MutualFundWire.com: New First Trust Family Debuts
MutualFundWire.com
   The insiders' edge for 40 Act industry executives!
an InvestmentWires' Publication
Friday, May 11, 2007

New First Trust Family Debuts


First Trust Advisors added a large new family of funds to its AMEX lineup on Thursday. The AlphaDEX (TM) funds number 17 core, style, multi-cap and sector ETFs, each constructed using a proprietary, fundamental methodology for stock selection.


NEW YORK, May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Stock Exchange(R)(Amex(R)) today announced that it has launched trading in 17 new exchange traded funds (ETFs) by First Trust Advisors L.P. (First Trust).

The First Trust AlphaDEX(TM) family of funds consists of a diverse range of core, style, multi cap and sector ETFs. The 16 First Trust AlphaDEX funds are designed to track the performance of a group of custom "enhanced" indexes created and administered by either Amex or Standard & Poor's(R) (S&P(R)), a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., which employ the proprietary, rules-based AlphaDEX fundamental stock selection methodology. The new First Trust AlphaDEX funds include:

AlphaDEX Core Series
--First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FEX)
-- First Trust Mid Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FNX)
-- First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FYX)

AlphaDEX Style Series
-- First Trust Large Cap Growth Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FTC)
-- First Trust Large Cap Value Opportunities AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FTA)

AlphaDEX Multi Cap Series
-- First Trust Multi Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FAD)
-- First Trust Multi Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FAB)

AlphaDEX Sector Series
-- First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FXD)
-- First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FXG)
-- First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FXN)
-- First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FXO)
-- First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FXH)
-- First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FXR)
-- First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FXZ)
-- First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FXL)
-- First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (Symbol: FXU)

The "Core Series," "Style Series" and "Multi Cap Series" of First Trust AlphaDEX funds are based on a family of indexes created and administered by S&P.

The "Sector Series" of AlphaDEX funds seek to replicate the performance of Amex's StrataQuant(TM) family of indexes. StrataQuant indexes are modified equal-dollar weighted indexes that utilize the AlphaDEX screening methodology to identify and select stocks objectively from particular market sectors of the Russell 1000 Index(R) that may have greater capital appreciation potential. StrataQuant indexes cover the following sectors: industrials, materials, technology, utilities, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, energy, financials and health care.

In addition to the 16 First Trust AlphaDEX funds, First Trust launched the First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (Symbol: FRI) which tracks (before the Fund's fees and expenses), an equity index called the S&P REIT Composite Index.

"The Amex is proud to partner with First Trust to provide investors with opportunities in various core, style, multi cap and sector funds via the AlphaDEX product line," said Scott Ebner, Senior Vice President, ETF Marketplace at the Amex. "This is an important expansion of First Trust's ETF business and we are proud to support 25 of their innovative products on the Exchange."

"We are pleased to bring the AlphaDEX family of core, style, multi cap and sector ETFs to the public on the American Stock Exchange," said Dan Waldron, Senior Vice President, at First Trust Advisors L.P. "At First Trust, we are single-minded about providing a range of investment products to help maximize investors' financial opportunities. The AlphaDEX funds employ an enhanced indexing approach, which we think investors will find valuable when seeking alpha for their portfolios."

Goldman Sachs Execution and Clearing, LP is the specialist for FXD, FXN, FXO, FXH, FXR, FXL, FEX and FYX. Susquehanna Investment Group is the specialist for FTC, FTA, FAD and FAB and Kellogg Capital Group, LLC is the specialist for FXG, FXZ, FXU, FRI and FNX.

The American Stock Exchange(R) (Amex(R)) offers trading across a full range of equities, options and exchange traded funds (ETFs), including structured products and HOLDRS(SM). In addition to its role as a national equities market, the Amex is the pioneer of the ETF, responsible for bringing the first domestic product to market in 1993. Leading the industry in ETF listings, the Amex lists 308 ETFs to date. The Amex is also one of the largest options exchanges in the U.S., trading options on broad-based and sector indexes as well as domestic and foreign stocks. For more information, please visit http://www.amex.com.

First Trust Advisors L.P. and its affiliate, First Trust Portfolios L.P., are privately-held investment services companies which were established in 1991 and operate nationwide and also in Canada and Europe. The firms provide a variety of investment services, including asset management, financial advisory services, and municipal and corporate investment banking. The firms currently have assets under management or supervision of over $25 billion through closed-end funds, unit investment trusts, mutual funds, separate managed accounts and exchange-traded funds.


Printed from: MFWire.com/story.asp?s=14369

Copyright 2007, InvestmentWires, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Back to Top