BlackRock’s exchanged traded-fund arm, iShares, has launched two new dividend equity funds focusing on emerging and developed markets of the Asia/Pacific region.
Both funds are listed on the NYSE Arca.
The first fund, the iShares Emerging Markets Dividend Index Fund (NYSEArca: DVYE), is benchmarked to the Dow Jones Emerging Market Select Dividend Index, which offers exposure to 100 dividend-paying emerging market companies, weighted by indicated annual yield.
The second fund, the iShares Asia/Pacific Dividend 30 Index Fund is benchmarked to the Dow Jones Asia/Pacific Select Dividend 30 Index, which offers exposure to 30 dividend-paying companies in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore, weighted by indicated annual yield.
Emerging markets and the developed markets in the Asia/Pacific region are expected to lead global economic growth and offer an attractive opportunity for investment income in the near term, according to Darek Wojnar, Head of US iShares Product Development and Management at BlackRock. These two new ETFs are designed to tap into that demand.
“Income-seeking investors can use our dividend–paying funds to efficiently take advantage of potential economic growth in these regions, and possibly reduce portfolio volatility compared with growth-oriented stocks,” stated Wojnar.
February has been a busy for iShares. Earlier in the month, the firm launched
