BlackRock expands active ETF range

BlackRock is set to expand its Australian ETF range with the launch of the iShares World Equity High Income Complex ETF (ASX: WYNC), an actively managed strategy targeting investors seeking both income and broad global equity exposure.

The new fund features a diversified portfolio of global equities which aims to generate income from multiple sources, rather than relying solely on high dividend stocks.

Managed by BlackRock's Systematic team, WYNC will use the firm's dividend rotation approach alongside proprietary investment insights that incorporate human expertise, big data and machine learning. The strategy draws on more than 1000 data signals to identify higher yielding opportunities across global markets.

BlackRock said the fund is designed to provide a regular income stream while maintaining a risk profile aligned with broader equity markets.

Australia head of retail wealth at BlackRock Gareth Hughes said investors preferences were continuing to evolve beyond traditional distinctions between active and passive investing.

"Investor needs in Australia continue to change, with a greater focus on income, whole-of-portfolio outcomes and flexibility in how strategies are delivered - whether it's index or active, ETF or managed funds," Hughes said.

He noted the strategy sought to address demand from advisers and investors looking for income without significantly altering portfolio construction.

"WYNC reflects this evolution, bringing an innovative, income-focused equity solution to the iShares platform while maintaining a risk profile aligned to global markets," Hughes said.

"We see the fund as a natural fit at the core of the portfolio for advisers and investors looking for a regular source of income, without the performance distortion that can often come with more traditional equity yield strategies," he said.

The ETF will be managed by BlackRock's Systematic team, led by Raffaele Savi, alongside Robert Fisher and Anna Hawley.

Earlier this year, BlackRock highlighted a shift in ETF investor behaviour, with rising home bias and a more selective approach amid global unrest. Investors were increasingly blending index exposures with active strategies. BlackRock said the launch of WYNC builds on this trend, offering a globally diversified, income-focused active ETF aligned with evolving portfolio construction preferences.