Latest news with #FGD
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Is First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend ETF (FGD) a Strong ETF Right Now?
The First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend ETF (FGD) was launched on 11/21/2007, and is a smart beta exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Foreign Large Value ETF category of the market. The ETF industry has long been dominated by products based on market cap weighted indexes, a strategy created to reflect the market or a particular market segment. Market cap weighted indexes work great for investors who believe in market efficiency. They provide a low-cost, convenient and transparent way of replicating market returns. However, some investors believe in the possibility of beating the market through exceptional stock selection, and choose a different type of fund that tracks non-cap weighted strategies: smart beta. This kind of index follows this same mindset, as it attempts to pick stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance; non-cap weighted strategies base selection on certain fundamental characteristics, or a mix of such characteristics. While this space offers a number of choices to investors, including simplest equal-weighting, fundamental weighting and volatility/momentum based weighting methodologies, not all these strategies have been able to deliver superior results. The fund is managed by First Trust Advisors, and has been able to amass over $763.81 million, which makes it one of the average sized ETFs in the Foreign Large Value ETF. This particular fund, before fees and expenses, seeks to match the performance of the Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index. The Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index is an indicated annual dividend yield weighted index of 100 stocks selected from the developed-market portion of the Dow Jones World Index. Since cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio. Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.56%, making it on par with most peer products in the space. The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 5.12%. Most ETFs are very transparent products, and disclose their holdings on a daily basis. ETFs also offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, though it's still important for investors to research a fund's holdings. Taking into account individual holdings, Enagas S.a. ( accounts for about 1.95% of the fund's total assets, followed by Phoenix Group Holdings Plc ( and Spark New Zealand Limited ( FGD's top 10 holdings account for about 15.12% of its total assets under management. The ETF has gained about 23.99% so far this year and was up about 28.85% in the last one year (as of 06/17/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $21.80 and $27.47. The fund has a beta of 0.74 and standard deviation of 15.21% for the trailing three-year period, which makes FGD a low risk choice in this particular space. With about 110 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk. First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Value ETF segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider. Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) tracks FTSE All-World ex US High Dividend Yield Index and the Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF) tracks Russell RAFI Developed ex US Large Co. Index (Net). Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF has $10.57 billion in assets, Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF has $16.21 billion. VYMI has an expense ratio of 0.17% and FNDF charges 0.25%. Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Foreign Large Value ETF. To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend ETF (FGD): ETF Research Reports Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI): ETF Research Reports Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF (FNDF): ETF Research Reports This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NTPC signs $750 billion foreign currency loan
NTPC Ltd . has signed a foreign currency loan agreement worth $ 750 million with the IFSC Banking Units (IBUs) of Bank of Baroda and HDFC Bank , located in GIFT City, Gandhinagar. A NTPC statement said this unsecured, syndicated External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) facility comprises a base amount of $ 500 million and a greenshoe option of $ 250 million. NTPC said proceeds from the facility will be utilized by the company to fund capital expenditure for ongoing and upcoming capacity addition programs, flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) projects, renewable energy and hydro-based projects. The power producer will also refinance existing ECBs, in line with the Reserve Bank of India's ECB Guidelines. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like All Senior Drivers Should Claim This Large Reward (Check If You Qualify) Read More Undo Bank of Baroda and HDFC Bank acted as Mandated Lead Arrangers, underwriting $ 500 million (base amount by Bank of Baroda) and $ 250 million (greenshoe portion by HDFC Bank). The loan has a door-to-door tenor of 10 years, with an average maturity of 7 years, the statement added. This is the largest foreign currency lending by Bank of Baroda and the first-ever foreign currency loan extended by HDFC Bank to NTPC, the statement said.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Central Pollution Control Board to decide on future of flue gas desulphurisation units: Power Minister
The Union Ministry of Power will wait for the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to decide on whether flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) units should be mandatory for all coal-fired thermal power plants, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said in a response to a question from The Hindu at a press conference on Tuesday (June 10, 2025). On the June 4, The Hindu had reported on a meeting in April involving a high-powered committee of experts, chaired by the Principal Scientific Advisor, Ajay Sood. The group recommended that India do away with its decade-long policy of mandating equipment, including FGD units, in all coal-fired thermal power plant units (TPPs). While 92% of India's 600 TPPs, spread across about 180 coal plants, haven't yet installed FGD units, the recommendation exempts about 80% of them from installing such equipment. So far, the government has granted three extensions since 2017, the latest being in December 2024, for plants to comply by 2027-2030. FGDs are an additional piece of equipment required to be retro-fitted in TPPs to cut harmful sulphur dioxide emissions resulting from burning coal. Sulphur dioxide emissions can also hover in the atmosphere and form aerosols of sulphates that, on the one hand, can somewhat temper the heat from global warming, but also exacerbate particulate matter pollution and respiratory diseases. It is estimated that the current installation cost of such equipment is about ₹1 crore per megawatt (MW) of installed power capacity. 'Scientific institutions such as CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Delhi have studied this. The sulphate aerosols from these coal plants aren't to the extent that they affect human is less than 5%. On the contrary, it is necessary that some of it remain in the atmosphere. If it is too less, it can increase warming,' Mr. Khattar said. 'That said, the CPCB is looking at this and hasn't come to a conclusion. We will implement anything only after examining their verdict. About 97,000 MW of power will be added, and implementing FGD means an additional expense of ₹97,000 crore. We have to consider this carefully. Neither should health be harmed, nor people face increased tariffs, nor warming increase. You must have read about the thousands of lives lost in Europe from heatwaves,' he added. As The Hindu had reported, the committee, according to the minutes of the meeting viewed by The Hindu, will 'recommend' to the Power and Environment Ministers that only power plants located in a 10 km radius of the National Capital Region, and cities with a population of over one million, are required to install FGD units. These are called Category A plants. There are 66 such plants, and only 14 of them have installed FGD units. All these plants are required to comply by 2027. Those in a 10-km radius of 'Critically Polluted Cities' or 'Non Attainment Cities', called Category B plants, would be eligible for exemption on a 'case by case' basis, upon a joint review by the Central Electricity Authority or the CPCB. There are 72 such plants, with only 4 having installed FGD units. These plants have a deadline of 2028. The remaining 462 plants come under Category C. Thirty-two of them have installed FGD units. These plants have a 2029 deadline. Over 600 units in categories A and B could be additionally exempted if they were 20 years and older. 'The key common point in these studies is that, fitment of FGDs in all TPPs in India is not necessary to comply with the NAAQ (National Ambient Air Quality) standards whose compliance is essential to safeguard public health. While all TPPs must comply with the December 2015 stack emission standards for PM pollution and freshwater consumption, the SO2 stack emission standards can be relaxed to ensure that they are in conformance with the NAAQ standards which are notified by CPCB, keeping in mind the human health and other aspects. This way, TPPs may be able to comply with these standards without fitting FGDs. Since the existing NAAQ standards (for ambient SO2) must be complied with, this change will not affect human health in India,' the committee had concluded.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Apollo Green Energy plans entry into green hydrogen, BESS; eyes 1 GW EPC order book by 2026
New Delhi: Apollo Green Energy Limited is targeting a 1 GW EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) order book by 2026 and expanding into new segments such as green hydrogen , battery energy storage systems (BESS), and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure as part of its long-term growth strategy. The company is currently executing over 400 MW of solar projects across multiple states and has a growing order pipeline of over ₹3,000 crore. A part of the Apollo International Group, Apollo Green Energy reported a consolidated revenue of ₹72,616 lakh for the financial year 2024–25. Its profit after tax stood at ₹4,436 lakh. The company declared a 15 per cent dividend for its shareholders for the year ending March 31, 2025. The firm is also advancing its Independent Power Producer (IPP) plans. It has established a 100 per cent subsidiary under the IPP model and secured its first two Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) of 4 MW each under Component A of the PM-KUSUM Scheme with Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL). 'This has been a productive year of execution and expansion. We have ongoing EPC projects with NHPC across Odisha, Kerala, and Gujarat totalling 290 MW (AC), along with the successful delivery of a ₹700 crore FGD project in Anuppur,' said Raaja Kanwar, Chairman and Managing Director, Apollo Green Energy. He added, 'Our solar streetlight project in Bihar, with over 1,40,000 installations, is set to significantly enhance energy access and public lighting. We are now focusing on scaling our EPC pipeline and expanding our presence in emerging areas like IPP and energy storage.' The company stated that it operates in eight states and follows an asset-light, technology-enabled business model. It is actively engaging with global partners for joint development of green hydrogen and long-duration storage projects. 'As we move forward, our goal is to grow responsibly, support climate objectives, and deliver reliable, cost-effective clean energy solutions across the country,' Kanwar said.
Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Environmental responsibility: Sahiwal power plant sets benchmark
LAHORE: The 1320 MW Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power Plant, a cornerstone project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has emerged as a leader in marrying industrial progress with ecological consciousness. Far from being a conventional power facility, the plant has redefined the narrative around coal-based energy by integrating sustainable practices that mitigate environmental degradation and foster a healthier ecosystem. What distinguishes Sahiwal's environmental initiative is its longevity and community-driven approach. The plant has embraced state-of-the-art emission control technologies. The integration of Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) and Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) systems ensures that harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and particulate matter are effectively filtered from emissions. These innovations enable the plant to consistently operate well within the environmental thresholds established by Pakistan's EPA, the World Bank, and Chinese regulatory frameworks. By adopting electric mobility, the Sahiwal Power Plant not only minimizes its operational carbon footprint but also showcases practical steps toward cleaner industrial logistics. Amid global challenges like climate change and environmental degradation, the plant stands as a promising and practical example. Its commitment to sustainable industrialization demonstrates that eco-friendly progress is not only achievable but crucial for our future, encouraging other sectors to follow suit for the well-being of both humanity and the planet. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
