ETFs

New products give institutional investors a fresh way to exploit the rise of machines.

An unprecedented 58 funds were closed in the six months through June, marking the industry’s worst-ever start to a year.

Real estate, communications, utilities and consumer staples funds have seen the most appetite, with every other sector experiencing outflows.

Defined-maturity funds offer traditional fixed-income interest payments.

Investors plowed into bullion-backed funds after the U.S. and China reached a truce in their trade war.

Eight of the top 10 have less than $100 million in assets.

Markets have been whipsawed by mounting concern over softer economic data and President Trump’s trade wars with major partners.

Bullion gains have intensified amid signs that the Fed and other central banks are turning more dovish on monetary policy.

The firm says it will focus the new funds on tech, demographics, urbanization, climate change and emerging global wealth.

Under new leadership, the firm’s iShares unit intends to create funds that it says go beyond traditional sectors and geographic focuses.