Latest Blog Posts

Index | Thematic Investing
First thematic futures at Eurex launch new avenue for booming investment segment
Eurex has listed futures on three STOXX thematic indices that have a technology focus: breakthrough healthcare, digitalization and digital security. The centrally cleared derivatives complement a growing thematics ecosystem that includes ETFs, helping investors better manage portfolios.

A new Qontigo white paper runs the numbers on the iSTOXX Developed and Emerging Markets ex USA PK VN, a global real estate index, to understand the relationship between expected inflation in the US, Europe and the UK, and index returns. The findings show that the sector has represented a good overall inflation hedge over the last couple of years, although regional and portfolio considerations can create exceptions.

Index | Index / ETFs
Leverage Shares expands suite of single-stock short and leveraged ETPs tracking STOXX indices
The family of ETPs has proved popular with investors and traders as an efficient way to implement leveraged and short strategies on widely traded stocks. The listed securities cover the shares of more than 50 companies and showcase the versatility of index-based investing.

Index | Factor Investing
BlackRock’s Ang on sustainability alpha signals: ESG and factors as ‘best friends’
ESG and climate metrics can be used as signals to generate alpha either on a stand-alone basis or to strengthen traditional style factors, BlackRock’s Andrew Ang explained during the Qontigo Investment Intelligence Summit.

Index | Index / ETFs
Germany’s LBBW licenses STOXX global Paris-aligned decrement index for structured products
The iSTOXX® Global Climate Change ESG NR Decrement 4.5% offers exposure to a portfolio on a decarbonization pathway and is compliant with the European Union Climate Benchmarks regulation.

Index | Technology
Buy-versus-build in FinTech: benefiting from commoditization to gain competitive advantage
Neal Pawar, Chief Operating Officer at Qontigo, addressed the Qontigo Investment Intelligence Summits to give the practitioner’s perspective on how to improve efficiency at investment firms. He focused on whether to buy or build operations in a radically changed technological ecosystem.

Index | Factor Investing
Qontigo launches modern STOXX multifactor indices to underlie iShares ETFs managed by BlackRock
The STOXX Equity Factor Indices offer diversified exposure to five equity risk premia factors – Quality, Value, Momentum, Low Size and Low Volatility — through an enhanced multifactor approach designed for core portfolio allocation. Powered by STOXX’s indexing capabilities and Axioma’s risk models and portfolio optimizer, the indices deliver balanced, well-researched style factor exposures seeking long-term outperformance.

Index | ESG & Sustainability
Investments in SFDR Art. 9 funds grow in first quarter despite market drop
One year after the introduction of Europe’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, SFDR Arts. 8 and 9 funds increased their combined share of total European fund assets to 45.6%.

Index | Thematic Investing
Ever more sophisticated data fueling rise in thematic index strategies, panel tells Qontigo summit
The Qontigo Investment Intelligence Summit held on May 5 was the stage for a discussion around index-based thematic investing. Two industry experts — from BlackRock and Qontigo — explained why assets are flowing into thematics and why the strategies can best target the upside of a world undergoing structural change.