02, 2018 at 10:21 AM
BlackRock is expanding its suite of thematic iShares ETFs with the launch of iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (IRBO).
This new ETF gives investors the ability to access companies that are creating rapid advancements across a wide variety of industries.
“Secular trends in technology aren’t confined to any one industry or geography, and that is particularly true for the broad-sweeping influence we see with robotics and AI driving innovation across all industries today,” Mark Alberici, head of iShares product innovation at BlackRock, said in a statement. “Investors looking to capture these long-term technology shifts now have a targeted solution available that reaches around the globe to offer exposure to leaders in robotics and AI.”
IRBO seeks to track an index that utilizes a rule-based security selection process to target the robotics and AI value chain.
IRBO offers investors access to two innovative and interconnected themes. As the components of the underlying index are equally weighted, IRBO is not dominated by mega-cap names and provides equal-weighted access to companies specializing in innovations across robotics and AI.
IRBO seeks to track the investment results of the NYSE FactSet Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Index, composed of developed and emerging market companies that could benefit from the long-term growth and innovation in robotics technologies and artificial intelligence.
Vanguard Files for 2 New ESG ETFs
Vanguard filed a preliminary registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for two new exchange-traded funds.
The new ETFs — Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF and Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF — will complement Vanguard’s existing FTSE Social Index Fund and are expected to begin trading in September.
The Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF will seek to track the FTSE US All Cap Choice Index, a market-cap weighted benchmark comprising large-, mid-, and small-cap U.S. stocks screened on specific environmental, social, and governance criteria.
The Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF’s target benchmark will be the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Choice Index, a market-cap weighted benchmark comprising large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks in developed and emerging international markets (excluding the U.S.) screened on specific environmental, social and governance criteria.
The estimated expense ratios for the new ETFs are 0.12% and 0.15%, respectively.
Vanguard’s Equity Index Group will serve as the investment advisor for both ETFs.
Fidelity Launches Sustainability Bond Index Fund
Fidelity Investments expanded its suite of sustainability-focused index funds with a new fixed income offering: the Fidelity Sustainability Bond Index Fund.
The fund is available directly to individual investors, as well as through third-party financial advisors and workplace retirement plans.
The share classes have total net expense ratios of 0.20% for the investor class (FNASX), 0.13% for the premium class (FNBSX), and 0.10% for the institutional class (FNDSX).
In addition to launching the Fidelity U.S. Sustainability Index Fund and Fidelity International Sustainability Index Fund in 2017, Fidelity also became a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and created an ESG office in its asset management division to further the integration of ESG considerations into investing practices.
Franklin Templeton Launches 3 New Emerging Market ETFs
Franklin Templeton recently filed for a trio of emerging market ETFs tracking cap-weighted indexes, according to ETF.com.
The three proposed funds are the Franklin Latin America ETF, the Franklin South Africa ETF and the Franklin Saudi Arabia ETF.
The filings did not include tickers or expense ratios. The filings also do not provide much information about the funds’ underlying indexes, according to ETF.com.
