Japan
SMFG enters the core
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), one of Japan’s largest banks, is listing an ultra-cheap core Japanese equity ETF.
The SMDAM Topix ETF (2557) will track the Topix, the most famous gauge of Japan’s stock market. It will charge a mere 0.07% a year.
Japan has the cheapest ETF market in the world. Most ETF providers are incumbent asset managers making products for other institutions. One of Japan’s biggest ETF buyers has been the country’s central bank.
With a fee of 0.07%, today’s listing fits in line with market expectations.
SMFG has one other ETF – a Japan REIT tracker, which has US$830 million under management.Japan’s most expensive core ETF charges 0.11%.
| Inception Date | Ticker | Fund Name | Provider | Fee (%p.a.) |
| Oct. 20, 2015 | 1475 | iShares Core TOPIX ETF | BlackRock Japan | 0.06 |
| May 15, 2009 | 1348 | MAXIS TOPIX ETF | Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management | 0.078 |
| Sep. 07, 2015 | 1473 | One ETF TOPIX | Asset Management One | 0.078 |
| Jan. 09, 2002 | 1308 | Listed Index Fund TOPIX | Nikko Asset Management | 0.088 |
| Jul. 13, 2001 | 1305 | Daiwa ETF-TOPIX | Daiwa Asset Management | 0.11 |
| Jul. 13, 2001 | 1306 | TOPIX ETF | Nomura Asset Management | 0.11 |
USA
More low volatility Christian ETFs from Timothy Plan
Christian ETF provider Timothy Plan is listing two more smart beta funds in the United States.
The funds start with volatility weighted indexes of US small caps and international stocks. They then exclude companies in gambling and porn, as well as those that assist abortion and promote gay marriage.
The funds charge 0.52%.
China
China banking sector ETF
ChinaAMC, one of China’s largest asset managers, is listing a China banking sector ETF. The ChinaAMC CSI Banks ETF (515020) will be pretty biscuit tin and use the country’s leading index house to track a market weighted bank index.
Banking ETFs in China -- some are very popular
| Ticker | Fund Name | Provider | AUM (US$M) |
| 512880 | Guotai CSI All Share Investment Banking & Brokerage Index ETF | Guotai Asset Management Co., Ltd. | 1417.64 |
| 512900 | China Southern CSI All Share Investment Banking & Brokerage Index ETF | China Southern Asset Management Co.,Ltd. | 253.54 |
| 512800 | Hwabao WP CSI Banks ETF | Hwabao WP Fund Management Co., Ltd. | 244.16 |
| 512820 | WP CSI Banks ETF | China Universal Asset Management Co.,Ltd. | 29.68 |
| 512850 | China Fund CSI Beijing 50 ETF | China Fund Management Co.,Ltd. | 3.78 |