Traditional index-tracking ETFs require an index to track. So what if there is no index, like in the case of balanced funds, or multi-asset portfolios? The construct of an actively-managed ETF provides an ideal solution for simple, straightforward, strategic, static asset allocation strategies in a cost-effective, rules-based, transparent investment option, suitable for all investor types.

With the top of the global interest rate cycle in focus, we turn our attention to the outlook for listed property companies and REITs, and the range of exchange-traded product options available on the JSE. There is more to consider than just the interest rate cycle, and we investigate how active management can be applied in global property ETF investments.

Just when you thought factor-based investments have passed their sell-by date, a new South African ETF issuer has burst onto the scene with a multi-factor, style-based, risk-managed, actively-managed domestic equity ETF.

For many investors the term ETF is synonymous with index-tracking, or so-called “passive” investments, and the concept of an actively-managed ETF therefore represents a contradiction in terms. But the term “active management” does not necessarily mean lots of activity or significant tracking differences to the reference index, and it offers opportunities to manage index-referenced investments more efficiently.

FNB recently listed three new offshore ETFs, but the underlyings are very familiar to us – MSCI World, MSCI Emerging Markets and S&P 500. How do you choose between multiple ETF options when they offer the same – or very similar – underlying investment exposure?

Financial advisors play an important and valuable role in the wealth creation and preservation journey. But can you DIY at least some of it, and if so, where and how? The ETFSA Investor Hub is the perfect combination of digital-when-you-want-it, and human-when-you-need-it.

Factor- and style-based investment strategies continue to evolve and attract the attention of portfolio managers and analysts alike. But when an ETF Manco proposes the amalgamation of two of their factor-based ETFs into a vanilla, size-based ETF, the inevitable question arises about the future of factor investing.

There is so much more to investment on the stock exchange than buying shares in local companies, and the strong growth in bond ETFs are testimony to the attraction of a whole new world for investors. Whether you think “bonds are boring”, or “the bond market is the smartest in the world”, this discussion on actively-managed bond ETFs is bound to expand your horizons.

As central banks continue with the interest rate mantra of “higher-for-longer”, the uncertainty of the timing and speed of expected rate cuts present specific challenges for investors looking for stable and inflation-beating income. An active strategy through this period of volatility and uncertainty can offer specific benefits, but do you understand the additional risks this may bring?

There has been a sudden surge in interest in precious metal ETFs in recent months, especially in platinum. What is driving this demand? Why can only some banks, and no asset managers, be issuers of commodity ETPs? In addition to platinum, we cover gold, silver, palladium and rhodium in this podcast.

The options for income and yield in an investment portfolio continues to expand, and in this episode we feature two new ETFs available to investors for consideration. The JSE is also getting its first actively-managed ETF, decisively crossing the divide between index tracking and active management in exchange-traded products. There is no such thing as “passive” in investments.

The appeal of dividends in an investment strategy is well-known, and arguably timeless, but supplementing this strategy with share buybacks is perhaps less well-known, and certainly not one that has been easily accessible for retail investors. The range of investment strategies available through the Actively-Managed Certificate (AMC) wrapper, listed on the JSE, continues to expand, and now also allows for easy access to an enhanced yield strategy, combining dividends and share buybacks in one...

Liquid Private Credit in the US market is an investment opportunity not readily available to South African investors in any form other than an actively-managed certificate (AMC). Prior to the global financial crisis in 2008, most companies raised capital and financing by traditional means such as either banks or via public debt, but subsequent regulatory changes restricted the amount of bank lending to smaller and riskier businesses. In simple terms, that’s where private credit stepped in to...

“Diversification is the only free lunch in town”. This statement is famously attributed to Nobel laureate Harry Markowitz, and is often cited as your best defence against market risk. But what does diversification mean in practice, and how can we use ETFs to achieve this in a portfolio?

Commodities represent an investment opportunity that is quite different from the more traditional asset classes such as equities and bonds, but one that is arguably not as well understood, and often quite difficult to access. Considering the current global inflation backdrop, as well as the synchronicity of traditional asset class performance, now is a good time to look for sources of uncorrelated risk-adjusted returns, such as those offered by a diversified basket of commodity exposures.

One of the most universal investment objectives is the attractiveness of dividends, especially if this can be earned in addition to capital growth, and during times of increased uncertainty the value of dividends in support of total return become even more valuable. Given the high inflationary environment in which we find ourselves, with talks of a possible global recession thrown in, many investors are searching high and low for returns with the hope of preserving capital, especially in real...

ETFs, ETNs, AMCs – three-letter acronyms that all fall under the umbrella of ETPs (exchange-traded products). It all sounds complicated and can become quite confusing. As an investor, how do you know which ones to invest in, and should you be concerned about the specific product structure of the investment? Simply put, ETPs offer the ability to diversify your portfolio by being invested in a basket of shares across different sectors and geographies, or get exposure to hard to come by...

Socially Responsible Investments, and specifically strategies designed to focus on Reduced Fossil Fuel, are to some extent a subset of a broader ESG focus on investment strategies. On the surface it ticks all the right boxes for retail and institutional investors alike. But what are some of the nuances of which investors should be aware, and how do you assess it for suitability in your investment portfolio, perhaps alongside exposure to physical commodities?

Inflation has risen sharply around the world due to the twin effects of very accommodative monetary policies and supply chain disruptions post Covid lockdowns, only to be compounded by the sharply higher energy and agricultural prices after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Inflation-linked bonds represent a possible hedge against the impact of rising prices in both our lives as consumers, but also in our investment portfolios.

Investments in healthcare products and services have expanded in recent years to also focus on new technologies and disruptive innovations, as the combination of the Covid pandemic and increased longevity and ageing populations have caused a shift in this traditionally defensive sector. What does this shift towards biotechnology, breakthrough innovations in life sciences and genomics, remote diagnosis and surgical procedures, to name but a few, mean for the investment case for healthcare?

In his recently published book – The Bogle Effect – Eric Balchunas credits Jack Bogle, the father of index investing and founder of the Vanguard Group, with saving investors over one trillion dollars (and counting), thanks to the direct and indirect effects of lower investment costs. Although the low cost structures of index funds take much of the credit, it is the unique mutual ownership structure of Vanguard that serves as the catalyst for investors receiving all the benefits of lower fees.

China as an investment destination has challenged the most determined of investors in recent years. The long-term growth prospects and the importance of China in the global investment universe are well established, but the when, what and how to invest in China, remain key questions. The range of options available on the JSE continue to expand, and this latest offering from Sygnia Itrix focus on the “new sectors” in the Chinese economy. What are these, and how does it compare to the...

Investments in little-known companies, illusive strategies and futuristic concepts comes with very specific risks, especially in the short-term, but with the appropriate long-term perspective, and alongside more traditional investment options in your portfolio, these could offer diversified and excess performance to investors. Such options are now available via actively-managed funds, and specifically as exchange-traded products, as we await the introduction of AMETFs – Actively Managed...

The annual SALTAs (SA Listed Tracker Awards) celebrate the achievements of ETP issuers in South Africa, and gives insight into measuring success for ETFs and ETNs - total return performance, tracking efficiency, capital raising, efficiency in trading, and the flagship People's Choice Award.