iShares has a long list of single-country exchange traded funds (ETFs). Now the provider is getting ready to expand their popular lineup even further. The proposed funds cover everything from the United States to the Philippines.
More single-country ETFs are on the way for iShares, which already touts an impressive list of single-country ETFs. Cinthia Murphy for Index Universe reports that the latest group of proposed funds covers a some areas that are already backed by ETFs, along with some first-of-their-kind funds. [How Being Underallocated Globally Can Hurt You.]
The ETFs are:
- iShares MSCI USA Index Fund: The U.S. fund is a diversified ETF that will essentially be a mid- and large-cap portfolio that tracks an index investing in securities from companies in the top 85% of the domestic space by market capitalization.
- iShares MSCI Brazil Small Cap Index Fund: iShares’ take on Brazil’s small-cap market is perhaps an attempt to replicate the success Van Eck has had in that segment with its version of a Brazil small cap fund, Market Vectors Brazil Small-Cap (NYSEArca: BRF).
- iShares MSCI Egypt Capped Investable Market Index Fund: The Egypt ETF will track an index of 41 companies, with most sector allocations dedicated to financials, industrials and telecommunications services.
- iShares MSCI Ireland Capped Investable Market Index Fund: The Ireland fund’s benchmark held 21 names as of October, and focused primarily on consumer staples, financials and materials.
- iShares MSCI Russia Capped Index Fund: This will track an index that is a variation of the MSCI Russia Index, the MSCI Russia 25/50 Index. While the new fund will invest in the top 85% of Russia-listed companies by market capitalization, it will also take into account investment diversification requirements that apply to regulated investment companies (RICs), under U.S. law. This fund would go head-to-head with the Market Vectors Russia (NYSEArca: RSX).
- iShares MSCI Philippines Investable Market Index Fund: The Philippines ETF will replicate an index of 28 companies, mostly in utilities, telecommunications and financials.
The debuting ETFs focused on Ireland, Egypt and the Philippines could be the first country-specific funds available to U.S. investors for each of those economies . To be the first ones to market, iShares will have to beat PowerShares, State Street, Van Eck and Global X. PowerShares and State Street have an Ireland fund in registration; Van Eck and Global X have filed for Egypt ETFs. Global X also plans a Philippines fund.
For more stories about new ETFs, visit our new ETFs category.
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