New | One day after MSCI turns down Chinese A-shares, BlackRock introduces ETF for Chinese A-shares in New York
World’s biggest asset manager launches its own Chinese ETF
BlackRock, the world’s largest money manager, has introduced its first US-listed exchange-traded fund that gives investors access to A shares just a day after MSCI decided not to add China’s domestic equities to its benchmark global emerging market index.
The iShares MSCI China A ETF began trading on Wednesday in New York, tracking companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.65 per cent, the cheapest among 13 US-listed funds focused on China’s A shares.
China’s equities were rejected by MSCI amid concern about restrictions on cross-border capital flows, possibly damping enthusiasm toward mainland stocks after investors had increased bets that A shares would be added.
ETFs that invest in equity and debt securities traded on mainland exchanges and in Hong Kong posted inflows of $387 million last week, the most since March, data showed.
“The demand for China A-share ETFs is situational, today you don’t see any interest and investors leave the market, but as the tide turns the interest could be very high very quickly,” Ilya Feygin, a strategist at WallachBeth Capital LLC, said from New York. “The MSCI announcement could have scared some investors away, but the index provider can’t ignore China’s market forever.”
