Ark-related funds to launch in Europe

Ark-related funds to launch in Europe

Retail investors in Europe will for the first time be able to bet on — or against — star US investment manager Cathie Wood, as products based on three of her best-known funds launch on Euronext and the London Stock Exchange.

London-based Leverage Shares, which packages up exchange-traded products tracking various international stocks for a European investor base, will from Tuesday offer products reflecting the high-profile Ark funds. The products will follow the funds one-for-one, or enable users to amplify returns from Wood’s gains or losses, in US dollars, euros or sterling.

Professionals can already bet against Ark using derivatives, but these launches will mark the second time in just over a month that investors have gained the opportunity to bet against Ark using an ETP, and come as many of Ark’s funds are suffering unprecedented pressure with many of their holdings having slid into a bear market.

Oktay Kavrak, product strategist at Leverage Shares, said the leveraged and inverse versions of the funds would “enable investors to make directional trades and express their convictions, whether they are supportive of a stock or ETF, or whether they believe it is over-hyped”. 

Ark Invest did not reply to requests for comment on the launch of