ETFs opens doors to range of assets



Managed accounts can use exchange traded products (ETP) as a building block with multiple applications, according to BetaShares.
BetaShares director of institutional business and national accounts Vinnie Wadhera said ETPs are being applied in three different ways, including core exposures, access to specific strategies or asset classes, and dynamic asset allocation.
Speaking at the Institute of Managed Account Providers (IMAP) event, Wadhera said for core exposures, exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be used alone to create balanced portfolios or can be combined with active managers.
ETFs may also open doors to strategies or asset classes which may otherwise be difficult to apply.
"We've seen advisers adopt exchange traded products which seek to provide enhanced equity yield performance or portfolio hedging exposure, which would be difficult to obtain via other means," Wadhera said.
"We've also seen interest in specific asset classes such as currency and commodities, for the same reason."
Recommended for you
Infrastructure assets are well-positioned to hedge against global uncertainty and can enhance the diversification of traditional portfolios with their evergreen characteristics, an investment chief believes.
Volatility in US markets means currency is becoming a critical decision factor in Australian investors’ ETF selection this year.
Clime Investment Management is overhauling the selection process for its APLs, with managing director Michael Baragwanath describing the threat of a product failure affecting clients as “pure nightmare fuel”.
Global X will expand its ETF range of exchange-traded funds next month with a low-cost Australian equity product as it chases ambitions of becoming a top issuer of ETFs in Australia.