Individual Investors

From the current COVID-19 situation to the future, markets will always face periods of uncertainty and volatility. A measured approach to investment management can assist with supporting your investment portfolio in these periods. In this paper, we discuss four common approaches. Download now Market volatility refers to the magnitude of upward and downward movements in asset prices over a period of time. A company whose stock price moves up and down by 1% daily is considered less volatile than one with 5% daily moves. Investors tend to think of volatility in terms of downward market movements, as we are currently seeing, but it can equally relate to the pace of rising markets. Approaches to managing volatility 1. Diversification Different assets, regions and sectors may react differently to market events and perform better in certain market conditions. For example, travel and tourism are struggling in the current situation while supermarkets are thriving. For this reason, spreading your money across a range of investments can help balance your exposure to volatility experienced in different areas. 2. Incorporating more stable, less cyclical investments Some investments may not offer high growth but tend to be consistent across a range of markets. For example, essential services infrastructure is needed regardless of market conditions so can continue to offer stable performance in times of volatility. 3. Alternative investments Some investors seek out investments which specifically perform differently to share and bond markets. The aim of this strategy is to help neutralise any negative outcomes experienced in share and bond investments. One asset used in this way is gold which typically has a low or negative correlation with other asset classes. 4. Strategic tilts For certain investors, incorporating short-term investments during market volatility might be part of their strategy. This might mean temporarily adding defensive investments to help protect their portfolio or it might mean seeking out high growth (riskier) investments if they believe there may be opportunities from an eventual market recovery. ETFs can be an effective tool for investors in periods of market volatility. They can assist by offering broad exposure and instant diversification in a liquid and cost-effective manner. The wide range of specialised ETFs available on today’s stock exchanges also offer investors choice and flexibility in how to adapt to changing market conditions. Beyond these measures, it’s worthwhile stepping back to consider the what, why and how of your investments rather than simply following the crowds. It can also help to speak to a financial professional about your strategy and options. For more information on the solutions ETF Securities offers, please contact us on: Sales Trading Phone +61 2 8311 3488 Email: sales@etfsecurities.com.au Phone +61 2 8311 3483 Email: primarymarkets@etfsecurities.com.au

To access the white paper, please click the download now button above. Investors considering growth in the portfolio may find megatrends offer an alternative and sustainable long-term approach. So, what are megatrends and how can you invest in them? Megatrends are universal socioeconomic, environmental or technological forces that change the way we do things . These trends tend to be sustained over longer periods, in some cases, 20 years or more and based on known patterns and pressures . Investing in megatrends has become increasingly accessible in recent times. A range of ETFs have appeared in the market to target specific trends and incorporate a wide range of companies in that area. Three examples of megatrends follow. 1. Virtual connectivity and digitisation The internet is becoming faster and cheaper to access, with close to 60% of the world’s population already users . There are a range of opportunities following from the movement online, such as ecommerce or online entertainment and gaming. Even data storage and security are becoming major concerns. Access to this megatrend can be broadly through sectors like technology that service and fuel this trend, regions with companies dominating this trend, such as the US or across Asia, or via niche subthemes like robotics and artificial intelligence. 2. The growth of the Asian middle-class Two-thirds of the world’s middle-class population are expected to reside across Asia by 2030 and this offers potential for a range of industries, such as luxury goods, tourism, education and healthcare. Many global players have turned their focus to targeting consumers in this region, while regionally based companies like Alibaba or Infosys Ltd are well positioned for future growth. Investors can consider sectors like healthcare which will benefit from the growth or take a more concentrated approach by investing across Asia or within specific countries, like India. 3. Limited resources Ongoing population growth and climate change are placing pressure on available resources including minerals, energy, water and food sources. This has forced an evolution in terms of new products, how we consume and how companies interact with us. Renewable energy and battery storage is one area tipped to grow off the back of this megatrend. Many larger corporations have also started to adjust their operations too, for example, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos pledged $10bn to fight climate change through the Bezos Earth Fund . Investors may consider sub-themes like battery technology or electric cars, or they could consider industries which may experience higher demand on the basis of restricted resources like agriculture. For more information on the solutions ETF Securities offers, please contact us on: Sales Trading Phone +61 2 8311 3488 Email: sales@etfsecurities.com.au Phone +61 2 8311 3483 Email: primarymarkets@etfsecurities.com.au

The Indian market disappointed investors in 2019, with three key drivers behind its performance. These included the non-banking financial companies (NBFC) crisis, the Indian election and India/Pakistan conflict. Despite this, the prospects for 2020 and beyond remain positive. Read the full article here. The drivers of performance Global markets were influenced by a range of events including the US/China trade war, slowing growth and recession fears in 2019. Alongside these concerns, the Indian economy was affected by a range of domestic issues, with three drivers of particular significance. 1. NBFC crisis NBFCs offer similar services to banks but don’t hold a banking license. Some examples include equipment leasing companies or infrastructure financing. These companies have been responsible for much of the financial liquidity in India through short term borrowing from banks and mutual funds. In late 2018, an NBFC called Infrastructure Leasing & Finance Services (IL & FS) defaulted on multiple loans and covenants across India. Banks and mutual funds stopped lending to NBFCs as a result, and this caused a liquidity and confidence issue across India. The crisis continued across the early parts of 2019. 2. Government election Narendra Modi returned to power in the India election, which offers ongoing political stability. However, it is common in the lead-up to an election for incumbent governments to focus more on re-election than policy implementation and 2019 was no exception to this. 3. India/Pakistan conflict Hostilities between India and Pakistan escalated in 2019, with the volatility subsequently felt in the economy. The outlook for 2020 The Indian government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) implemented two key measures to manage the economic challenges of 2019. These included five rate cuts and a corporate tax cut to increase confidence, investment and liquidity. These are expected to support the economy for some time to come. In addition, the Indian economy is likely to continue to benefit from factors like low inflation, ongoing political and economic reform and low stable crude oil prices. Like the broader Asian region, India should also continue to experience a growing middle-class and in turn, increasing consumption spending patterns that accompany this. You can access India through the ETFS Reliance India Nifty 50 ETF (ASX Code: NDIA). For more information on the solutions ETF Securities offers, please contact us on: Sales Trading Phone +61 2 8311 3488 Email: sales@etfsecurities.com.au Phone +61 2 8311 3483 Email: primarymarkets@etfsecurities.com.au

To access the 'No retirement for investments' white paper, please click the download now button above. Important notice: a previous version of this whitepaper incorrectly stated the ASFA comfortable retirement standards for a couple as $43,787/year and superannuation balance of $545,000. These figures relate to the comfortable retirement standards of a single not a couple. The standards for a couple are $61,786/year and $640,000 in superannuation balance. The duelling forces of retirement It is normal for retired investors to need to manage their portfolios for a stable income, a level of growth and capital protection, but current market conditions are making this particularly challenging. Faced with globally low interest rates on one hand as a threat to their income, and market volatility from geopolitics like corona virus and tensions in Iran affecting growth assets, how should retired investors manage their portfolios? ETF Securities recommends three options summarised below: product selection, income diversification and portfolio construction. You can read the full paper by downloading above. 1. Product Selection In retirement, investors need to be conscious of the quality, flexibility and costs of the products they use for their investments. One product type investors may consider are ETFs which hold characteristics such as lower costs compared to active funds, typically high liquidity allowing investors greater flexibility and are easy to use with less administration compared to shares or bonds. 2. Income diversification Investors have traditionally looked to Australian fixed income for their key yield option. In the current environment, they should consider diversifying their income,such as looking at fixed income internationally where there may be higher yields available or through dividend streams. Dividend streams can be a riskier option, and where some retired investors may use high yield shares and offset the risks in other ways, others can look to options in more stable, less cyclical industries like infrastructure. 3. Portfolio construction Retired investors should consider the overall construction of their portfolios and ensure they are diversified across assets and regions for growth and income, after all, the portfolio still needs to grow and support the lifespan. One area retired investors may wish to look at incorporating as part of the overall construction is alternatives, in the form of commodities like gold which can assist with stability and diversification. For more information on the solutions ETF Securities offers, please speak to your financial adviser or contact us on: Sales Trading Phone +61 2 8311 3488 Email: infoAU@etfsecurities.com.au Phone +61 2 8311 3483 Email: primarymarkets@etfsecurities.com.au

This is an extract of the ROBO Global paper 2020 Trends in robotics and AI innovation. To access the ROBO Global white paper, please click the download now button above. Companies around the globe are revising and rethinking their strategies to cement their futures in a world that is dictated by robotics, automation, and AI (RAAI). Deep learning, 5G, and computer vision are among the trends to watch in 2020 and beyond. 1. Computer vision Computer vision is the technology that gives computers and machines the sense of sight and the ability to analyse and understand the content of digital images. It is increasingly used throughout the manufacturing process to enhance product quality, reduce waste, and improve productivity in a variety of endmarkets, including consumer electronics, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and many more. 3D vision, a type of computer vision which has long been prohibitively expensive and complex, is set to accelerate with the help of Isra Vision in manufacturing, Koh Young in semiconductor and electronics inspection, and FARO and Hexagon in metrology and surveying. Computer vision is also enabling collaborative robotics and advanced driver assistance. Ambarella, the video processing technology provider, is rapidly morphing into an AI computer vision company. The company has received design wins for its CV chip in the professional security camera market and is engaged in several use cases in the automotive market. 2. Deep learning A subfield of machine learning, deep learning uses algorithms that strive to mimic the deep neural networks of the human brain. Reinforcement learning (RL), an aspect of deep learning, refers to goal-oriented algorithms that are the key to enabling autonomous robots, improving personalization, and accelerating drug discovery. RL will be used to dramatically improve the personalization of news and other content—a shift that will transform the massive data sets available to the advertising industry into practical, usable information— and to revolutionize myriad processes that can be simulated, including fraud detection and credit loan processes in the banking industry. 3. 5G The fifth generation of mobile wireless communications—5G—boasts features that have the potential to supercharge everything from business processes to how we engage with the Internet. Once it is fully deployed, 5G is expected to deliver up to 100x faster connection times than 4G and is expected to enable download speeds of 500-1500 Mbps in a matter of seconds. Major carriers are expected to roll out some type of 5G services in late 2020 and into 2021. Consumers will soon be able to choose 5G-compatible mobile devices from leaders like Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi, powered by Qualcomm’s latest 5G Mobile Platform Snapdragon. This best-in-class RF System provides peak speeds that promise to surpass most wired connections and transform the mobile experience. The Internet of Things (IoT) currently includes about 30 billion devices. The power of 5G will be more crucial than ever as this figure accelerates thanks to investments in autonomous vehicles, smart cities, smart factories, big data, and AI. ETFS ROBO Global Robotics & Automation ETF (ROBO) helps investors capture these trends across robotics, automation and enabling technologies. Find out more about ROBO here. For more information on accessing these trends through ETFs for your clients, please speak to ETF Securities. Sales Trading Phone +61 2 8311 3488 Email: infoAU@etfsecurities.com.au Phone +61 2 8311 3483 Email: capitalmarkets@etfsecurities.com.au

To access the ETF Trends 2020 whitepaper, click here. The ETF landscape has expanded rapidly from the straight index replication of the past to more tailored offers covering themes, specific industries or sectors and even using alternative weighting. Advances in technology has allowed ETFs to become more sophisticated to meet with investor needs and demands. The value of the Australian ETF market is currently $A60.24bn[1] and is anticipated to continue to grow both in size and available options. Here are five trends likely to continue in 2020. 1. The search for yield Continued globally low interest rates means investors are seeking alternative sources of yield. Some are still looking at fixed income, but focusing on international options like the US, which has higher interest rate compared to its counterparts. Others are considering using equity dividend streams to help provide an income. Investors concerned about volatility risks for an equity approach might look towards infrastructure ETFs. The infrastructure sector includes many essential services areas like utilities, telecoms, industrials and transport which tend to be less vulnerable to market cycles and movements. Investments in gold tend to be popular with investors in times of low yield and market volatility. Holding appeal for both consumption purposes and investment, the performance of gold tends to have low correlation with other asset classes and tends to offer stability in times of market volatility. 2. Investing to offset Australian exposures Australian investments have been influenced over several years now by factors like slowdown in resources and residential property, along with a weaker Australian dollar. This has meant investors have needed to focus more on investing internationally to diversify the local risks and access growth and income opportunities. For example, investors are looking at particular growth themes like the middle class in Asia or at sectors not widely available in the Australian market, like technology. Currency ETFs are also becoming more popular, particularly those exposed to the US dollar which continues to be stronger than many developed nation currencies. 3. Thematic investing ETFs are becoming a cost-efficient and transparent way for investors to express their specific market opinions, growth themes, moral and ethical views or to target niche areas of growth. Concerned about UK post-Brexit? You might choose a European ETF which excludes UK companies. Passionate about new technology? A robotics or tech focused ETF might be for you. There is a movement towards ethical investing, with environmental investing a particular focus at the moment. As a quickly developing space with investor demand, there is likely to be continued growth in ETFs supporting this space, such as in alternative energy like battery technology. 4. Bespoke and smart beta strategies There has been a rise in ETFs using sophisticated rules or algorithms (smart beta) to ‘beat’ the market while still remaining passive. This might mean the exclusion of certain factors or using a different way of weighting investments compared to the index. For example, excluding companies in a particular industry. Or rather than weighting the investment based on company size, it might be weighted based on how volatile the companies are to market movements. Some ETFs like this are designed bespoke to large-scale institutions looking for both cost-efficiencies as well as the ability to match strategic or philosophical needs but still available to retail investors on the stock exchange. 5. Active ETF investing Active ETFs are an emerging area and typically track the strategies of active investment managers. ASIC lifted its suspension of new active ETFs in December 2019 and released new admission guidelines. Given international activity in this space as well, there is likely to be further growth in the available active ETFs in the Australian market. These may appeal to self-directed investors looking for active and liquid solutions with greater ease of use compared to many other active managed funds. For more information on accessing these trends through ETFs for your clients, please speak to ETF Securities. Sales Trading Phone +61 2 8311 3488 Email: infoAU@etfsecurities.com.au Phone +61 2 8311 3483 Email: primarymarkets@etfsecurities.com.au __________________________ [1] https://www.asx.com.au/documents/products/ASX_Investment_Products_November_2019.pdf