New products and changes introduced over the past week an international small-cap fund from LMCG Investments, a strategic bond fund from Capital Group, two gold-hedged equity ETFs from Rex Shares, three inverse ETFs from Direxion and a robo-advisor from SigFig and Cambridge Savings Bank.
In addition, Lincoln Financial Group enhanced its retirement plan program for small business clients; IRA Services launched a retirement investment solution for the P2P industry; LendingRobot added a mobile app; and Lombard International expanded its U.S. presence.
Here are the latest developments of interest to advisors:
1) LMCG Investments Launches International Small-Cap Fund
LMCG Investments launched the LMCG International Small Cap Fund (ISMRX, ISMIX), which focuses on international small-cap stocks with attractive valuations that also have good growth prospects and high-quality earnings.
The fund was converted from a collective trust fund that was available only to institutional investors since its inception in August 2010. It's managed by Gordon Johnson and co-manager Shannon Ericson.
2) Capital Group Adds Strategic Bond Fund
Capital Group added American Funds Strategic Bond Fund (SBF), which will be benchmarked against the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index.
SBF seeks to generate returns through multiple sources, including interest rate management and yield curve positioning. It has broad flexibility to invest in different credits but is not expected to have a heavy exposure to high-yield securities.
3) Rex Shares Adds Two Gold-Hedged Equity ETFs
Rex Shares introduced the REX Gold Hedged S&P 500 ETF (GHS) and REX Gold Hedged FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (GHE). Both funds allow investors to diversify their portfolios by accessing exposure to gold without reducing equity allocations. They are also designed to protect against the risk of a weakening U.S. dollar.
GHS is benchmarked against the S&P 500 Dynamic Gold Hedged Index and GHE is benchmarked against the FTSE Emerging Gold Overlay Index. Each fund provides exposure to its respective equity index allocation and additionally buys gold futures contracts to gain long gold exposure.
4) Direxion Adds Three Inverse ETFs
Direxion added three inverse ETFs designed for allow tactical managers to hedge against short-term market risk in certain sectors without the need to reconstruct a portfolio.
