FTSE Russell, the global index, data and analytics provider, announced that its new FTSE Total China Connect Index is to be used as the benchmark for a new China ETF from Vanguard. The Vanguard Total China Index ETF has listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is the first to track the index.
The recently launched FTSE Total China Connect Index is designed to represent the performance of large and mid cap Chinese companies listed in or outside of mainland China. It reflects a broad range of Chinese equities and covers all of the major Chinese shares including A Shares*, B Shares, H Shares, Red Chips, P Chips, S Chips and N Shares. The 1058 constituents in the index have a total investable market capitalisation of over US$3 trillion.
Mark Makepeace, CEO, FTSE Russell, commented:
We are delighted that Vanguard has selected the FTSE Total China Connect Index as the benchmark for its newly-listed exchange traded fund. Investor appetite for access to Chinese stocks continues to grow and our new index provides a benchmark for a broad range of companies covering all of the Chinese share classes. The ability to track companies listed both in and outside of mainland China, and from across industry sectors, enhances the representativeness of our China benchmarks and demonstrates FTSE Russell’s strong track record in the region.
Yan Pu, Head of Portfolio Review, Asia, Vanguard Investments Hong Kong Limited said:
Vanguard is pleased to collaborate with FTSE Russell to bring to market Vanguard Total China Index ETF. This ETF is the most comprehensive China ETF in Hong Kong, and will give investors a convenient tool to gain broad exposure to the world’s second largest economy. Investors can own Chinese listed companies both in and outside of China in a single trade at low cost.
At Vanguard, we believe exposure to China has the potential to offer significant long-term benefits for investors, and that the best way to fully capture those potential benefits is to invest in Chinese equities across the globe, share classes and sectors.
The FTSE Total China Connect Index has been developed in line with FTSE Russell’s transparent methodology and risk framework. The index will be reviewed on a quarterly basis in March, June, September and December.
With a strong track record in developing China market indexes, FTSE Russell China benchmarks have become widely recognised by investors and issuers globally as a leading measure of the China equity market and the natural choice for creating China-themed investment products. Approximately $30 billion of assets under management is benchmarked to FTSE China indexes. Covering both broad market benchmarks and well known tradable indexes, the broad spectrum of indexes cover all Chinese share types, a range of asset classes and various investment themes including style, dividend yield, fundamentally weighted and property. As China continues to open its market to foreign investors, FTSE Russell is also offering market participants a range of benchmark choices to help them prepare for the inclusion of China A Shares in global portfolios.