FTSE Licences First ASEAN ETF Based On FTSE/ASEAN 40 Index

FTSE Group (FTSE), the global index provider, is delighted to announce that it has licensed CIMB Principal Asset Management to create a new ETF which was listed on the Singapore Exchange today based on the FTSE/ASEAN 40 Index - the FTSE/ASEAN 40 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).

The FTSE/ASEAN 40 ETF is the world’s first ASEAN ETF offering convenient access to the growing ASEAN economies. The FTSE/ASEAN 40 Index is the base index for the new fund comprises the 40 top stocks by market capitalisation from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand and has undergone FTSE Group’s rigorous methodology standards such as free-float adjustment and liquidity screening.

The FTSE/ASEAN 40 ETF joins the growing portfolio of ETFs based on FTSE indices within the Asia Pacific region including Polaris ETF based on the TSEC Taiwan Mid-Cap 100 Index, the Fubon ETF based on the TSEC Taiwan Technology Index and the iShares ETF based on the FTSE Xinhua China A50 Index.

Paul Hoff, Managing Director, Asia Pacific says, “We are pleased that CIMB Principal Asset Management decided to base its new ETF on the FTSE/ASEAN 40 Index, an index created in collaboration with the five ASEAN exchanges of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The ETF shows a commitment to establish the ASEAN region as an attractive investment option for the international investment community. As proven by the growing number of ETFs based on FTSE indices within the region, and indeed globally, the hallmarks of our index design such as transparency and liquidity make our indices very appealing to ETF providers.”