With Chinese stocks on the mend, investors are again evaluating the exchange traded funds that track stocks in the world’s second-largest economy.
That includes ETFs such as the Market Vectors ChinaAMC A-Share ETF (NYSEArca: PEK), db X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund (NYSEArca: ASHR) and the KraneShares Bosera MSCI China ETF (NYSEArca: KBA). Those ETFs are several of the U.S.-listed offerings that offer physical exposure to China’s once hard-to-access A-shares. A-shares are the Chinese stocks that trade in Shanghai and Shenzhen. [A-Shares ETFs as Value Plays]
Data indicate some U.S.-listed A-shares ETFs are flourishing. ASHR, which debuted in early November 2013, had $234.6 million in assets under management as of July 28. That total is likely higher after block buyers were spotted in the ETF Tuesday as the fund moved modestly higher on volume that was more than 12 time the daily average. PEK has impressed in terms of returns, soaring 10.4% over the past month.
The situation is far different for A-shares ETFs that trade in Asia where, according to AsianInvestor, dominant market share by BlackRock and CSOP is deterring fund managers in Hong Kong from developing new A-shares products.
E-Fund’s Executive Director of Operatons told AsianInvestor that product development for Hong Kong-listed A-shares ETFs is slowing despite the operational advantages, including settlement efficiency and cross-border securities settlement.
Slowing development of A-shares ETFs in Asia comes as the region’s ETF players are searching for ways to stimulate product development and growth. The Asia-Pacific region has just $165 billion in combined ETF assets under management today with China, Hong Kong and Japan dominating the industry in the region, but Bank of New York Mellon thinks Asia’s ETF business can grow to $250 billion by 2016, according to an article in The Asset. [Asia’s ETF Business Looks for Growth]
Although A-shares ETF product development may be slowing in Asia, that is far from the case in the U.S. PEK debuted in 2010 followed by ASHR last year. This year, KBA debuted followed by the db X-trackers Harvest CSI 500 China A-Shares Small Cap Fund (NYSEArca: ASHS). ASHS, the first dedicated A-shares small-cap ETF to list in the U.S. debuted in May and got a rival last week with the launch of theMarket Vectors ChinaAMC SME-ChiNext ETF (NYSEArca: CNXT).
Deutsche Bank has also filed plans to list up to six A-shares sector funds in New York.
KraneShares Bosera MSCI China A-Shares ETF
ETF Trends editorial team contributed to this post.