##  [#  ETF Week: Vanguard Cuts Fees On 21 ETFs](/sections/daily-etf-watch/etf-week-vanguard-cuts-fees-21-etfs) 

 

#  ETF Week: Vanguard Cuts Fees On 21 ETFs

 

 

Plus, two volatility ETNs switch tickers and six ETFs close.



 

 

 

 

 [![Lara](/sites/default/files/styles/author_image_icon/public/2026-02/Lara4.PNG?itok=XaJvTzN- "Lara")](/contributors/lara-crigger) 

[By Lara Crigger](/contributors/lara-crigger)

 May 03, 2019

 Edited by: Lara Crigger

 

 

     Share  <a class="a2a a2a_button_email"> Email </a><a class="a2a a2a_button_linkedin"> LinkedIn </a><a class="a2a a2a_button_facebook"> Facebook </a><a class="a2a a2a_button_x"> X (Twitter) </a> 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
            googletag.cmd.push(function() {
                googletag.display('js-dfp-tag-article_page_302x26');
            });
    
    

 

 

  

 



 

 

  Loading 

 

 



 

 

It was a busy week in fee wars, as Vanguard dropped prices on 21 of its already-low-cost ETFs. VanEck and First Trust revamped fees on several of their funds as well. Meanwhile, two "biblically responsible" ETFs debuted, while six ETFs announced closures.

Below is a roundup of the key developments in the ETF industry for the week ending May 3, 2019:

**Vanguard Cuts Fees On 21 ETFs**  
[Vanguard](https://www.etf.com/topics/vanguard-etfs) dropped fees on 21 of its ultra-low-cost ETFs, including the $114 billion [Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)](https://www.etf.com/vti) and the $112 billion [Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (VOO)](https://www.etf.com/VOO), the third and fourth largest ETFs, respectively. (Read: [21 Vanguard ETFs Get Fee Cuts](https://www.etf.com/sections/daily-etf-watch/21-vanguard-etfs-get-fee-cuts))

**VanEck, First Trust Change Fees**  
 Several [VanEck](https://www.etf.com/topics/vaneck-etfs) and [First Trust](https://www.etf.com/topics/first-trust-etfs) ETFs shifted expense ratios, as annual fee waivers were re-implemented for each of the funds. Among the impacted ETFs were the two largest gold mining ETFs: the $9.2 billion [VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX)](https://www.etf.com/GDX) and the $3.7 billion [VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETFs (GDXJ)](https://www.etf.com/GDXJ). (Read: [Volatility ETNs Change Tickers](https://www.etf.com/sections/daily-etf-watch/volatility-etns-change-tickers))

**Volatility ETNs Switch Tickers**  
 Two [volatility ETNs](https://www.etf.com/topics/volatility-etfs) from Barclays changed their tickers to those used by similar products that matured at the end of January. These newer "Series B" ETNs offer investor-friendly upgrades over their previous versions, including a call feature, lower expense ratios, and more. (Read: [Volatility ETNs Change Tickers](https://www.etf.com/sections/daily-etf-watch/volatility-etns-change-tickers))

**Biblical Smart Beta ETFs Launch**  
 ETF newcomer Timothy Plan debuted two [smart beta ETFs](https://www.etf.com/topics/smart-beta-etfs) using volatility-weighted indexes that screen for "biblically responsible" companies, excluding those that produce/distribute alcohol, tobacco, gambling, abortion, pornography, or that promote "anti-family entertainment" or "alternative lifestyles." (Read: [Volatility ETNs Change Tickers](https://www.etf.com/sections/daily-etf-watch/volatility-etns-change-tickers))

**DWS Closes 2 ETFs**  
 DWS Group closed for trading two single-country [Xtrackers-brand ETFs](https://www.etf.com/topics/xtrackers-etfs): the $2.1 million [Xtrackers Germany Equity ETF (GRMY)](https://www.etf.com/GRMY) and the $2.2 million [Xtrackers MSCI United Kingdom Hedged Equity ETF (DBUK)](https://www.etf.com/DBUK). DBUK was a currency-hedged version of a popular U.K. equity ETF. Notably, until 2017, GRMY had been an Italian equity ETF. (Read: [DWS Closes 2 Int'l ETFs](https://www.etf.com/sections/daily-etf-watch/dws-closes-2-intl-etfs))

**QuantX Brand To Shutter**  
 The investment advisor for QuantX announced it was shuttering the brand's last remaining ETFs. Among the [QuantX ETFs](https://www.etf.com/topics/quantx-etfs) closing are two geographical- and capitalization-agnostic ETF-of-ETFs, and a U.S. equity ETF designed to maximize upside volatility. (Read: [QuantX ETFs To Close](https://www.etf.com/sections/daily-etf-watch/quantx-etfs-close))

**State Street Closing China ETF**  
 State Street is closing the $5.7 million [SPDR MSCI China A Shares IMI ETF (XINA)](https://www.etf.com/XINA), a market-cap-weighted A-shares ETF. Its last day of trading is May 29. (Read: [QuantX ETFs To Close](https://www.etf.com/sections/daily-etf-watch/quantx-etfs-close))

*Contact Lara Crigger at* [*lcrigger@etf.com*](mailto:lcrigger@etf.com)



 

 

 [ Lara Crigger ](/contributors/lara-crigger) 

 

 

  Lara Crigger is a veteran financial writer with more than twenty years' experience writing about ETFs, markets, and investor education. Formerly…   [View Bio](/contributors/lara-crigger)

 



 

 


 Related Topics  [Smart-Beta](http://www.etf.com/topics/smart-beta) 

 [Equity](http://www.etf.com/topics/equity) 

 [U.S.](http://www.etf.com/topics/us) 

 [Gold Miners](http://www.etf.com/topics/gold-miners) 

 [Volatility](http://www.etf.com/topics/volatility)