ETFS Multi-Asset Weekly – Markets see-saw as China slows down but US surges ahead
Highlights
• Commodities: Palladium and Platinum diverge after Volkswagen emissions scandal. • Equities: Global markets retrace losses after US GDP data surprises on the upside. • Currencies: Dollar firmer as stronger US GDP data backs Feds case for a 2015 rate hike. • ETF Securities will be hosting a Q4 update on the 8 October to look at trends for commodities, equities and currencies
Fed chair Yellen’s comments shadowed by upward revisions to US GDP data set the tone for a 2015 rate hike, boosting confidence in the world’s largest economy. This helped markets recuperate initial losses sparked by the weakest Chinese PMI reading seen in 6 years and an emissions scandal by the world’s largest automaker – Volkswagen. The repercussions of the Volkswagen emissions scandal were evident among the precious group metals (PGMs) with palladium rising 9.3% and platinum declining -3.6% this week as fears mounted over the preference for gasoline vs diesel cars.
Commodities
Palladium and Platinum diverge after Volkswagen emissions scandal. Platinum known for deriving 44% of its use in reducing emissions from diesel engines faced the brunt of the scandal in which Volkswagen rigged the software used in its diesel cars to cheat the US emissions test. Palladium benefitted as investors expect consumers to favour gasoline engines. The clean air drive initiative announced by China provided a further boost to palladium as more of the metal will be needed for pollution abatement. In the long term, stringent emissions regulations will require more loadings of PGMs in autocatalysts raising their demand outlook. After rallying to a one month high $1156 troy ounce, gold fell out of favour declining -0.68% after Fed chair Yellen’s comments kept a 2015 rate hike still on the cards. The rise in net gold imports from mainland China reaching a 3 month high and the upcoming wedding and festival season in India remains supportive of demand for the yellow metal.
Equities
Global markets retrace losses after US GDP data surprises on the upside. The deterioration in Chinese manufacturing data to a 6-1/2 year low and the emissions scandal by Volkswagen dealt serious blows to the market at the start of the week. However the stronger US GDP data coupled with favourable comments from Fed chair Yellen of a probable rate hike this year renewed investor’s risk appetite, allowing stocks to retrace initial losses for the week. In Europe, a rise in employment for the 11th straight month along with steady PMI data left ECB President Mario Draghi undecided on whether further quantitative easing was warranted. Investors remain cautious ahead of the Q3 earnings season after industrial bellwether Caterpillar slashed 10,000 jobs and warned of an uncertain global economic outlook.
Currencies
Dollar firmer as stronger US GDP data backs Feds case for a 2015 rate hike. Hawkish comments alluding to a probable rate hike this year by Fed chair Yellen, helped push the dollar up 0.92% for the week. A rise in consumer spending helped the US economy grow faster than expected in the second quarter aiding the case for a rate hike by the Fed. The euro ended the week lower despite a lack of dovish comments from ECB president Mario Draghi and a risk off rally. Norway’s central bank trimmed rates for a second time this year to 0.75%, hinting at the likelihood further rate cuts, in an effort to boost the economy dented by falling oil prices and rising household debt. The loonie reached an 11 year low as uncertainty rose ahead of Canada’s fiercely contested elections less than a month away.
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ETF Securities Research team ETF Securities (UK) Limited T +44 (0) 207 448 4336 E info@etfsecurities.com
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Research Newsletter
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iShares NASDAQ 100 SwapUCITSETF USD (Acc) (N100 ETF) med ISIN IE0001ZFMLN7, försöker följa Nasdaq 100®-indexet. Nasdaq 100®-indexet spårar ett urval av 100 aktier valda bland icke-finansiella aktier noterade på NASDAQ-börsen.
Den börshandlade fondens TER (total cost ratio) uppgår till 0,20 % p.a. ETFen replikerar det underliggande indexets prestanda syntetiskt med en swap. Utdelningarna i ETFen ackumuleras och återinvesteras.
iShares NASDAQ 100 SwapUCITSETF USD (Acc) är en mycket liten ETF med 4 miljoner euro under förvaltning. Denna ETF lanserades den 3 oktober 2024 och har sin hemvist i Irland.
Varför N100?
Exponering mot 100 av de största amerikanska och internationella icke-finansiella aktierna noterade på NASDAQ-börsen.
Exponering för företag inom stora industrigrupper inklusive hårdvara och mjukvara, telekommunikation, detaljhandel/grossisthandel och bioteknik.
Använd i din portfölj för att söka tillväxt på medellång till lång sikt även om fonden också kan vara lämplig för kortsiktig exponering mot index.
Investeringsmål
Fonden strävar efter att uppnå avkastning på din investering, genom en kombination av kapitaltillväxt och inkomst på fondens tillgångar, vilket återspeglar den totala nettoavkastningen för NASDAQ 100-indexet (”Indexet”).
IncomeShares passed three milestones in August. Assets under management climbed to almost $66 million, cumulative fund flows topped $72 million, and turnover across London and Xetra listings reached over $27 million. Palantir paid the highest annualised distribution yield at 57.11%. The sections below break the numbers down in more detail.
Cumulative fund flows
Fund flows track how much money investors put into or take out of IncomeShares ETPs (exchange-traded products). Positive flows mean more money coming in than going out – a sign of demand for the products.
Flows have risen every month this year. In January, they stood at $13.7 million. By the end of August, they reached $72.4 million. That’s over $8 million of new money added in August alone – the biggest increase since May.
Trading turnover
Turnover is the total dollar value of IncomeShares ETPs bought and sold on the exchanges. Higher turnover means more activity and liquidity for investors.
Turnover reached $27.3 million in August – the highest on record and more than double January’s $13.0 million. London listings (USD and GBP combined) made up $14.2 million, with Xetra listings close behind at $13.1 million. Both exchanges have seen steady increases through 2025, showing rising interest in income options strategies across the board.
Note: Figures use IDC FX rates as of the August month-end to convert GBP and EUR into USD. We apply the same August rates to all prior months to compare turnover on a like-for-like basis.
Assets under management (AUM)
AUM is the total value of assets held across all IncomeShares ETPs. It grows when new investors buy in, or when the underlying assets rise in value.
AUM grew from $13.8 million in January to $65.8 million at the end of August. It was also $8 million more than in July. Steady inflows and consistent income distributions are helping the product range build scale.
Distribution yields
Distribution yields represent the annualised income paid to investors as a percentage of the current NAV (net asset value), based on the latest month’s yield. IncomeShares ETPs aim to generate this income from selling options. Yields change each month depending on strategy performance and market volatility.
Annualised August yields (ranked highest to lowest):
Our Palantir ETP topped the list with an annualised yield of 57.11% for August, up from 30.57% in July. The stock was volatile in August, trading between $142 and $190. That wider range increased option premiums, which boosted the ETP’s yield. The ETP sells put options on Palantir stock and holds shares – the strategy used for all our single stock ETPs and the Magnificent 7 product.
The Nasdaq 100 ETP paid an annualised yield of 46.44% in August, up slightly from 44.52% in July. At the other end, Gold+ and Microsoft stayed below 7%, reflecting relatively calmer conditions in their underlying assets.
The table below shows the annalised distribution yields for all IncomeShares ETPs so far this year. Note that the bottom eight ETPs launched in late June, so they only have yields for July and August.
Key takeaways
• Fund flows climbed to $72.4 million, with August adding more than $8 million.
• Turnover hit a record $27.3 million, split almost evenly between London and Xetra.
• Palantir topped the yield table at 57%, with Nasdaq 100 and Coinbase also paying above 40%.