New products introduced over the last week include Vanguard's planned launch of two new international funds and ETFs; an emerging markets value stock fund from T. Rowe Price; and four ex-sector ETFs from ProShares.
Also, Reaves Asset Management launched an actively managed utilities ETF and SunGard launched five financial planning applications through the Windows Store.
Here are the latest developments of interest to advisors:
1) Vanguard to Launch International Funds & ETFs
Vanguard filed registration statements with the SEC to launch two new international index funds it expects to launch in December. The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund will track the performance of the FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index, a benchmark of more than 800 of the highest-yielding large- and mid-cap developed and emerging markets securities.
The Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index Fund will track the Nasdaq International Dividend Achievers Select Index. This benchmark is made up of more than 200 all-cap developed and emerging markets stocks with a long track record of increasing annual dividend payments.
Both funds will offer three share classes: investor, admiral and ETF.
2) T. Rowe Price Adds EM Value Stock Fund
T. Rowe Price launched the Emerging Markets Value Stock Fund (PRIJX, PAIJX), which seeks long-term growth of capital by investing in emerging market companies that are out of favor and undervalued but possess identified catalysts that could drive their stock prices higher.
The fund, which is managed by Ernest Yeung, will have a broad geographic diversification across emerging markets in Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, minus Japan. Some of the fund's more heavily weighted markets currently include Romania, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, China, South Korea and Taiwan. Sectors are also diversified, with current weightings favoring financial, telecommunications services and consumer discretionary stocks.
