First Trust Canada responds to investor interest in direct U.S. dollar exposure

TORONTO, Jan. 16, 2015 /CNW/ - FT Portfolios Canada Co. ("First Trust Canada"), a privately owned company announced today that effective after the close of business on January 30, 2015, each of the First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. sector ETFs (the "First Trust ETFs") will no longer be hedging its exposure to the U.S. dollar. The First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. Sectors will provide the same exposure to various segments of the U.S. equity market but in a non-US currency hedged manner. The change will impact the following exchange traded funds ("ETFs"):

Fund	Index
First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. Energy Sector Index ETF (TSX:FHE)	StrataQuant® Energy Index
First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. Health Care Sector Index ETF (TSX:FHH)	StrataQuant® Health Care Index
First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. Industrials Sector Index ETF (TSX:FHG)	StrataQuant® Industrials Index
First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. Consumer Staples Index Sector ETF (TSX:FHC)	StrataQuant® Consumer Staples Index
First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. Financials Sector Index ETF (TSX:FHF)	StrataQuant® Financials Index
First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. Utilities Sector Index ETF (TSX:FHU)	StrataQuant® Utilities Index
First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. Consumer Discretionary Sector Index ETF (TSX:FHD)	StrataQuant® Consumer Discretionary Index
First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. Materials Sector Index ETF (TSX:FHM)	StrataQuant® Materials Index
First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. Technology Sector Index ETF (TSX: FHQ)	StrataQuant® Technology Index

"Clients and potential investors seem less concerned about the Canadian dollar appreciating in value against the U.S. dollar and have requested unhedged currency exposure to our First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. sector index ETFs" said Fraser Howell, CEO of First Trust Canada. "We believe the change to direct U.S. dollar exposure to the underlying indices through our TSX listed U.S. sector ETFs not only makes for an intriguing investment product but helps to differentiate them from the other currency hedged U.S. equity ETFs and mutual funds". :

The First Trust AlphaDEX™ U.S. Sectors follow "enhanced indices" which employ First Trust's proprietary AlphaDEX™ stock selection methodology. The AlphaDEX™ methodology combines: (1) the traditional benefits of ETFs: intraday liquidity, generally lower expenses and daily transparency; and (2) the added advantages of the AlphaDEX™ methodology: the potential to outperform a benchmark and the selection and weighting of stocks based on investment merit.

About First Trust

The First Trust companies are a well-respected global enterprise with a history in the U.S. market since 1991 and in Canada since 1996. As of December 31, 2014, First Trust Advisors L.P., the portfolio advisor for the First Trust AlphaDEX™ ETFs, has approximately US $33 billion in ETF assets under management and more than US $104 billion total assets under supervision or management. First Trust is the enterprise name used for the various businesses conducted in Europe, Mexico, Canada and the U.S.

Further information about FT Portfolios Canada's ETFs can be found at www.firsttrust.ca.  

Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in exchange traded funds. Please read the prospectus before investing. Exchange traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

StrataQuant® is a registered trademark of NYSE Group, Inc. or its affiliates ("NYSE").  The Indices have been licensed for use to FT Portfolios Canada Co. in connection with the First Trust ETFs.  FT Portfolios Canada Co. is not affiliated with NYSE and the First Trust ETFs are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by NYSE.  NYSE makes no representations or warranties regarding the First Trust ETFs or the ability of the Indices to track general stock market performance.

SOURCE FT Portfolios Canada Co.

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