FTSE Group (“FTSE”), the global index provider, today announces that it has licensed three indices to Vanguard, to act as the basis for a new range of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This brings the number of ETFs based on FTSE indices globally to over 325, including 29 issued by Vanguard.
Vanguard, the world’s largest mutual fund company[1], adopts the following indices from the FTSE Global Equity Index Series to create the new ETFs suite in Hong Kong:
- FTSE Asia Pacific ex Japan, Australia, New Zealand High Dividend Yield Index
- FTSE Developed Europe Index
- FTSE Japan Index
Jessie Pack, Managing Director, FTSE Asia, said: “We are delighted that Vanguard has selected our indices to further expand its Hong Kong product offering. FTSE’s focus on providing globally recognised index methodology and transparent rule-based standards, coupled with a dedication to quality service provision, tradability and index governance makes it a natural choice for ETF issuers. We aim to give market participants better choice to meet their sophisticated investment needs in Asia and around the world.”
Vanguard’s Regional Managing Director, Asia, Shelly Painter says: “Based on Vanguard’s deep indexing experience over 38 years, we have formed certain views about index construction best practices and the FTSE indices align with Vanguard’s best practice standards.”
The FTSE Global Equity Index Series measures the performance of over 7,400 securities in 47 different countries, representing 98% of the world’s investible market capitalization. FTSE Asia Pac ex Japan, Australia, New Zealand High Dividend Yield, FTSE Developed Europe, and FTSE Japan indices are part of FTSE Global Equity Index Series. The FTSE Asia Pac ex Japan, Australia, New Zealand High Dividend Yield Index comprises stocks that are characterised by higher-than-average dividend yields, excluding common stocks located in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
[1] Source: Morningstar, as at 31 January 2014. Based on global total net assets of mutual funds (including long-term and money market funds).