Performance

The SPDR NYSE Technology ETF (MTK) outperformed all other non-leveraged ETF for the week ending February 9, 2018, finishing flat. The next best performer during this worst week in two years was the SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock ETF (PSK), down -0.4%.

And underperforming other ETFs is the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF (XES), off about 14.3% this week. The iShares U.S. Oil Equipment & Services ETF (IEZ) was also down 13.4% this week.

Source: ETF Channel

Launches

• Franklin Templeton adds four funds to its country ETFs lineup.
• Metaurus enters ETF market with funds that separate dividend and stock performance.

Closures

• Extreme market volatility triggers the closure of the VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX Short-Term ETN (XIV).

Filings

• Direxion plans six leveraged funds covering lithium, robotics and preferred stocks.
• iShares transitions its active iShares Edge U.S. Fixed Income Balanced Risk ETF (FIBR) to passive management.
• Vanguard’s REIT ETF changes name, index.

Fund Flows

• In a complete turnaround, investors yanked $18.9B from US-listed ETFs this week, led by US Equity funds, with -$21.8B outflows. US Fixed Income saw an overall gain of $1.6B, and so did international equities, with $800M of inflows. Inverse and Leveraged ETFs had understandably gained significant assets this week.
• The largest ETF in the world, SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) lost a lion’s share, some -$17.5B of outflows.
• Notable inflows include iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) with another impressive $1.9B AUM gain. Other gainers mostly also follow the theme of flight to quality: iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA), with $1.7 B of inflows, as well as iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), with $565M, SPDR S&P Midcap 400 ETF Trust (MDY), with $461M, and iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG), with $429M. Another standout was ProShares Short VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (SVXY), with $1.6B of net inflows, in a contrarian bet on volatility and also due to the announced delisting of its rival, the VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX Short-Term ETN (XIV).
• The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) led all other ETFs in outflows this week, -$2.0B. It was followed by bond funds iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD), with -$1.3B, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (JNK), -$1.1B, and Shares JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMB), down -$1.1B. The next category of outflows was technology, with Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) and PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ) losing -$998M and -$942M, respectively.

Source: ETF.com

Performance

The First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund ETF (QABA) outperformed all other non-leveraged ETF for the week ending February 2, 2018, up 0.2%. Another positive performance during this sell-off week was the PowerShares KBW Regional Banking Portfolio (KBWR), with a 0.1% weekly gain.

And underperforming other ETFs is the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP), off about 8.6% this week. The First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund (FXN) was also down 8.2% this week.

Source: ETF Channel

Launches

• New blockchain fund relies on artificial intelligence
• The Motley Fool enters the ETF industry
• WisdomTree rolls out small-cap put-write ETF
• KraneShares debuts China health care sector fund
• J.P. Morgan unveils emerging markets sovereign bond ETF

Closures

• IndexIQ closing three of its funds

Filings

• T. Boone Pickens lends his name to an equity ETF

Fund Flows

• Investors added $15.5 billion to U.S.-listed ETFs this week, led by US Equity funds, with $8.6 billion inflows. Among the major asset categories, only commodities and alternatives saw outflows this week.
• The largest ETF in the world, SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) took another $5.8 billion of inflows.
• Other notable inflows include iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) with an impressive $2.8 billion AUM gain, as well as iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) with $993 million, PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ), with $933 million, and VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX Short-Term ETN (XIV), with $805 million, as the spike in volatility attracted more assets.
• The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) led all ETFs in outflows this week, -$2.1 billion, as investors tried to reposition their portfolios. It was followed by iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), with $-688 million, SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (JNK), -$625 million, Vanguard REIT ETF (VNQ), -$456 million, and iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB), down -$420 million.

Source: ETF.com

Performance

The Colombia ETF (COLX) was the best performing non-leveraged ETF for the week ending January 27, 2018, up 4.8%. Another standout this week was the Dynamic Semiconductors Portfolio (PSI), with a 2.3% weekly gain.

And underperforming other ETFs, ironically, is Top Guru Holdings Index ETF (GURU), down 12.8% this week, as several holdings of the concentrated portfolio took heavy losses. The FTSE Argentina 20 ETF (ARGT) was another notable underperformer, falling about 4.2% this week.

Source: ETF Channel

Launches

• First Trust debuts lowest-cost blockchain ETF.
• J.P. Morgan adds long/short fund to its alternative ETFs lineup.
• GraniteShares launches low-cost physical platinum ETF.
• Bank of Montreal and REX Shares roll out leveraged “FANG” ETNs.

Filings

• Amplify plans tactical allocation fund

Fund Flows

• Investors added $16.6 billion to U.S.-listed ETFs this week, bringing YTD inflows to $50.6 billion.
• SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) took $6.2 billion of inflows that pushed assets under management for the world’s largest ETF to break the $300 billion milestone.
• Other notable inflows include Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) with $685 million, continuing the trend, and the contrarian Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU), with $566 million this week even as utility stocks struggled due to rising interest rates.
• Bond ETFs continued to lead outflows this week, with the iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) and the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) leading the way, with -$612 million and -$542 million, respectively. The next largest outflow came from the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY), with -$523 million.

Source: ETF.com

Performance

The iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) was the best performing non-leveraged ETF this week, up 4.4%. The honorable mention this week goes to the PowerShares DWA Developed Markets Momentum Portfolio (PIZ), with a 3.5% weekly gain.

And underperforming other ETFs is the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF (XES), down 4.7% this week, after a very strong start to the year. The iShares U.S. Oil Equipment & Services ETF (IEZ), with a similar portfolio, fell 3.7% on the week.

Source: ETF Channel

Launches

• Amplify and Reality Shares launch first U.S.-listed blockchain ETFs
• New InsightShares ETF invests in employers that support veterans
• Fidelity rolls out two smart-beta developed ex-U.S. funds
• Barclays debuts 17 “Series B” iPath ETNs
• Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF offers international smart-beta exposure
• Strategy Shares launches a multi-asset fund with leverage element
• American Century rolls out a smart-beta equity ETF and an actively managed bond ETF

Closures

• Barclays to shutter 50 iPath ETNs in dramatic lineup revamp
• Nashville-focused ETF set to close

Filings

• Prudential files for ultra-short bond ETF
• Pacer plans fund targeting companies that support veterans

Fund Flows

• Investors added $15.9 billion to U.S.-listed ETFs this week
• SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) took the bulk of it, $7.8 billion of inflows that pushed assets under management for the world’s largest ETF to $292.4 billion, not far from the $300 billion milestone
• iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) was the top international equity fund of the week, with inflows of $1 billion, while the Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX) was the most popular fixed-income product, with inflows of $571 million
• The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) had the biggest outflows of $1.2 billion on the week. It was followed by a group of bond ETFs including the SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (JNK), the iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD), the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) and the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF).

Source: ETF.com