Barclays Global Investors Canada Limited today announced that it has filed a preliminary prospectus
with the securities regulators accross Canada with respect to three new iShares exchange traded funds.
Barclays Canada expects iShares CDN SmallCap Index Fund (XCS), iShares CDN Russell 2000 Index Fund (XSU) and iShares CDN Jantzi Social Index Fund (XEN) to be available on the Toronto Stock Exchange on May 18.
iShares CDN SmallCap Index Fund will be the first ETF to track Standard and Poor’s new Canadian Small Cap Index. It is expected to give investors a
better ability to express their views on Canadian equity exposure based on
market capitalization.
iShares CDN Russell 2000 Index Fund will provide increased flexibility for investors to choose U.S. Small Cap exposure without currency risk. Through this fund, Barclays Canada is offering a Canadian dollar hedged exposure to the Russell 2000 Index, which is comprised of smaller U.S. public issuers.
iShares CDN Jantzi Social Index Fund will track the Jantzi Social Index. Barclays Canada is partnering
with Jantzi Research Inc., Canada’s premier firm offering social responsibility research on Canadian and global securities, to launch the fund. ITis expected to reflect a higher standard of environmental and social performance.
The new funds will not be available to investors until the relevant securities commission or similar regulatory authority issues a decision document for the final prospectus.