Barclays Global Investors Announces Launch of iShares Exchange Traded Funds that Offer Exposure to Alternative Energy and Broad
June 25 2008 - 9:35AM
PR Newswire (US)
SAN FRANCISCO, June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Barclays Global Investors
(BGI) announced today the launch of four new iShares exchange
traded funds (ETFs) on the NASDAQ Stock Market. The iShares S&P
Global Funds deepen the large iShares international ETF family by
offering access to nontraditional segments of the global equity
markets with well-known index provider Standard & Poor's. The
iShares FTSE China (HK Listed) Index Fund provides broad exposure
to the China market. The index currently holds approximately 90
large- and mid-cap companies (H shares or Red Chip). With these new
funds, iShares has the largest international ETF family with 65
global, international and emerging market ETFs. Trading Fund Fund
Name Symbol Expenses iShares S&P Global Clean Energy Index Fund
ICLN 0.48% iShares S&P Global Nuclear Energy Index Fund NUCL
0.48% iShares S&P Global Timber & Forestry Index Fund WOOD
0.48% iShares FTSE China (HK Listed) Index Fund FCHI 0.74% "As our
world becomes more global and borders have less meaning, investors
are increasingly interested in diversifying their portfolios into
ETFs that help them capitalize on macro trends such as
urbanization, population growth and the need for alternative energy
sources," said Noel Archard, Head of U.S. iShares Product
Development. "Since launching the first pure mainland China ETF for
U.S. investors in 2005, some investors are interested in deeper
access to the country, so we developed the new iShares FTSE China
(HK Listed) Index Fund." Archard continued, "We plan to continue to
expand our international iShares product line to respond to our
client's need for precise allocation and by leveraging BGI's
institutional global markets experience." The iShares Funds are
index funds that 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. Carefully consider the
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
or by visiting http://www.ishares.com/. Read the prospectus
carefully before investing. Barclays Global Investors is one of the
world's largest asset managers and a leading global provider of
investment management products and services. It has over 2,900
institutional clients and over $2.0 trillion of assets under
management. It transformed the investment industry by creating the
first index strategy in 1971 and the first quantitative active
strategy in 1979. BGI is the global product leader in exchange
traded funds (iShares) with over 320 funds for institutions and
individuals globally. Contacts for Press: Lance Berg 415-597-2045
Christine Hudacko 415-597-2687 All Other US Inquiries:
1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737) Investing involves risks, including
possible loss of principal. Transactions in shares of the iShares
Funds will result in brokerage commissions. Diversification may not
protect against market risk. 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. Securities focusing on a single country may be subject to
higher volatility. Narrowly focused investments typically exhibit
higher volatility. The iShares Funds ("Funds") are distributed by
SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SEI). Barclays Global Fund
Advisors (BGFA) serves as an advisor to the Funds. BGFA is a
subsidiary of Barclays Global Investors, N.A., a majority-owned
subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC, none of which is affiliated with
SEI. iShares(R) is a registered trademark of Barclays Global
Investors, N.A. All other trademarks, servicemarks or registered
trademarks are the property of their respective owners. DATASOURCE:
Barclays Global Investors CONTACT: Lance Berg, +1-415-597-2045, ,
or Christine Hudacko, +1-415-597-2687, ; All Other US Inquiries,
1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737) Web site: http://www.ishares.com/
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