European ETF assets have grown at a 50% annualized rate for the past five years, and have now reached € 160 billion. How are investors using ETFs and where is the industry heading?

• The state of the ETF market in Europe: Who is using ETFs and how?
• New funds and asset classes on the horizon
• Can the next UCITS directive reduce costs further?

Product innovations have come into the European market at a rate almost equalling asset growth. This brings with it tremendous opportunity, as well as some confusion

• Understanding exchange traded product structure
• What to know about trading ETFs
• Strategies for successful portfolio building

There are more than 750 exchange-traded products on the market in Europe. How do you ensure that you choose the right one to fit your needs?

• Evaluating indices, gauging tracking error and understanding premiums and discounts
• The full cost of ETFs (looking beyond the expense ratio)
• Comparing return, risk and liquidity across listings

The financial crisis of 2008–2009 has made us all aware of the importance of counterparty risk and credit issues. This panel examines what that means for ETF, ETN and ETC investors.

• Swap-based vs. fully replicated ETF structures
• The importance of collateral policies
• ETFs vs. ETNs vs. ETCs.: A credit comparison

Investors who are new to ETFs can lose out when trading the funds. What are the important factors to consider when accessing the market?

• How to trade ETFs (including low-volume ETFs): spreads, trading strategies and the secret of implicit liquidity
• Why are exchange-traded funds not traded more on the major European stock exchanges?
• Market orders or trading at NAV?

How are the best investors in the world using ETFs in their portfolios? This panel will examine model portfolios and consider recent advances in the financial literature.

• Investor case studies
• ETFs and advances in the theory of asset allocation
• Tactical models using ETFs

Do quantitative, fundamental and strategy-based ETFs and ETPs make sense? Do they add value, or are they just another marketing scheme?

• Fundamental vs. market-cap indices
• When can/should you trust a backtested quant strategy?
• Is hedge fund replication just an excuse to charge higher fees?

Sector-based investment strategies are gaining traction both in tactical and strategic allocations. This panel examines how and why to access the sector market.

• The rise of sector ETFs and the increasing variety of choice
• Identifying the best and most accurate sector ETFs
• Tactical and strategic models that work

Use of ETFs by financial advisers has been slow to take off in Europe. This panel will examine when and how ETFs will break into the adviser marketplace.

• Why haven’t ETFs taken hold with advisers?
• Legal changes that might alter the playing field
• The advantages to advisers willing to lead the charge

Fixed income accounts for nearly a third of European ETF assets. This panel will examine what funds are available and what investors need to be aware of.

• The importance of intelligent index construction in fixed income
• Corporate bond or credit ETFs―which are better?
• Government bonds, inflation/deflation and the euro

Leveraged and inverse ETFs have gained significant popularity, and more funds are launching every day. How and when do they fit into a portfolio?

• Understanding leverage: Why the returns you receive aren’t always the ones you expect
• ETFs vs. options, swaps, futures and other ways to gain short exposure
• Should I use an inverse ETF or sell short by myself?

With up to two-thirds of ETF trading taking place off-exchange, how can investors ensure best execution?

• Trends in secondary market liquidity
• Measuring best execution
• Will pre- and post-trade transparency for European ETFs improve?

Recent market turmoil has highlighted the need for investors to add non-correlated assets to their portfolios. ETFs have made that possible.

• Choosing between diversified commodity ETFs: Index choice, counterparty risk and more
• Tactical and strategic allocation in commodities
• Currency trackers and currency hedging