The latest news in investment offers, financial products and other services relevant to wealth advisors and their clients.

WisdomTree
WisdomTree, a global financial innovator, has just launched two new exchange-traded funds (ETFs): The WisdomTree Europe Defence UCITS ETF (WDEF) and the WisdomTree Uranium and Nuclear Energy UCITS ETF (NCLR), listed on Börse Xetra, Borsa Italiana and the London Stock Exchange.  

The WisdomTree Europe Defence UCITS ETF aims to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree Europe Defence UCITS Index, the firm, which has about $115.5 billion in assets under management, said in a statement. The index tracks the performance of European companies involved in the defence industry which includes manufacturers of civil defence equipment, parts or products, defence electronics and space defence equipment. It aims to exclude companies that are involved in controversial weapons banned by international law, such as cluster munitions, antipersonnel landmines, and biological and chemical weapons, as well as companies that violate the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) standards.

The firm highlighted opportunities in this sphere after decades of underinvestment, with European nations committing to increasing defence budgets to meet NATO's 2 per cent GDP target, with many already exceeding it.

Meanwhile, The WisdomTree Uranium and Nuclear Energy UCITS ETF aims to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree Uranium and Nuclear Energy UCITS Index. The index tracks the performance of companies involved in the critical components of the uranium and nuclear energy value chain. NCLR invests across the value chain, offering exposure to uranium miners, companies involved in the construction, development, and maintenance of nuclear energy infrastructure and reactors. Innovators advancing next-generation nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) are also included.

The firm highlighted how nuclear energy is regaining prominence amid rising global energy demand and there is an urgent need to achieve net-zero emissions. 

“Nuclear power is increasingly seen to have a significant role to play in the future energy mix due to the political focus on the energy transition, the rise of geopolitical tensions with Russia and China, and the fast-growing energy demand from data centres, AI and cryptocurrencies,” Pierre Debru, head of research, Europe at WisdomTree, said. The nuclear theme was added to WisdomTree’s multi-thematic strategy, the WisdomTree Megatrends UCITS ETF, in April 2024.

“Defence and security are underrepresented in many portfolios and have faced decades of underinvestment in Europe, resulting in a significant capability gap. A structural shift is underway in Europe as nations increase defence budgets to meet NATO targets and respond to geopolitical challenges,” Debru added. 

Monetary Metals
Monetary Metals, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based business, has inked a partnership with OGold, a UAE-based gold investment app. The app enables users to put as little as 0.1 gram of gold into Monetary Metals gold leases and bonds, the US firm said.  

OGold is Monetary Metals’ first Dubai-based partner to join its Gold Yield Marketplace®. OGold has more than 50,000 users, and is targeting clients in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and beyond.

Monetary Metals – interviewed by WealthBriefing in 2023 – says it offers a unique approach to tapping into the gold story: a yield in gold and paid in gold. The firm uses the gold to earn more gold. It has been developing the gold yield marketplace, not for buying and selling gold but to connect gold investors seeking a yield with corporations and institutions which need gold capital and can pay in gold for it. Monetary Metals' clients are family offices, ultra-high net worth and HNW individuals.

“OGold shares our vision of making gold a productive, income-generating asset. Through their app, they unlock and increase accessibility to our Gold Yield Marketplace® for customers we can’t reach. It truly is a win-win for both companies,” Mark Pey, vice president of strategic relationships for Monetary Metals Dubai, said.

Monetary Metals was founded more than a decade ago by its chief executive, Keith Weiner.

Gold prices have been rising, and are up about 41 per cent in the past 12 months; its safe-haven status has been reinforced by events such as geopolitical instability, tariffs, and stubborn inflation in certain countries, such as the US.