State Street Shows Odd Timing With ETF Launch

Is now a good time to launch a new series of ETFs? It depends on your perspective.

One view is that a downward-trending market is a less-than-ideal moment to attempt to gain enthusiasm for a new family of ETFs. The opposing view is that the timing is near-perfect, as the majority of troubles have already been flushed out of the market.

On Tuesday, State Street(STT Quote) forged ahead with the launch of 10 new SPDR ETFs. Each fund is sector-specific and adds an international flavor.

"These ETFs were developed in response to demand from investors seeking targeted exposure to sectors that do not include U.S.-listed securities," said James Ross, senior managing director at State Street Global Advisors. ...