Asset manager giant BlackRock is reportedly set to launch its first ETF in China later this year.
According to sources cited by Reuters, the asset manager is currently hiring staff for a planned launch in the fourth quarter of the year.
BlackRock already has more than US$1 billion of assets under management within the two mutual funds that invest in Hong and Chinese equities.
The firm was also one of the first overseas asset managers to be approved for a wholly-owned mutual fund business in China.
As yet, no index provider has been appointed for the prospective ETFs, although Reuters reported that a carbon neutral-themed index compiled by China Securities Index was among the candidates.
In a statement to Reuters, BlackRock said: “BlackRock is committed to helping more Chinese investors achieve their financial goals by bringing them a broader suite of investment products and solutions, including ETF and index investments.”
© 2022 funds global asia 
At times like these, HSBC Asset Management easily pivots towards emerging markets.
The spotlight on growth markets and the need to be nimble and dynamic is ever-sharper, given the difficulty in predicting monetary policy in the world’s major nations.
A comprehensive, cost-effective, and transparent currency overlay hedging solution is crucial to mitigate FX exposure risks in the complex landscapes of Japan and China's FX markets, explains Hans Jacob Feder, PhD, global head of FX services at MUFG Investor Services.
Contradictory market sentiments from commentators have impeded the decision-making powers of the first wave of AI-powered ETFs, says Alvin Chia of Northern Trust Asset Servicing.
The world is transitioning from an era of commodity abundance to one of undersupply. Ben Ross and Tyler Rosenlicht of Cohen & Steers believe this shift may result in significant returns for commodities and resource producers over the next decade.
Ross Dilkes, fixed income portfolio manager at Wellington Management, examines the opportunities and risks for bond investors presented by the region’s decarbonisation agenda.
Shareholders in Japan no longer accept below-par corporate governance standards. Changes are taking place, but there are still areas for improvement, says Tetsuro Takase at SuMi Trust.
