New Asia ETFs Coming | ETF Trends

The Asian markets are some of the best performing global markets YTD. iShares MSCI South Korea Index (EWY) is up 20%. Japanese ETFs have come on strong recently; up over 6% for the month of August.

Dow Jones reported Global index provider FTSE Group said Wednesday it will launch two Asean stock indexes on Sept. 21, marking the first collaboration of the stock market regulators of that organization and the first benchmark for the region’s shares.

Asean, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, includes Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

The indexes will include stocks listed in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, which are all part of FTSE’s global index coverage. The indexes will focus on the five markets initially.

Details of the indexes will be announced on Sept. 21, when Asean finance ministers start a week-long investors’ seminar in London to drum up interest in the region.

FTSE signed a memorandum of understanding with the stock market regulators of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand in July for the creation of indexes, ETFs, and derivatives contracts.

The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.