BMO Asset Management Inc. has significantly expanded its line-up of exchange traded funds with the launch of 10 new ETFs, bringing its product line-up to a total of 40.

The new ETFs launched Thursday complement the current line-up and include a number of Canadian market firsts.

For example, new target maturity ETFs allow investors to plan for future expenditures through diversified fixed income portfolios with defined maturity dates.

With its commodity ETFs, each indexed to the applicable S&P GSCI commodities index, BMO is the first Canadian ETF provider to give investors the ability to allocate among four commodity sectors — energy, agriculture, precious metals and base metals.

BMO is also the first Canadian ETF provider to offer a covered call strategy, based on writing call options on a portfolio of Canadian banks.

“The new additions to our ETF line-up were developed to meet investor demands for increased yield options as well as greater access to commodities. Our target maturity ETFs are suitable investments for investors who have a set time frame for when they will require liquidity,” says Rajiv Silgardo, CEO, BMO Asset Management Inc.

The following new income focused and commodity funds began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange Thursday:

> BMO Monthly Income ETF (ZMI)
> BMO 2013 Corporate Bond Target Maturity ETF (ZXA)
> BMO 2015 Corporate Bond Target Maturity ETF (ZXB)
> BMO 2020 Corporate Bond Target Maturity ETF (ZXC)
> BMO 2025 Corporate Bond Target Maturity ETF (ZXD)
> BMO Covered Call Canadian Banks ETF (ZWB)
> BMO Energy Commodities Index ETF (ZCE)
> BMO Agriculture Commodities Index ETF (ZCA)
> BMO Precious Metals Commodities Index ETF (ZCP)
> BMO Base Metals Commodities Index ETF (ZCB)

“In just over 18 months, our ETF business has grown dramatically. We’ve launched 40 funds and these funds currently have more than $1.5 billion in assets under management. The 10 new ETFs we’re launching today build on our success and allow us to offer the most extensive suite of yield products and provide a very comprehensive collection of commodity sector funds,” concludes Silgardo.

IE