New ETF Deluge Continues On Thursday

Following a flurry of new ETF introductions on Wednesday ETF issuers are showing they're not content to merely introduce a few new funds here and there as at least eight new ETFs will make their debuts on Thursday February 16, 2012.

BlackRock's (NYSE: BLK) iShares business, the world's largest ETF sponsor and the most prolific issuer of new ETFs thus far in 2012, will continue that that impressive introduction pace on Thursday with the debut of six new ETFs.

Those new iShares products are the iShares Barclays CMBS Bond Fund (NYSE: CMBS), the iShares Utilities Sector Bond Fund (NYSE: AMPS), the iShares Industrials Sector Bond Fund (NYSE: ENGN), the iShares Financials Sector Bond Fund (NYSE: MONY), the iShares Aaa – A Rated Corporate Bond Fund (NYSE: QLTA) and the iShares Barclays U.S. Treasury Bond Fund (NYSE: GOVT).

GOVT and QLTA will have expense ratios 0.15%. CMBS will feature an expense ratio of 0.25% and the other three funds will have fees of 0.3% each. At the start of trading today, iShares' fixed income lineup included 40 ETFs.

First Trust, the eleventh-largest U.S. ETF issuer, rolled out seven new ETFs on Wednesday, but will add two more funds to its lineup on Thursday. Those new ETFs are the First Trust Developed Markets ex-US Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (NYSE: FDTS) and the First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (NYSE: FEMS).

Translation: In two days, First Trust will have introduced nine ETFs offering global exposure. FDTS and FEMS will both have expense ratios of 0.80%. First Trust offered 60 ETFs at the end of January.

In filing news, iShares filed plans for the iShares Baa – Ba Rated Corporate Bond Fund and the iShares B – Ca Rated Corporate Bond Fund. Tickers and expense ratios were not included in the filings.