Which new Aussie ETFs hit the market in 1Q25?
The first quarter of the calendar year was a busy period for fund managers launching new ETFs, ranging from cryptocurrency funds to fixed income products.
A dozen Australian fund managers announced new ETFs during the first three months of the year via the ASX or Cboe, including names such as Vanguard, Betashares, and Global X.
Below, Money Management compiles the most notable ETF launches for Q1 of the 2025 calendar year.
January
The year kicked off with the ASX-listing of the VanEck Australian Long Short Complex ETF (ALFA) in January – an actively managed, high conviction, unconstrained Australian equity portfolio that targets long and short positions.
Following this, Franklin Templeton unveiled the Martin Currie Real Income Fund – Active ETF (R3AL) on the ASX. Based on the existing Martin Currie Real Income Fund, the ETF structure enables Australian investors to access the same long-term growth and attractive income characteristics.
February
The second month of the calendar year saw an array of new ETFs hit the market, including four fixed income ETFs from PIMCO on Cboe Australia: the PIMCO Global Bond Active ETF (PGBF), PIMCO Diversified Fixed Interest Active ETF (PDFI), PIMCO Global Credit Active ETF (PCRD), and PIMCO Australian Bond Active ETF (PAUS).
The Global X Russell 2000 (RSSL) was also launched in February, described as the only ETF in Australia that tracks the Russell 2000 Capped Index. It offers exposure to US small-cap stocks in sectors such as financial, healthcare, and industrials.
Meanwhile, Macquarie Asset Management introduced two new fixed income funds: the Macquarie Global Yield Maximiser Active ETF (MQYM) and the Macquarie Subordinated Debt Active ETF (MQSD).
February also saw Schroders Australia drop the Schroder Global Equity Alpha Fund – Active ETF and Schroder Australian High Yielding Credit Fund – Active ETF, doubling the size of its active range to four products.
Betashares rounded off the month with two cryptocurrency ETFs – the Betashares Bitcoin ETF (QBTC) and Betashares Ethereum ETF (QETH) – amid the rising adoption of digital assets across the globe.
March
In the final month of Q1, Pinnacle-backed Coolabah Capital Investments revealed the Coolabah Global Floating Rate High Yield Complex ETF (YLDX) via Cboe. The product acts as an ETF version of the existing Coolabah Floating Rate High Yield Fund, the firm said.
GCQ Funds Management was one of the latest Australian fund managers to enter the ETF space with the launch of its GCQ Global Equities Complex ETF on the ASX.
Moreover, Vanguard expanded its product range with the Vanguard Diversified All Growth Index ETF (VDAL) and the Vanguard Diversified Income ETF (VDIF), targeting the next generation of Australian investors.
Sydney fund manager India Avenue Investment Management also launched its first active ETF on the Cboe: the India Avenue Equity Fund ETF.
Finishing off the quarter, Pinnacle Group affiliate Resolution Capital brought the Resolution Capital Global Listed Infrastructure Fund – Active ETF (RIIF) to market on 25 March 2025.
AUTHOR
Jasmine Siljic
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