August has historically been one of the weaker months in terms of return performance, however, the month saw several record highs for this year. The S&P 500 and S&P/TSX Composite Index saw record highs.
Another event of note is the U.S. government taking a 10% stake in Intel Corporation as part of an effort to build a sovereign wealth fund. As a result, the corporation enjoyed a 23% pop in its share price in August alone.
But the gold rally is at the center of attention as the precious metal surpasses its all-time high of $3,500 an ounce and continues to march higher. The geopolitical uncertainty is pushing the bullish momentum for gold, making it an attractive monetary metal.
Notable gold-based ETFs that experienced some of the best performances in the month of August include BMO Equal Weight Global Gold Index ETF (ZGD-T) with 23.29% price return, iShares S&P/TSX Global Gold Index ETF (XGD-T) with 20.54%, and Dynamic Active Global Gold ETF (DXAU-T) etching out a 19.84% price appreciation.
Additions
August was a hefty month for ETFs with 65 new funds joining the market.
CI Financial ETFs
CI Global Asset Management launched eleven new funds, beginning the month with additions to its CI Private Pool lineup. The CI U.S. Monthly Income Private Pool (CUIG-T, CUIG-U-T) seeks to provide regular income and long-term capital growth by investing U.S. equity and fixed income securities. The CI Global Dividend Private Pool Top of Form
(CGDI-T) invests primarily in a portfolio of dividend paying global equity securities. The CI U.S. Small/Mid Cap Equity Private Pool (CSMD-T) focuses on equity investments in small- and mid-cap companies located in North America for long-term capital growth.
The company also expanded its digital assets lineup with several crypto-related funds. The CI Galaxy Bitcoin ETF (BTCX-T), CI Galaxy Ethereum ETF (ETHX-T), CI Galaxy Solana ETF (SOLX-T), CI Galaxy Core Multi-Crypto ETF (CCCX-T, CCCX-B-T, CCCX-U-T), and CI Galaxy Multi-Crypto Navigator ETF (CMCX-T) were introduced to offer exposure to bitcoin, ether, and solana.
LongPoint ETFs
LongPoint Asset Management added to its Savvy ETF suite with a couple of single stock ETFs that provide short exposure to U.S. mega-cap stocks Nvidia (NVDD-T) and Tesla (TSLD-T). These funds will use cash borrowing, short selling and/or derivatives to achieve investment results, which will be two times the inverse daily return on the underlying stock.
Harvest ETFs
Harvest Portfolios Group expanded its single stock ETF suite that invests in recognizable Canadian companies. The High Income Shares ETF series will hold the underlying stock for growth potential and generate high monthly income through the use of modest leverage and an active covered call strategy. The fund lineup include the following companies: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEME-T), BCE Inc (BCEE-T), Cameco Corporation (CCOE-T), Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQE-T), Enbridge (ENBE-T), Royal Bank of Canada (RYHE-T), Shopify (SHPE-T), Suncor Energy (SUHE-T), Toronto-Dominion Bank (TDHE-T), and TELUS (TEHE-T).
The Harvest Canadian High Income Share ETF (HHIC-T) was launched as a one-ticket solution to cover all 10 aforementioned single stock securities.
In addition, the Harvest High Income Equity Shares ETF (HHIH-T) provides access to the growth potential of a portfolio of leading and trending US stocks. The fund is unlevered and employs an active call strategy for monthly income generation.
Purpose ETFs
Purpose Investments Inc. also launched a suite of single-stock ETFs on the Cboe Canada exchange. Its Yield Shares ETF series will employ a covered call strategy, along with the use of 25% leverage, to provide investors with attractive month yields. The targeted Canadian companies include Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATBY-NE), Bank of Nova Scotia (BNSY-NE), Brookfield Corporation (BNY-NE), Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNQY-NE), Dollarama (DOLY-NE), Enbridge (ENBY-NE), Royal Bank of Canada (RBCY-NE), Shopify (SHPY-NE), Toronto-Dominion Bank (TDY-NE), and TELUS (TY-NE).
Ninepoint ETFs
Ninepoint Partners LP listed eleven new funds on the TSX, ten of which are single-stock ETFs. Its HighShares series holds shares in the underlying stock and uses a covered call strategy with modest leverage to produce higher monthly income. The companies targeted include Barrick Mining (ABHI-T), BCE (BCHI-T), Cameco Corporation (CCHI-T), Canadian National Railway (CRHI-T), Canadian Natural Resources (CQHI-T), Enbridge (ENHI-T), Royal Bank of Canada (RYHI-T), Shopify (SHHI-T), Suncor Energy (SUHI-T), and Toronto-Dominion Bank (TDHI-T).
The Ninepoint Enhanced Canadian HighShares ETF (ECHI-T) invests in a portfolio of the ten aforementioned funds.
Management fees on Ninepoint HighShares ETFs will be reduced to 0% until February 28, 2026. As of March 1, 2026 the management fee will be 0.29%.
CIBC ETFs
CIBC Asset Management launched four funds, three of which uses covered call options to mitigate downside risk.
The CIBC Canadian Banks Covered Call ETF (CCCB-T) focuses on exposure to Canadian banks.
The CIBC U.S. High Dividend Covered Call ETF (CUDC-T, CUDC-F-T) invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of income-producing high-quality US equity securities.
The CIBC Canadian High Dividend Covered Call ETF (CCDC-T) invests primarily in income producing high-quality Canadian equity securities.
The CIBC All-Equity ETF Portfolio (CEQY-T) provides broad global equity exposure to Canadian, U.S., international, and emerging markets by investing primarily in units of exchange traded index funds.
BetaPro ETFs
BetaPro by Global X launched six new leveraged ETFs on the TSX and Cboe Canada exchanges.
The BetaPro 3x S&P/TSX 60 Daily Leveraged Bull Alternative ETF (TCND-T) and BetaPro -3x S&P/TSX 60 Daily Leveraged Bear Alternative ETF (SCND-T) offers three-times (3X) and minus three-times (-3X) exposure to the S&P/TSX 60™ Index.
The BetaPro 3x US Treasury 20+ Year Daily Leveraged Bull Alternative ETF (TTLT-NE) and BetaPro -3x US Treasury 20+ Year Daily Leveraged Bear Alternative ETF (STLT-NE) offers three-times (3X) and minus three-times (-3X) exposure to U.S. Treasuries.
The BetaPro 3x Semiconductor Daily Leveraged Bull Alternative ETF (SOXL-NE) and BetaPro-3x Semiconductor Daily Leveraged Bear Alternative ETF (SOXS-NE) offers three-times (3X) and minus three-times (-3X) exposure to Semiconductors.
Mackenzie ETFs
Mackenzie Investments launched two funds. The Mackenzie NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (QQQQ-T), which tracks the performance of 100 of the largest and most liquid non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq, including both US and international leaders.
The Mackenzie GQE US Alpha Extension ETF (MALX-T) seeks to capture alpha through both traditional long positions and additional long equity exposure via short selling. Its investment process will be carried by the Mackenzie Global Quantitative Equity (GQE) team.
Desjardins ETFs
Desjardins Investments listed two funds on the TSX. Desjardins Global Macro ETD (DGLM-T) seeks to achieve positive returns in different market environments. The ETF is diversified across various asset classes in long and/or short positions and will use leverage to amplify value.
The Desjardins American Mid Cap Equity Index ETF (DMID-T) offers a low-cost passive strategy for exposure to U.S. mid-cap companies.
Other launches
Franklin Templeton issued two funds this month. The Franklin FTSE India Index ETF (FID-NE) aims to replicate the FTSE India RIC Capped Index by investing all or substantially all of its assets in, the U.S. listed, Franklin FTSE India ETF. The Franklin U.S. Quality Moat Dividend Index ETF (FDIV-NE) closely corresponds to the performance of the Morningstar US Dividend Opportunity Index – NR (Underlying Index).
Dynamic Funds listed the Dynamic Active U.S. Discount Bond ETF (DXDU-T) to provide investors with a regular month income stream in USD. The fund seeks to generate tax-efficient returns relative to its benchmark through active credit selection of discount investment-grade bonds.
Finally, Global X Investments Canada listed the Global X Nasdaq-100 Covered Call ETF (QQCC-U-T) for U.S. dollar trading. This fund is ideal for investors looking for direct exposure to the performance of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Additionally, the fund also looks to generate income through covered call writing designed to provide a consistent monthly income.
Amy Mak is ETF Specialist at Inovestor.
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