Russell Introduces 3 International Factor ETFs

Russell Investments, the upstart ETF issuer that offers a range of investment discipline funds, added to its lineup today with the introduction of three new factors ETFs tracking international equities. The new Russell funds focus on some of the same factors Russell already uses for some of its domestic ETFs. In this case, low beta, low volatility and high momentum are the factors of choice. The three new funds are the Russell Developed ex-U.S.Low Beta ETF

, the Russell Developed ex-U.S. Low Volatility ETF

and the Russell Developed ex-U.S. High Momentum ETF

. “Russell now offers a comprehensive global family of factor-based ETFs, providing investors with a readily accessible way to gain exposure to low volatility, low beta and high momentum factors within a portfolio that covers U.S. large cap, U.S. small cap and ex-U.S. large cap markets,” said James Polisson, managing director of Russell's global ETF business. “The addition of these international equity factor ETFs is particularly timely as investors may be starting to look toward year-end portfolio rebalancing.” XLBT focuses on large cap stocks in developed markets outside the U.S market with the lowest predicted beta or sensitivity to price changes of the broad market over the next three to six months, Russell said in a statement. XLVO will track large cap stocks in developed markets outside the U.S. market that have exhibited the lowest variability in total returns over the previous 60 trading days and XHMO offers exposure to large cap stocks in developed markets outside the U.S. market that have exhibited the highest cumulative total returns over the previous 250 trading days, excluding the last 20 trading days, Russell said. All thee of the new Russell funds will have expense ratios of 0.25%. With the addition of the three new funds, Russell now offers a suite of 13 factors ETFs. Overall, Russell now has 23 ETFs. The firm had 20 ETFs with $157 million in assets under management at the end of October, according to data from the National Stock Exchange.