Lyxor ETF has launched five new Thematic ETFs offering unique access to the investment themes and megatrends reshaping industries across the globe: the growth of the Digital Economy and Disruptive Technology, urban change with Future Mobility and Smart Cities, and the consumption habits of Millennials. These emerging themes may allow investors to capture investment opportunities that go beyond traditional sector and market-cap-weighted funds.
Using indices calculated by MSCI, the leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for institutional investors, and with customisations developed in conjunction with Lyxor, each of these ETFs is a true step forward for today’s fund management industry.
The thematic indices employ a set of keywords comprised of theme-related products, services and concepts – created using natural language processing and the latest data science technologies – to identify companies for inclusion in a rules-based way, based on the proportion of their business revenue linked to a particular theme.
A group of experts retained by MSCI are consulted to help ensure each index’s objectives and any associated sub-themes remain the optimal, most up-to-date way of capturing a particular trend.
Each index is filtered based on MSCI ESG Ratings, controversy scores and the exclusion of certain business activities, with final stock weights based on a combined score of three fundamental metrics.
By combining the three pillars of transparent indexing, cutting edge data science and human insight on trend development these Lyxor ETFs are unique in the field of thematic investing. They blend the best of passive and active approaches together to give investors liquid, low-cost access to the investment themes powering change.
Arnaud Llinas, Head of Lyxor ETF & Indexing, says: “The world is changing rapidly, as evidenced by the current Covid-19 crisis, and humans are innovating faster than ever. Mass working from home for example has introduced millions more people to the digital economy. Meanwhile, health concerns have prompted discussions on the future of mobility and how smart cities could help combat the spread of infectious diseases. The future of sector investing looks very different. That’s why these ETFs mark a new frontier for passive investment. ETFs may have started life as simple market access instruments, but they have today become a way for investors to gain precise exposure to the emerging themes of our age and stay one step ahead of change. With these launches, Lyxor is proudly continuing its long tradition as Europe’s most innovative ETF provider.”
Stephane Mattatia, Global Head of Thematic Indexes at MSCI, adds: “It’s widely acknowledged that there are a number of megatrends which will impact the global economy and societies. These MSCI thematic indices provide investors with the tools to assess and measure these structural trends using our scalable and flexible methodology.”
