Name: ETF Investigations: Demystifying SFDR and its impact on ETFs
Start: 2023-01-25T11:00:00Z
End: 2023-01-25T11:01:01.000Z
Location: BrightTALK
Rating: 5

This webinar channel is for professional investors and other members of the European ETF ecosystem. Here you will find discussions with leading industry figures on topics such as new regulatory policies impacting the European ETF industry and trends defining the market.

Discover other events and the latest ETF industry news and analysis at etfstream.com.

In recent years, Europe’s defence sector has seen a surge in investor interest. Once considered off-limits, it has become one of the most prominent investment themes amid a historic increase in European defence spending.

Yet questions remain over how defence fits within Europe’s broader commitment to responsible investing. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, ESG European equity funds have increased their exposure to aerospace & defence by a factor of 2.7, with 43% now holding defence stocks. Policymakers and investors are rethinking what ‘responsible’ means in an era of rearmament, industrial policy, and strategic autonomy.

This webinar will explore:
•     Accessing the defence spending boom within an ESG investment framework to comply with Article 8, including a deep dive into index construction
•     An update on the investment case for European defence
•     A look at valuations following a period of expanding multiples

Reconciling Responsibility with Rearmament: Can Defence Investing be Article 8?

As geopolitical tensions persist and security priorities shift, Europe is undergoing a defence renaissance, creating a compelling new opportunity set for investors. This webinar will explore how professional investors and ETF issuers can access the next generation of security innovation through targeted thematic strategies.

Join HANetf’s Head of Research, Tom Bailey, and VettaFi’s Head of Business Development, Axel Belorde, as they examine the tactical and strategic investment cases for European defence. Moderated by Jamie Gordon, Editor at ETF Stream, the discussion will address how ETFs are enabling access to this evolving theme, how index construction can strike the right balance between thematic purity, diversification and liquidity, and why investors are approaching this sector from both tactical and strategic angles.

Gain expert insights into one of the most dynamic and timely investment narratives of the year.

Europe's Defence Revolution: Investing in the Next Generation of Security

As the ETF industry continues to evolve, reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) remains a top priority for issuers and investors alike. In this exclusive webinar, ETF Stream and Calastone bring together industry experts to explore how service providers are driving efficiencies across the ecosystem to deliver cost savings for end investors.
Join us as we delve into key innovations in ETF servicing, from enhanced automation and settlement processes to liquidity optimisation and fee transparency. Our expert speakers will discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of ETF operations, providing valuable insights into how firms can navigate an increasingly competitive landscape.

How ETF Service Providers Plan To Lower Total Cost Of Ownership

In this webinar you can find out why Poland is one of the most promising markets for the next decade and what are the different possibilities to invest in it through ETFs

Key discussion points:
- The outlook for the polish economy
- Polish equity market comparison with world indices
- An in-depth review of leading ETFs tracking Polish equities

Speakers:
- Ernest Pytlarczyk, Chief Economist, Bank Pekao
- Piotr Bartkiewicz, Senior Economist, PEKAO S.A.
- Roy Regev, Board Member, Beta TFI
- Mateusz Mucha, Fund Manager of BETA ETF, AgioFunds TFI

Poland – How to invest in the emerging powerhouse of Europe

ETFs are going from strength to strength across the APAC region, with a number of markets poised to take off in 2025. Hear from industry experts as they provide an overview of asset evolution within the top five markets and discuss investment opportunities and challenges within the region. 

Key questions:
• How are investors using ETFs locally and what is driving growth?
• What are the biggest investment opportunities and challenges?
• How should European ETF issuers access the region? 

Speakers:
- Nicholas Peach, APAC Head of Markets and Investments, BlackRock Global Markets and Index Investments
- Henri Boua, ETF Advisory and Execution, HSBC Markets and Securities Services
- Ganesh Valakati, Director ETF Product, APAC, HSBC Hong Kong

APAC: ETF Investment Opportunities in 2025

Against a tougher economic backdrop, it is important to carefully evaluate investment risk rather than simply buy the market. Investors must carefully weigh options - from more defensive sectors such as healthcare to the booming and more growth-orientated sectors of tech.

Join our panel of industry experts as they dissect the key themes set to shape the late-cycle environment while highlighting potential areas of risk and opportunity for investors looking to take advantage in a risk-controlled manner.

Key questions:
• How can rules-based, systematic ETFs capture full market potential?
• Could quality and income factors deliver outperformance? 
• What are potential areas of risk and opportunity for investors?

Positioning for late cycle with ETFs: Why quality and income factors matter

A recent survey by ETF Stream and Calastone highlighted the critical need for advanced technology solutions to support the burgeoning ETF ecosystem. As the ETF market continues to grow and diversify, asset servicers, authorised participants and issuers face increasing challenges related to automation, standardisation and regulation.

This webinar will explore why advanced technology solutions are needed for the primary market and how they can be used to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs and support the burgeoning ETF ecosystem.

Key questions:
• Why is more sophisticated market servicing technology needed?
• How will technology changes impact participants in the primary market?
• How will regulatory developments impact the ETF primary market?

Managing complexity in the ETF primary market

Investment in digital assets has been steadily increasing in 2024.

As allocations to digital assets become mainstream, it is essential to understand the nuances between traditional equity and fixed income ETFs vs trading crypto ETPs.

Join this webinar to explore the world of cryptocurrency, examine the considerations investors should make when trading crypto assets and explore why the current market conditions present a unique investing opportunity.

Speakers:
- Alistair Byas Perry, Global Head of Capital Markets, 21Shares 
- Alex Pollak, Head of UK and Israel. 21Shares

Trading crypto ETPs: Opportunities in an evolving market

Giving investors access to a defensive equity portfolio that simultaneously provides income and manages total equity risk is becoming increasingly important as markets undergo a period of volatility and economic uncertainty.

JP Morgan Asset Management uses an income-generating approach within a global equity portfolio via the JPM Global Equity Premium Income UCITS ETF (JEPG) to help investors achieve this.

Join us for a webinar in collaboration with JP Morgan Asset Management portfolio managers Hamilton Reiner and Piera Elisa Grassi as they discuss the benefits that JEPG can bring to investor portfolios.

Speakers:
- Piera Elisa Grassi, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, JP Morgan Asset Management
- Hamilton Reiner, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, JP Morgan Asset Management

Seeking income with global equity ETFs

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) launched an industry-wide review of the UCITS Eligible Assets Directive in May, potentially opening the door to a fresh wave of asset classes for ETFs.

While crypto grabbed the headlines, other asset classes such as commodities and delta-one instruments could also be UCITS eligible in the future.

With ESMA looking to align jurisdictions on these issues, this webinar explored how this will shape the future of the European ETF market and what impact it will have on investors’ portfolios.

Key questions:
• Which assets could be eligible for UCITS?
• How will this impact ETFs?
• What does the review mean for investors?

ETF Investigations: ESMA’s UCITS-eligibility review and its impact on ETFs

The call for harmonisation between the UK and EU has never been greater from the ETF industry as issuers grapple with the number of regulatory challenges on the horizon.

UCITS equivalence, the Overseas Funds Regime (OFR), T+1 settlement and the differences between SFDR and SDR are just a few of the regulatory developments set to have a heightened impact on the European ETF market in the wake of Brexit.

This webinar assessed the impact of Brexit on the European ETF market, why the UK is currently not an attractive market for ETF issuers and if there are any solutions to improve the efficiency of the ecosystem.

Key questions:
• Why is harmonisation so important for European ETFs?
• When will new ETF issuers start listing in the UK again?
• How can European ETFs remain competitive versus other jurisdictions?

ETF Investigations: Brexit’s Impact On The European ETF Market

In March, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it “will not object” to requests to list crypto ETNs on regulated exchanges. 

As a result, professional investors will be able to invest in crypto ETNs listed in the UK, with the London Stock Exchange set to start accepting bitcoin and ethereum ETN applications in Q2.

This webinar, in partnership with 21Shares, explored the potential impact of the FCA’s decision, bitcoin’s next halving and the outlook for digital assets for the remainder of the year.

Speakers:
- Monica Gogna, Partner, UK Head of Financial Regulation, EY Law 
A seasoned lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in the financial services sector, Monica regularly advises on the cross-border impact on the use of blockchain and crypto. She has led several innovative projects in the crypto and blockchain industry, including the launch of the world’s first multi-crypto currency ETP listed within Europe.

- Alex Pollak, Head of UK, 21Shares
Alex is responsible for the growth of the business in target EMEA markets, and works closely with local investors to meet their growing demand for crypto solutions. Prior to joining 21Shares, Alex worked at BlackRock where he held multiple leadership roles, including iShares Country Head in Israel. 

- Adrian Fritz, Head of Research, 21Shares
Adrian creates data-based market analysis with a focus on the cryptoasset industry. He began his career as a stockbroker in New York and then worked in investment banking and management consulting. Before starting at 21Shares, Alex was at Signature Management Consultants SL in Barcelona and worked as a financial analyst at Cellnex Telecom in Zurich.

FCA's Move On UK Crypto ETNs: What's Happening And What To Expect?

The largest ETF conference in Europe is back! ETF Ecosystem Unwrapped 2024, which is set to take place on 22-23 May in the City of London, is the event to attend for members of all aspects of the European ETF ecosystem.

With a stellar line-up of speakers, this is set to be a fantastic event for professional investors (Day 1) and the wider ETF ecosystem (Day 2) where we will dive into the most important themes shaping the outlook for markets and the ETF industry.

During this webinar, ETF Stream’s editor Tom Eckett previewed all aspects of the conference and reveal the topics he is most excited about.

Road To ETF Ecosystem Unwrapped 2024

The creation of the first ETF share classes of mutual funds in Europe turned heads across the continent, with many anticipating the Vanguard-like offering to sweep the market.

Despite this, the floodgates have yet to open with barriers such as the UCITS naming convention and regulatory divergence between Ireland and Luxembourg weighing on the industry. 

As more ETF issuers potentially eye up the structure, this webinar will analyse the differences between listed and unlisted share classes and how it could shape the ETF market in particular. 

Key questions: 
• How do listed and unlisted ETF share classes work?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
• Will more ETF issuers follow suit in Europe?

ETF Investigations: Listed And Unlisted Share Classes: A Gamechanger?

As the world races toward net-zero, copper is a metal in demand. Owing to its conductive properties, copper plays a vital role in electricity grids, electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. As a result, demand for copper has the potential to outstrip supply as the clean energy transition takes hold.

Watch this webinar to discover:
• The role of copper in electricity grids, electric vehicles (EVs), and renewable energy technologies.
• The current demand-supply imbalance for copper in different net-zero scenarios.
• The performance of copper versus copper miners.
• How to gain pureplay exposure to copper demand.
• The importance of using an ESG screen when constructing a copper index.
• Other key metals for the energy transition such as uranium and lithium.

Speaker:
- John Ciampaglia, CEO, Sprott

Why Copper Matters In The New Energy Landscape

European regulators are currently weighing up the prospect of following the US in moving to a T+1 settlement structure, a decision that could cause issues for European-listed ETFs.

The potential move to T+1 settlement is currently the biggest structural challenge facing European ETFs and has created much uncertainty among market participants.

Following the European Securities and Markets Authority’s (ESMA) call for evidence, this webinar analysed how a move to T+1 could disrupt European markets and what impact it could have on ETFs in particular.

Key questions:
• Will Europe follow the US in switching to T+1?
• What are the specific risks of moving to T+1 in Europe?
• What impact will the migration have on European ETFs?

ETF Investigations: The Challenges Of T+1 Settlement In Europe

Fixed income looks set to play a crucial role within multi-asset portfolios in 2024 as investors attempt to navigate a potential recession on the one hand and the risk of higher interest rates for longer on the other.

In a recent survey of 66 professional investors across Europe conducted by ETF Stream and J.P. Morgan Asset Management, 68% of respondents highlighted a recession as the biggest risk to portfolios while 83% stated 2024 will be the year of fixed income.

This webinar assessed the outlook for markets in 2024, the importance of asset allocation within fixed income and the rising demand for active ETFs.

Speakers:
-Travis Spence, Head of EMEA ETF Distribution, J.P. Morgan Asset Management

What is the outlook for bond markets in 2024?

The European ETF market continues to develop at a rapid pace. From regulatory changes to new product launches, this is an ecosystem that has matured significantly since the first ETF was launched in 2000.

The return of fixed income, best ETF execution practices and the latest regulatory developments including SFDR, pre-hedging and T+1 settlement were some of the key trends in 2023.

This webinar looked back at the past 12 months and analyse the most important developments that have taken place across the ecosystem as well as have one eye on the outlook for ETFs in 2024.

Key questions:
• What are the ETF market’s key takeaways from 2023?
• What impact have regulatory changes had on the market?
• What is the outlook for ETFs in 2024?

ETF Investigations: The European ETF market’s biggest trends in 2023

Investors and the wider asset management industry are still adjusting to the challenges posed by ‘level 2’ of the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR) which requires fund providers to report on the sustainable impact of their investments.

The lack of clarity over what constitutes an Article 6, 8 or 9 product has led to a large number of downgrades as ETF issuers race to recategorise their strategies in order to avoid accusations of greenwashing by investors and the regulator.

This webinar explored why SFDR has become such a challenge for the ETF industry, the issues of reporting from a data perspective and what this means for the ESG space in Europe going forward.

Key questions:
• Is SFDR leading to further greenwashing across asset management?
• Should investors use SFDR as a tool to measure the sustainability of an ETF?
• Are there any unintended consequences investors need to be aware of?

ETF Investigations is a new webinar series from ETF Stream which examines the key issues facing ETF investors in Europe.

Speakers:
Hortense Bioy, Global Head of Sustainability Research, Morningstar
Sergey Dolomanov, Partner, William Fry
Manuela Sperandeo, Managing Director, EMEA Head of Sustainable Indexing, BlackRock

ETF Investigations: Demystifying SFDR and its impact on ETFs

SFDR

ETFs

Greenwashing

ETF Investigations

Sustainable Investing

Regulation

Investing

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ETF Investigations: Demystifying SFDR and its impact on ETFs

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