European approval for semi-transparent ETFs sparks debate

March 10, 2025--Quick Summary:
Luxembourg has only approved semi-transparency for actively managed funds, with passive, index-tracking funds not deemed in need of such protection, but she believed some passive funds would also benefit from shielding their portfolio from the market.

In part, semi-transparent ETFs' slow progress in the US is due to regulations limiting the non-transparent option to ETFs investing purely in US securities, suggesting there might be a wider appetite for the approach if it was more widely available.

Some believe opening the door to semi-transparent ETFs in Europe could widen the type of funds available to investors.