Inspired by Edelman Financial Services with an Index Designed and Constructed by Morningstar…
Sign up for our weekly Newsletter and receive the latest ETF and ETC news. Click here to register for your free cop
Provides Exposure to Transformational Firms at the Forefront of Innovation
BlackRock, Inc. announced today that its iShares Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) business, the world’s largest manager of ETFs, has launched the iShares Exponential Technologies ETF (NYSEArca:XT). The new ETF, which began trading on March 23rd, is based on an idea from Edelman Financial Services, one of the nation’s largest independent financial planning and investment management firms, and seeks to track the Morningstar® Exponential Technologies Index.
XT is designed to provide global exposure to companies identified as leaders across key areas of technological transformation – from big data and analytics to nanotechnology and bioinformatics. These companies, which also cross industry sectors such as manufacturing, financial services and health care, have the potential to profoundly transform society and may offer substantial investment growth opportunities.
Hollie Fagan, Head of BlackRock’s dedicated Registered Investment Advisor business, commented: “We are thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with Edelman and Morningstar. BlackRock is committed to client-led innovation, working to bring liquid, transparent investment opportunities previously unavailable to most investors. This ETF is testament to BlackRock’s willingness to create innovative products when requested by a member of the financial community and a continuation of our commitment to democratize access to markets for all investors.”
Ric Edelman, Chairman and CEO of Edelman Financial Services, commented: “We believe exposure to exponential technologies is an important part of a globally diversified portfolio, and we are excited that our clients will have efficient access to some of the leading companies in this area through this ETF. BlackRock’s leadership position in the ETF marketplace, Morningstar’s research and index-building capabilities, and the outstanding reputation and high fiduciary standards of both firms give us additional confidence in this investment opportunity. We are especially pleased that BlackRock is making this investment opportunity available to investors by developing it in an ETF.”
Edelman was three times ranked the nation’s #1 Independent Financial Advisor by Barron’s.1
To develop the index, Morningstar’s Equity Research team identified companies that are at the forefront of nine technology trends that are likely to disrupt a range of established industries. The trends include: 3-D Printing, Big Data and Analytics, Bioinformatics, Energy and Environmental Systems, Financial-Services Innovation, Medicine and Neuroscience, Nanotechnology, Networks and Computer Systems, and Robotics.
Sanjay Arya, Head of Morningstar Indexes, commented: “The Morningstar Exponential Technologies Index leverages our equity analysts’ abilities to identify trends and businesses that will lead the next wave of innovation and combines it with our index construction capabilities. Exponential technologies move beyond the traditional definition of technology to include entirely new categories such as bioinformatics, financial innovation, energy, and environmental systems.”
The Morningstar Exponential Technologies Index is equally weighted and Morningstar’s Equity Research team reassesses both the exponential technology trends and constituents annually. Morningstar is one of the largest providers of independent equity research, with more than 100 equity analysts around the world covering approximately 1,500 individual companies.
Although inspired by Ric Edelman, neither he nor Edelman Financial Services has received or will receive compensation from BlackRock or Morningstar in connection with the development or operation of XT or the index.
Source: ETFWorld.com
WMCR
Wilshire Micro-Cap ETF (based on the Wilshire US Micro-Cap Index)
Lascia un commento