Complements Six Existing Core Series ETFs with Competitive Pricing
for Long-Term Investors
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK) announced today that its iShares Exchange
Traded Funds (ETFs) business, the world’s largest manager of ETFs1,
has launched four new core funds designed to meet the needs of long-term
investors looking for exposure to international equities and U.S. fixed
income.
The funds that launched today will trade on NYSEAcra:
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Exposure
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Fund name
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Ticker
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Management fees
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Index
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International Equity
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iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF
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IXUS
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0.16%
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MSCI ACWI ex USA Investable Market Index (IMI)
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International Equity
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iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
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IEMG
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0.18%
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MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Market Index (IMI)
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International Equity
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iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF
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IEFA
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0.14%
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MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index (IMI)
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U.S. Fixed Income
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iShares Core Short-Term U.S. Bond ETF
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ISTB
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0.12%
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Barclays U.S. 1-5 Year Government/Credit Bond Index
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These new funds will complement the six existing funds in the iShares
Core Series. This suite combines competitive pricing with diversified,
tax-efficient products. The iShares Core Series is designed to provide
broad equity and fixed-income exposure, and allow long-term investors to
tailor the mix of funds in their portfolio to match their individual
choice.
Patrick Dunne, iShares Head of Global Markets & Investments
commented, “The iShares Core Series demonstrates our commitment to
delivering quality products that help investors navigate today’s
volatile markets. These products are designed to meet the needs of
long-term investors for cost-effective solutions combined with the
liquidity and tax efficiency investors expect from iShares.
“All three iShares Core international equity ETFs track segments of the
flagship MSCI ACWI Investable Market Index (IMI), providing investors
access to some of the broadest exposure available in the global equity
universe today. The iShares Core Short-Term U.S. Bond ETF tracks the
Barclays U.S. 1-5 Year Government/Credit Bond Index, to further meet the
needs of investors using ETFs for targeted fixed income exposure.”
About BlackRock
BlackRock is a leader in investment management, risk management and
advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. At
September 30, 2012, BlackRock’s AUM was $3.673 trillion. BlackRock
offers products that span the risk spectrum to meet clients’ needs,
including active, enhanced and index strategies across markets and asset
classes. Products are offered in a variety of structures including
separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares® (exchange traded funds), and
other pooled investment vehicles. BlackRock also offers risk management,
advisory and enterprise investment system services to a broad base of
institutional investors through BlackRock Solutions®. Headquartered in
New York City, as of September 30, 2012, the firm has approximately
10,400 employees in 29 countries and a major presence in key global
markets, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and
the Middle East and Africa. For additional information, please visit the
Company's website at www.blackrock.com.
About iShares
iShares is the global product leader in exchange traded funds with over
600 funds globally across equities, fixed income and commodities, which
trade on 20 exchanges worldwide. The iShares Funds are bought and sold
like common stocks on securities exchanges. The iShares Funds are
attractive to many individual and institutional investors and financial
intermediaries because of their relative low cost, tax efficiency and
trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any
brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds
in any type of brokerage account. The iShares customer base consists of
the institutional segment of pension plans and fund managers, as well as
the retail segment of financial advisors and high net worth individuals.
Carefully consider the iShares Funds’ investment objectives, risk
factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other
information can be found in the Funds’ prospectuses, which may be
obtained by calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737) or by visiting www.iShares.com.
Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
The iShares Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC
(together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”).
In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, international
investments may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable
fluctuation in currency values, from differences in generally accepted
accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other
nations. Emerging markets involve heightened risks related to the same
factors as well as increased volatility and lower trading volume.
Bonds and bond funds will decrease in value as interest rates rise and
are subject to credit risk, which refers to the possibility that the
debt issuers may not be able to make principal and interest payments or
may have their debt downgraded by ratings agencies.
Diversification is no guarantee against market loss. Transactions
in shares of the iShares Funds will result in brokerage commissions and
will generate tax consequences. iShares Funds are obliged to distribute
portfolio gains to shareholders. There can be no assurance that an
active trading market for shares of an ETF will develop or be maintained.
BlackRock does not provide tax advice. Please note that (i) any
discussion of U.S. tax matters contained in this communication cannot be
used by you for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties; (ii) this
communication was written to support the promotion or marketing of the
matters addressed herein; and (iii) you should seek advice based on your
particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted
MSCI Inc., nor are they sponsored, endorsed or issued by Barclays
Capital Inc. None of these companies make any representation regarding
the advisability of investing in the Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated
with the companies listed above.
1 BlackRock ETP Landscape Report – September 2012
BlackRock, Inc.
Christine Hudacko, 415-670-2687
christine.hudacko@blackrock.com
Melissa
Garville, 212-810-5528
melissa.garville@blackrock.com
Source: BlackRock, Inc.