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S&P: Institutional ETFs become the new normal
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have evolved from a tactical trading tool into a core portfolio management instrument for institutional investors, with adoption continuing to accelerate across North America, according to S&P Global. Once primarily used for short-term portfolio functions such as liquidity management, manager transitions and portfolio completion, ETFs are increasingly being deployed as long-term strategic investments as institutions shift towards passive investment strategies. Research conducted by Crisil Coalition Greenwich on behalf of S&P Dow Jones Indices surveyed 150 institutions across the United States and Canada, finding that ETFs have become a mainstream component of institutional portfolios. More than half of North American institutions now use ETFs, with 54% reporting exposure to the investment vehicle. Adoption is highest among U.S. institutions, where 56% use ETFs. The largest institutions by assets under management are among the most active users, with more than half of funds managing between $1 billion and $10 billion using ETFs, while nearly two-thirds of institutions with more than $10 billion in assets have adopted them. Insurance companies, endowments and foundations are among the stro
ETFs
ASX debuts first humanoid robotics ETF
While exchange traded funds (ETFs) dedicated to robotics have been on the increase in the United States since 2013, investors can now become more granular in their stock picking with the first U.S.-listed pure-play ETF in humanoid robotics - once confined to science fiction - coming to market last year. In June 2025, Roundhill Humanoid Robotics ETF (Cboe: HUMN) became the first U.S.-listed humanoid ETF that’s actively managed and includes major holdings like Tesla and NVIDIA. Within days of Roundhill’s HUMN ETF coming to market, KraneShares launched its equal-weighted Humanoid Robotics ETF, the KraneShares Global Humanoid Robotics and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF (Nasdaq: KOID). With KOID, investors get exposure to the humanoid robotics ecosystem, including the “brain” of the humanoid (semiconductors & technology), the “body” (actuation systems, mechanical systems, sensing & perception, critical materials), and humanoid “integrators” (the companies actually manufacturing humanoids).Global X launches Humanoid Robotics ETFSince these two ETFs first came to market in the U.S. last year, Australian investors have also been invited to play in the Humanoid Robotics sandpit, with ETF issuer Global X launching its Humanoid Rob
ETFs
Asian equity resurgence warrants rethink via ETFs
After experiencing a bonanza year in 2025 – outperforming the S&P 500 Index - Asian equities look set to extend their winning streak in 2026, after climbing 7.5% in January alone. As of mid-February, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index has surged more than 12% year-to-date - its best start to the year this century. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ 100 are down 0.52% and 1.22%, respectively, over the same period, which marks the weakest start to the year for United States stocks relative to the rest of the world since 1995. What’s clearly playing on the performance of these two U.S. exchanges is the rotation away from U.S. tech stocks. According to the latest Bank of America Global Fund Manager Survey, investors have slashed their allocations to U.S. tech equities and are now a net 5% overweight to technology, compared to a net 19% overweight a month ago. Propelled by strong performances in Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Thailand, Bloomberg’s Asia Pacific market index has also surged by around 11% this year.Valuation playUndervalued Asian equities that offer similar growth to U.S. tech – that trade on significantly lower PE multiples – appear to be benefitting from the rotation of global capital away from the U.S software comp
ETFs
Bond ETFs reshaping Australia’s fixed income market
Due to the flight to stability amid global trade and geopolitical uncertainty, fixed income was the anchor allocation for Australian investors in 2025 which was record-breaking year for the asset class. Given that market volatility remains at elevated and structurally higher levels in 2026, the lurch in fixed income is expected to remain high, while the new investing regime characterised by higher inflation is likely to give it an extra kicker. Bottom line is, the way Australian investors are accessing their fixed income exposure is materially impacting how bond markets function. While total net inflows into managed fund fixed income strategies reached $17.3 billion, those choosing access to fixed income via ETFs have gone through the roof. Within the ETF sector specifically, fixed income attracted between $11.6 billion and $14 billion in record inflows, nearly doubling the previous year's result. What’s clearly evident from bond ETF turnover is that investors are increasingly turning to ETFs when traditional fixed income markets struggle to function properly. It appears that fixed income ETFs are outpacing the traditional bond market primarily due to their role as a pressure valve offering a critical layer of "s
ETFs
ETF watch: VanEck boards uranium’s growth train
VanEck is capitalising on the booming demand for uranium with plans to launch a uranium exchange-traded fund (ETF) on the ASX on 30 October, making it the issuer’s 47th ETF to list on the ASX. Dubbed the VanEck Uranium and Energy Innovation ETF (ASX: URAN), the ETF will provide investors with targeted exposure to global companies across the uranium and nuclear energy value chain. What’s clearly attracted VanEck to the underlying narrative around uranium are clear signals that the soft yellow commodity is in the early phases of a global nuclear power renaissance. “Major governments have committed to ramping up nuclear power capacity and utilisation, recognising the vital role it can play as part of a resilient, low-carbon energy mix," said the company’s Asia Pacific CEO Arian Neiron. Neiron also reminded investors that the structural growth opportunity underpinning uranium spans the entire value chain, from the miners and reactor developers through to the enrichment plants and engineers. "URAN is designed to give investors targeted, rules-based access to this high-growth segment, which is under-represented in most benchmarks," Neiron said. While Neiron expects a long runway for the nuclear ecosystem as more countr

ETFs
Vanguard to launch first actively managed stock ETFs
Vanguard, the world’s second-largest asset manager and a pioneer of low-cost index investing, is preparing to enter the United States market with actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the first time. According to regulatory filings on Monday, the company plans to launch ETF versions of three existing mutual funds, each pursuing a distinct strategy focused on dividend growth, growth stocks and value stocks. Wellington Management will oversee the active management of the funds, marking a shift in Vanguard’s approach to exchange-traded products. Vanguard already offers a small suite of actively managed bond ETFs, but the latest filings represent its first foray into active equity ETFs. The move comes amid a wave of launches from asset managers seeking to capture rising investor demand for active ETFs that promise the potential to outperform benchmarks while still offering tax efficiency and lower costs compared to traditional mutual funds. The three ETFs will not be entirely new creations but will build on established strategies and experienced managers. The Vanguard Wellington Dividend Growth Active ETF (VDIG) will be overseen by Peter Fisher, who currently manages the Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund and Van
ETFs
How to work out the total returns of your shares
It is tempting to judge your stock-picking success on the rise or fall of the stock price at any given moment but it is important to remember that capital gains – the difference between the purchase price and what the stock is worth now – are not a complete picture of how your shares have generated returns within your portfolio. Ironically, while some investors are fixated exclusively on share price, another cohort - typically income-focused investors – can be singularly focused on income derived from myriad forms of corporate activity and virtually ignore share-price movements. A more definitive pictureHowever, a more complete way to gauge how a stock has performed over a specified time frame is to take what is called a total returns snapshot. It is not brain surgery -total return typically refers to the return from all sources, including capital gains and the all-too often overlooked income from dividends - and/or or other distributions to you the shareholder – within a single metric. This more holistic measure is also useful when wanting to compare investment returns among dividend-paying stocks, and how they rate with their non-dividend-paying counterparts. It can also help compare investment results when a stock
ETFs
Betashares expands with new Private Capital division
After launching its first Global Bond ETF early this month, Betashares is seeking to capitalise on growing investor and adviser demand for diversified portfolios of equities and bonds - offering compelling risk-adjusted returns – by opening a new Private Capital division. Having recognised that the Australian market has been underserved when it comes to high-quality global private asset options, Betashares initially flagged its plans to push into private markets earlier this year. Since then, Betashares has hired James Fleiter, a former relationship manager at Ares Management, to lead the development of its private assets offering. In response to the rising prominence of private markets among wealth managers and institutions, Betashares expects its private capital division to offer institutional-grade private market investment solutions - plus educational content - to Australian wholesale investors, financial advisers and their clients. To the uninitiated, private markets refer to the investment in the capital of privately owned companies versus publicly traded companies and typically includes asset classes like private credit, private equity, venture capital, private infrastructure, and private real estate. Given t
ETFs
Betashares' Australian-first defined income ETF range
Having read the tea leaves of nervous income-focused investors, concerned over the certainty of income with interest rates on the slide and hybrids coming to an end, ETF issuer Betashares has launched a range of fixed income ETFs with a twist. What’s different about these ETFs is that they promise to deliver predictable monthly income with a defined maturity date. Betashares Defined Income Bond ETFs are targeted at a growing cohort of investors seeking greater predictability in cash flow and capital return. It’s understood that the new fund combines the traditional features of a single bond held to maturity – including regular payments and a set end date – with the diversification, flexibility, liquidity, and transparency benefits of an ETF structure.Investment grade corporate bondsEach ETF in the Defined Income Range holds a diversified portfolio of investment-grade Australian corporate bonds which mature in the 12 months leading up to a specific date (e.g. May 2028, 2029 or 2030). Investors can expect targeted monthly income payments until the Fund’s maturity date. Once the fund matures, investors receive the value of their units, mirroring the experience of holding an individual bond to maturity.Buy/sell any time