The board of trustees of the Direxion Shares ETF Trust has approved changes to the names, tickers and investment adviser of the Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 1.25X Shares and the Direxion Daily Small Cap Bull 1.25X Shares, effective from 15 February 2018.

Amundi has cross-listed four equity ETFs onto SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich, expanding its offering for Switzerland-based investors looking for locally listed access. Three of the ETFs track MSCI indices, while the fourth tracks an index from S&P Dow Jones Indices. They include Europe ex-Switzerland, world energy, world financials and global luxury exposures, all based on developed-market stocks.

The first ETF to use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and invest in blockchain innovators and adopters has launched on NYSE Arca. The Innovation Shares NextGen Protocol ETF (KOIN US) provides investors with a thematic play on developments in blockchain technology. “Blockchain is a highly innovative technology, and we’re applying an innovative approach to identifying the stocks leveraged to the theme,” said Matt Markiewicz, managing director with Innovation Shares.

BMO Global Asset Management has released its annual ETF Outlook Report looking at some of the themes powering the ETF industry in the coming year, including fixed income, thematic investing and ESG. Also in the report is a forecast for the global ETF industry to grow to $10 trillion in assets under management by 2023.

Amundi has cross-listed a medley of five equity ETFs to Borsa Italiana in Milan, expanding its footprint in the Italian market. The ETFs – which offer a varied assortment of exposures – provide a locally listed access point for domestic Italian investors. They include sector-specific exposures to energy, financials and luxury goods; Italian large-caps; and a play on US share buybacks.

State Street Global Advisors, the asset manager behind the SPDR range of ETFs, has celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first ever US-listed ETF, its SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY US). Launched on 29 January 1993 with just $6.5m in assets, SPY is now a behemoth with more than $302bn in AUM and average daily trading volume of nearly $25bn.

By Eng Teck Tan, senior portfolio manager, Asian equity at Nikko Asset Management.

Investors today are used to designing and managing portfolios of Asia ex-Japan or even Asia-Pacific ex-Japan stocks. But imagine a day when Asia ex-China portfolios are the norm. We think this is not too far-fetched an idea.

UBS Investment Bank has launched the InsightShares Patriotic Employers ETF (HONR US) on NYSE Arca, providing exposure to US-listed companies that demonstrate strong support for US military veterans through post-service employment opportunities.

Franklin Templeton Investments Canada has launched two smart beta ETFs on Toronto Stock Exchange, providing exposure to quality dividend-paying stocks globally and emerging market equities selected using a multifactor approach. Duane Green, president and CEO, Franklin Templeton Investments Canada, said, “In building out our ETF platform, we are now offering advisors and investors a range of options to help diversify a Canadian-focused portfolio.”

Motley Fool Asset Management has debuted its first ETF – the Motley Fool 100 ETF (TMFC US) – by listing the fund on Cboe ETF Marketplace. TMFC invests in US equities which are among the highest conviction stocks based on Motley Fool analyst research. Bryan Hinmon, chief investment officer of Motley Fool Asset Management, said, “We can now provide investors with the stock-picking acumen of Motley Fool analysts with the ease of a passive investing vehicle.”