The Royal Mint is set to become the first sovereign mint in Europe to launch a physically backed gold ETC. The ETC is being brought to market in collaboration with HANetf, an independent white-label ETF issuer, and is expected to debut in early 2020. Anne Jessopp, CEO of The Royal Mint, commented, “This is a milestone moment for The Royal Mint as we prepare to launch our first financially listed product and reinvent what it means to be a Mint in the modern age.”

An ongoing rally in the price of carbon futures, driven by tighter regulations aimed at combating climate change, has led to massive gains for WisdomTree’s ETFS Carbon which has posted a return of almost 300% in the past two years.

Exchange-traded products linked to changes in the spot price of nickel have soared recently amid reports that Indonesia, the metal’s largest producer, is planning to impose a ban on ore exports. WisdomTree’s ETFS Nickel (NICK LN), by far the largest and most liquid nickel-tracking ETP, has risen 32.3% between 2 July and 14 August 2019. Aneeka Gupta, Associate Director, Research at WisdomTree, “expect[s] further appreciation in nickel prices owing to the ongoing supply deficit (among the deepest of the base metals) coupled with rising demand from battery technology used in electric vehicles.”

The Aberdeen Standard Physical Gold Shares ETF (SGOL US) is back above $1 billion in assets under management. The fund, which is the third-largest US gold ETF, is backed by physical gold and provides exposure to changes in the metal’s spot price.

Aussie ETF issuer BetaShares has unveiled its latest fund – the BetaShares India Quality ETF (IIND AU) – on Australian Securities Exchange. The fund, which is linked to the Solactive India Quality Select Index, delivers exposure to a portfolio of 30 Indian equities with high-quality characteristics. It provides Australian investors with an opportunity to diversify their portfolios and a vehicle to tap into India’s robust growth story.

WisdomTree has announced changes to its European ETP roster as the firm completes the integration of ETF Securities’ European commodity, currency, and short-and-leveraged ETP business. At the end of September, WisdomTree plans to unify 224 products (including ETFS- and Boost-branded ETPs) under one WisdomTree brand and close 192 duplicative or extraneous products. Alexis Marinof, Head of WisdomTree Europe, said, “The final stage of integration of ETF Securities allows us to be Europe’s leading authority in commodities on top of WisdomTree’s existing strength in smart beta equities, fixed income, and more.”

By Ryan Krystopowicz, Associate, Asset Allocation at WisdomTree.

Over 85% of the current advisory population is not using external model portfolio providers. Why aren’t more advisors adopting ETF model portfolios in their practice? Perhaps it’s because of some of the myths surrounding them.

Amundi has launched a physical gold ETC on Euronext Paris, Euronext Amsterdam and Xetra. The Amundi Physical Gold ETC comes with a total expense ratio of just 0.19%, providing one of the lowest-cost means of gaining exposure to changes in the spot price of gold. Fannie Wurtz, Head of Amundi ETF, Indexing & Smart Beta, said, “In an uncertain environment, more and more investors are looking for long-term portfolio protection solutions. That’s why we’re pleased to offer investors the Amundi Physical Gold ETC, a new low-cost solution that enables them to efficiently integrate gold into their allocation.”

By Aneeka Gupta, Associate Director of Research, WisdomTree.

Palladium has staged a strong performance, rising 140% over the last three years (from 6 June 2016 to 6 June 2019), in comparison to its sister metal, platinum, whose performance has languished over the same period, rising only 35% owing primarily to the “Dieselgate” scandal sparked by Volkswagen in 2016.

Gold-linked ETFs are benefitting from a rally in the gold price of 9.4% over the past month. According to analysts, the rally is a result of dovish rhetoric from the US Federal Reserve, concerns over a slowdown in US and global economic growth, and rising geopolitical tensions.