FEMB

The transition to a greener economy is evident, and the rise of ESG as an important framework to analyze material non-financial factors has proven its worth.Increasing tensions between China and the U.S. may lead to further regionalization of the world.All in, while the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly tested the EM corporate asset class, issuers in our universe have performed well and the asset class has shown maturity and resilience.

Despite a growing economic and technological decoupling between China and the West, the financial divide is actually shrinking.China's bond market - now the second largest in the world - has seen increased foreign participation, especially in its government bond market, where foreign ownership now exceeds 9%, up from a negligible level just a few years ago.The unknowns of the post-COVID-19 landscape demand greater attention to portfolio construction, and investors may wish to consider alternative paths to a more efficient portfolio and a diversified stream of returns.

First Trust Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF (FEMB) declares $0.1672/share monthly dividend, -13.8% decrease from prior dividend of $0.1940.Forward yield 5.84%Payable Sept. 30; for shareholders of record Sept. 25;