iShares expands equity range on NYSE Arca

iShares has launched two ETFs on NYSE Arca, targeting Chinese shares and income-producing US stocks.

The iShares MSCI China fund is benchmarked to large and mid cap Chinese companies, tracking the performance of the top 85% of the equity market.

The underlying MSCI index had its heaviest weighting in financials, at 37%, followed by energy stocks at 18.4%, as at the end of February.

iShares global chief investment strategist Russ Koesterich says China should continue to provide investment opportunities as it transitions from an export- to consumption-based economy. Supplementing the firm's MSCI China Small Cap offering, iShares says it now provides investors comprehensive MSCI China exposure.

The iShares High Dividend Equity ETF tracks a Morningstar index providing exposure to 75 US companies that have provided relatively high dividend yields on a consistent basis.

Constituent securities are screened by quality and financial health, including the sustainability of a company's future economic profits and the likelihood of financial distress.

iShares head of US product Noel Achard says: "Income is in high demand, yet continues to be hard to come by from traditional sources in a cost-effective, diversified, flexible trading manner." He says the High Dividend ETF provides the potential for enhanced total return, reduced volatility and greater inflation protection than bonds.

The MSCI China launch brings iShares' international individual country ETF offering to 40 funds. Archard says: "The fund further complements our single country product suite, which has seen significant activity over the past few months as investors increasingly look to single country funds to express nuanced views on global markets."