Invesco Canada Ltd. of Toronto has expanded its exchange-traded fund lineup of PowerShares ETFs with the addition of three ETFs: PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility (Canadian-dollar hedged) Index ETF; PowerShares FTSE RAFI Canadian Fundamental Index ETF: and PowerShares FTSE RAFI U.S. Fundamental (C$ hedged) Index ETF. The Low Volatility (C$ hedged) Index ETF invests primarily in equities securities of companies listed in the U.S.; its underlying index seeks exposure to the 100 least volatile stocks in the S&P 500 composite index. Management fees are 0.35%. ThePowershares FTSE RAFI Canadian Fundamental Index ETF invests primarily in Canadian equities securities and seeks to replicate the performance of the FTSE RAFI Canada index. Management fees are 0.45%. The Powershares FTSE RAFI U.S. Fundamental (C$ hedged) Index ETF seeks exposure to the 1,000 U.S. equities with the largest fundamental value. Management fees are 0.6%, with a 0.05% fee waiver until Aug. 31, 2012.

RBC GAM unveils three funds

Toronto-based RBC Global Asset Management Inc. has announced the launch of three new funds: BlueBay Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund invests primarily in debt securities of corporations based in emerging-markets countries; RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Value Equity Fund invests mainly in equities securities of U.S. mid-cap companies that are considered undervalued but have potential for growth; and RBC U.S. Small-Cap Core Equity Fund invests primarily in equities securities of U.S. small-cap companies and seeks economic growth opportunities in the equities markets. For each fund, advisor commissions are 0%-5% for front-end sales; 5% for deferred sales; or 1% for the low-load option. Redemption fees for the regular DSC schedule begin at 6% in Year 1 and end at zero after Year 6; for the low-load schedule, redemption fees begin at 2% in Year 1 and end at zero after Year 3. Trailing commissions for the BlueBay fund are up to 0.75% for front-end sales; up to 0.25% for deferred sales; and up to 0.75% for low-load sales. For both RBC funds, trailing commissions are up to 1% for front-end sales; up to 0.5% for deferred sales; and up to 1% for low-load sales. Management fees for the BlueBay fund are 1.7% for A-class units and 0.95% for F-class units. For the RBC funds, management fees are 1.85% for A-class units and 0.85% for F-class units.

Sentry launches conservative fund

Toronto-based Sentry Investments Inc. has introduced Sentry Conservative Balanced Income Class Fund, which aims to provide stable income and long-term capital appreciation. This fund invests primarily in units of its underlying fund, Sentry Conservative Balanced Income Fund. This underlying fund holds a conservative, diversified portfolio of Canadian fixed-income and income-oriented equities securities. Advisor commissions are 0%-5% for front-end sales; up to 5% for deferred sales; or up to 3% for the low-load option. Redemption fees for the regular DSC schedule begin at 6% in Year 1 and end at zero after Year 6; for the low-load schedule, redemption fees begin at 3% in the first 18 months and end at zero after Year 3. Trailing commissions are 1% for front-end sales; 0.25% for the first six years of deferred sales, and 1% thereafter; and 0.5% for the second and third year of low-load sales, and 1% thereafter. (There are no fees for the first year for low-load sales.) Management fees are 1.85% for A-class units and 0.85% for F-class units. Minimum investment is $500.

XTF expands its ETF lineup

Toronto-based XTF Capital Corp. has introduced several exchange-traded funds that track Morningstar Canada indices. XTF Morningstar Canada Dividend Target 30 Index ETF, XTF Morningstar U.S. Dividend Target 50 Index ETF, XTF Morningstar Canada Value Index ETF and XTF Morningstar Canada Momentum Index ETF all charge management fees of 1.35% for A-class units and 0.6% for F-class units. XTF Morningstar National Bank Quebec Index ETF has management fees of 1.25% for A-class units and 0.5% for F-class units. Two more bond ETFs that track Morningstar indices — XTF Morningstar Canada Liquid Bond Index ETF and XTF Morningstar Emerging Markets Composite Bond Index ETF — are expected to be launched this spring. The Liquid Bond Index ETF will have management fees of 0.8% for A-class units and 0.3% for F-class units. The Emerging Markets Composite Bond Index ETF will have management fees of 1% for A-class units and 0.3% for F-class units.

Compiled by Olivia Li (oli@investmentexecutive.com).