Despite mega-cap technology and AI infrastructure stocks driving market resilience, the September Effect ran true to form as the broad market indexes closed out the month with weaker average returns compared to other months.
U.S. bond markets reacted to the Federal Reserve decision to increase the interest rates by 25 bps by climbing to decades high.
Investor appetite remained robust for income-generating overlays, AI thematic exposure, and international quantitative equity diversification as late-summer momentum carried into the fall.
The top Canadian ETF performers for September belonged to levered funds. The SavvyLong (2X) AMD ETF (AMDU-T) led the field with a 68.93% price return. The Evolve Levered Bitcoin ETF (LBIT-U-T) had a 42.08% increase on price alone. In third spot Ninepoint Intel HighShares ETF (SOXU-T) with a 37.89% market price return.
The best non-levered performers include Dynamic Active U.S. Dividend ETF (DXU-U-T) (28.14%), Purpose Core Bitcoin ETF (BTCO-U-T) (27.28%), and CI Galaxy Core Multi-Crypto ETF (CCCX-U-T) (24.54%).
Meanwhile, 47 new fund listings entered Canadian marketplace in September, reflecting strong expansion across equities, fixed income, and alternative strategies.
Global X ETFs
Global X Investments Canada Inc. led the month’s expansion with 10 new fund listings spanning fixed income, global equity, and thematic tech. In fixed income, the issuer introduced the Global X 1-10 Year Canadian Corporate Bond Index ETF (GCIG-T), the Global X Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (AGGX-T), and the Global X 3-10 Year U.S. Treasury Bond Index ETF across CAD unhedged (TMTX-T), CAD hedged (TMTX-F-T), and USD units (TMTX-U-T). On the equity front, Global X expanded its broad market suite with the Global X S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (CNDC-T) and the Global X Korea KOSPI 200 Index ETF in CAD (KORX-T) and USD units (KORX-U-T). Rounding out its rollout, the firm launched two specialized tech strategies: the Global X Artificial Intelligence Memory Index ETF (DRAM-T) and the Global X Asia Semiconductor Index ETF (ACHP-T).
Harvest Portfolios
Harvest Portfolios Group Inc. expanded its single-stock high-income lineup with four enhanced single-stock options strategies: the Harvest ASML Enhanced High Income Shares ETF (ASME-T), Harvest Berkshire Hathaway Enhanced High Income Shares ETF (BRKE-T), Harvest Intel Enhanced High Income Shares ETF (INTE-T), and Harvest Micron Enhanced High Income Shares ETF (MUHE-T). Additionally, the manager introduced the Harvest All-In-One High Income Shares ETF (HONE-T), providing an integrated multi-strategy approach to high-yield equity investing.
National Bank Investments
National Bank Investments introduced five specialized strategies across fixed income and covered-call equities. Fixed income additions include the NBI Ultra Short-Term Fixed Income Fund (NUST-T) and the target-maturity NBI Target 2032 Investment Grade Bond Fund (NTGG-T). To address income needs in volatile equity markets, NBI added the NBI SmartData Enhanced Yield U.S. Equity Fund (NSUY-T), NBI SmartData U.S. Equity Covered Call Fund (NUCC-T), and NBI SmartData International Equity Covered Call Fund (NICC-T).
Mackenzie Investments
Mackenzie Investments introduced four new systematic and overlay strategies targeting international, global, and real asset exposures. The lineup includes the Mackenzie Global Equity & Gold Overlay ETF (MGEG-T), designed to combine global equity exposure with a gold overlay strategy. Additionally, Mackenzie expanded its Modus suite with three factor-based funds: the Mackenzie Modus International Equity ETF (MMEA-T), the Mackenzie Modus Global Equity ETF (MMGL-T), and the Mackenzie Modus Global Small-Mid Cap Equity ETF (MMSD-T).
Manulife Investment Management
Manulife expanded its ETF footprint with four new listings spanning asset allocation, corporate credit, and dividend income. The firm introduced two core multi-asset solutions: the Manulife All-Equity ETF Portfolio (MEQP-T) and the Manulife All-Fixed Income ETF Portfolio (MBND-T). In fixed income, it added the Manulife Corporate Bond Fund (CORB-T), alongside a USD series for its international income strategy, the Manulife Smart International Dividend ETF (IDUV-U-T).
Middlefield Group
Middlefield Group added two actively managed income strategies focusing on global fixed income sectors. The Middlefield Alternative Global Fixed Income Fund (MAGF-T) seeks enhanced income through flexible credit allocation, while the Middlefield Global Multi-Sector Fixed Income Fund (MGFI-T) targets investment-grade and high-yield instruments across global markets.
BMO ETFs
BMO Asset Management introduced structured yield solutions with the launch of the BMO Strategic Autocallable Income US Large Cap ETF. Utilizing an autocallable options-based framework, the strategy targets enhanced distribution income and downside protection on U.S. large-cap equities. The fund listed across three distinct trading series: CAD unhedged (ZACU-T), CAD hedged (ZACU-F-T), and USD units (ZACU-U-T).
Ninepoint Partners
Ninepoint Partners expanded its high-conviction HighShares ETF lineup with two derivative-enhanced solutions. The Ninepoint Enhanced U.S. Equity HighShares ETF (USHI-T) combines U.S. large-cap equity exposure with covered-call options to enhance distribution yield. Expanding into thematic industrials, the firm also launched the Ninepoint Enhanced Aerospace and Defense HighShares ETF (EDHI-T).
Corton Capital
Corton Capital Inc. launched two specialized with strategies targeting global macro and options trading techniques. The Corton Rosenberg Global Macro Fund debuted in both CAD (ROSY-T) and USD units (ROSY-U-T) provide multi-asset exposure across global macro trends. Additionally, the firm introduced the Corton Theta TM Alpha Fund (TPUT-T), focusing on options strategies designed to capture market volatility premiums.
Other Launches
Vanguard Investments Canada introduced the Vanguard Global Core-Plus Bond ETF (VCOR-T), providing access to investment-grade and crossover global fixed income securities.
RBC Global Asset Management expanded its quantitative line with the RBC QUBE Market Neutral World Equity Fund (AGGX-NE) on Cboe Canada, targeting market-neutral market performance through proprietary quantitative modeling.
Westcourt Asset Management introduced the Westcourt Hamilton Yield Portfolio ETF in CAD (WHYP-T) and USD units (WHYP-U-T), focusing on high-dividend, large-cap equities.
CI Global Asset Management expanded its international equity lineup in partnership with Munro Partners by listing the CI Munro International Growth Equity Fund in CAD (CMIG-T) and USD units (CMIG-U-T), offering growth-focused international equity exposure.
Brompton Funds added USD units for the Brompton Split Corp. Preferred Share ETF (SPLT-U-T), facilitating access to split-share preferred portfolios.
TD Asset Management launched the TD Q International Dividend ETF (TQID-T), a quantitative, factor-driven equity strategy focusing on dividend-paying international companies.
Lastly, Fidelity Investments Canada issued the Fidelity Global Quant Equity ETF (FGQE-T), employing quantitative multi-factor selection techniques across global markets.
Amy Mak is ETF Specialist at Inovestor.
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