ETFs from Franklin Templeton

Toronto-based Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. recently introduced its Franklin LibertyShares Platform in Canada. This platform includes two actively managed ETFs and two strategic beta ETFs. Franklin Liberty Risk Managed Canadian Equity ETF and Franklin Liberty Canadian Investment Grade Corporate ETF are actively managed ETFs that began trading on the TSX on May 30. As actively managed ETFs, the portfolio managers can respond with discretion to market events and operate outside traditional benchmarks, including investing in equities and fixed-income securities they believe can outperform the market. The strategic beta ETFs, Franklin LibertyQT U.S. Equity Index ETF and Franklin LibertyQT International Equity Index ETF, made their TSX début on June 5. The U.S. equity ETF follows the LibertyQ U.S. large-cap equity index, which includes mid-to-large-capitalization companies with exposure to four custom-weighted investment factors: quality, value, momentum and low volatility. The international ETF’s objective is to replicate the performance of the LibertyQ international equity index, which includes equities located in developed markets outside of Canada and the U.S. and that also have exposure to the same four investment style factors. For more details, visit www.franklintempleton.ca.

(fcollie@investmentexecutive.com)