In a market environment marked by persistent volatility and an ongoing search for differentiated sources of income and diversification, Canadian asset managers are continuing to roll out innovative ETF and mutual fund solutions across a wide spectrum of strategies—from digital assets and private credit to defensive equity sectors and target-date fixed income. The latest product launches offer investors a toolkit of refined exposures, timely sector bets, and enhanced income strategies aligned with today's market realities.
Global X Unveils 11 Thematic and Income-Oriented ETFs
Global X Investments Canada has made a bold entrance with the launch of 11 new ETFs on the Toronto Stock Exchange and Cboe Canada, spanning sector-specific, equal-weight, and enhanced-income strategies.
“We think it’s important to give investors that choice and that ability to go to areas that we think could resonate over the next few years,” said Chris McHaney, Portfolio Manager at Global X Canada.
Key launches include:
- Global Defence Tech Index ETF (SHLD) – A 0.49% management fee fund tracking the Global X Defence Tech CAD Index, inspired by heightened global military spending and the popularity of similar U.S.-listed defense ETFs.
- Global X Equal Weight Global Healthcare Index ETF (MEDX) – 0.40% fee.
- Global X Equal Weight Canadian REITs Index ETF (REIT) – 0.25% fee, rebated to 0% until year-end 2025.
- Global X Equal Weight U.S. Groceries & Staples Index ETF (UMRT) – 0.25% fee.
- Global X Equal Weight U.S. Banks Index ETF (UBNK) – 0.25% fee.
- Global X Equal Weight Canadian Telecommunications ETF (RNCC) – 0.39% fee.
Notably, Global X has also leaned into the covered call trend:
- Global X Bitcoin Covered Call ETF (BCCC, BCCC.U) – 0.65% fee.
- Global X Enhanced Bitcoin Covered Call ETF (BCCL, BCCL.U) – 0.85% fee, with bi-weekly distributions “to mimic a paycheque,” according to McHaney.
- Global X Enhanced Gold Producer Equity Covered Call ETF (GLCL) – 0.85% fee.
- Global X Enhanced Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF (RSCL) – 0.85% fee.
- Global X Enhanced Equal Weight Canadian Telecommunications Covered Call ETF (RNCL) – 0.65% fee.
“With defence spending in general, globally, becoming such a talking point, we felt this was a great time to bring this one to market here in Canada,” McHaney added. He also noted that demand for alternative yield sources amid equity and bond market volatility fueled interest in the firm’s Bitcoin ETFs.
BMO Introduces AAA CLO ETF
BMO Global Asset Management has launched the BMO AAA CLO ETF (ZAAA, ZAAA.F, ZAAA.U), offering Canadian investors access to a diversified portfolio of AAA-rated collateralized loan obligations. The fund aims to deliver income and preserve capital, with a modest 0.20% management fee. Hedged units seek to minimize U.S. currency risk through derivatives.
BMO and TD Simplify Fund Offerings
- BMO will merge the BMO LifeStage Plus 2025 Fund into the BMO Money Market Fund, and the BMO Target Education 2025 Portfolio into the BMO Target Education Income Portfolio on or about July 11, on a tax-deferred basis.
- TD Asset Management launched the TD All-Equity ETF Portfolio (TEQT), a fund-of-funds vehicle focused on long-term capital growth with a 0.15% management fee.
Mackenzie Targets CLOs and Fixed Maturities
Mackenzie Investments has released three new fixed-income solutions:
- Mackenzie AAA CLO ETF (MAAA) – 0.18% fee, actively managed.
- Mackenzie Target 2027 North American IG Corporate Bond Fund/ETF (MTBA) – 0.20% fee.
- Mackenzie Target 2029 North American IG Corporate Bond Fund/ETF (MTBB) – 0.20% fee.
The Target Date funds are designed to hold investment-grade bonds until maturity, seeking to offer yield stability and reduced interest rate risk.
CIBC Adds 15 More CDRs
CIBC has expanded its Canadian Depositary Receipts (CDRs) suite to 101 names, adding exposure to U.S. giants in Canadian dollars. New CDRs include:
- Abbott Labs CDR (Cboe: ABT)
- Amgen CDR – (Cboe: AMGN)
- AutoZone CDR (Cboe: AZO)
- Charles Schwab CDR (Cboe: SCHW)
- Fiserv CDR (Cboe: FI)
- GE Vernova CDR (Cboe: GEV)
- Gilead Sciences CDR (Cboe: GILD)
- KKR CDR (Cboe: KKR)
- Morgan Stanley CDR (Cboe: MS)
- NextEra Energy CDR (Cboe: NEE)
- Pepsi CDR (Cboe: PEP)
- S&P Global CDR (Cboe: SPGI)
- TJX CDR (Cboe: TJX)
- Union Pacific CDR (Cboe: UNP)
- Waste Management CDR (Cboe: WAST)
CDRs allow Canadian investors to bypass FX risks while gaining access to fractional U.S. shares.
Harvest Expands Bitcoin Income Lineup
Harvest Portfolios launched two new leveraged Bitcoin strategies with income overlays:
- Harvest Bitcoin Enhanced Income ETF (HBIX) – 0.65% fee; provides leveraged exposure to BTC-linked ETFs and high monthly distributions.
- Harvest Bitcoin Leaders Enhanced Income ETF (HBTE) – 0.75% fee; invests in 15 BTC-related equities and writes calls on up to 50% of eligible holdings.
Hamilton Launches Leveraged Mixed-Asset ETF
Hamilton ETFs introduced the Hamilton Enhanced Mixed Asset ETF (MIX), combining U.S. equities (60%), U.S. Treasuries (20%), and gold (20%) with 25% leverage to enhance growth and diversification. The ETF tracks a 1.25x multiple of the Solactive Hamilton Mixed Asset Index and features a 0% management fee until April 30, 2026.
Travelers Capital Debuts Private Credit Offering for Retail
Expanding access to private credit, Travelers Capital Corp. has launched the Travelers Capital Private Credit Fund, a mutual fund trust version of its institutional strategy aimed at delivering double-digit net annualized yields. The fund invests in asset-backed loans to small and medium-sized enterprises, using collateral such as aircraft, vehicles, and heavy equipment.
“We wanted to create that opportunity to allow more people to get involved in what we’re doing,” said Mark Breakspear, head of capital and investor relations at Travelers.
The strategy boasts a 12–13% return over the past four years, and now, with its fund wrapper, becomes registered-plan eligible. The fund has a 1.35% management fee with redemptions available quarterly.
Sub-Advisory and Fund Lineup Changes
- Canada Life announced that Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. will take over sub-advisory duties from Fiduciary Trust Company of Canada for the Canada Life Global Small-Mid Cap Equity Fund, with no changes to strategy or management.
- SLGI Asset Management will terminate the Sun Life Wellington Opportunistic Fixed Income Private Pool on Aug. 29 and confirmed the June 30 maturity of the Sun Life Milestone 2025 Fund.
- Accelerate Financial Technologies will launch a CAD-hedged series (INCM.B) of its Accelerate Diversified Credit Income Fund, giving Canadian investors hedged access to the U.S.-dollar private credit space.
Advisor Takeaway
From concentrated thematic bets and capital-efficient income overlays to private credit access and target-date bond ladders, Canadian fund manufacturers are addressing a broadening set of investor preferences. For advisors, these launches underscore three key trends: growing demand for alternative yield sources, a shift toward more defensive equity exposures, and the continued evolution of currency-hedged, accessible cross-border investing.
As always, diligence around cost structures, liquidity, and alignment with client mandates remains essential. But the opportunity set is clearly expanding.
