Vanguard [profile] has responded to a challenge from BlackRock, which recently announced that it plans to cut fees on certain products.

Editor Daniel Wiener references in his Independent Adviser for Vanguard Investors a series of bond funds and ETFs, products that were confirmed by a Vanguard spokesman.

"Vanguard expects to introduce a short-term TIPS fund and ETF in the fourth quarter, and plan on unveiling two international bond funds/ETFs in 2013," the spokesman told Barron's, which originally reported this story. These plans are in addition to the midyear launch of U.K. ETFs and a second series of ETFs in Canada announced last week.

Meanwhile, the spokesman also said the company withdrew its filing for three municipal bond ETFs in January 2011, citing a volatile municipal market. While "there are no plans to move forward at this time," the spokesman said Vanguard has not "shut the door on municipal ETFs." 

Edited by: Irene Park


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