iShares launches low-cost Core Series

BlackRock Canada also announced reductions to the annual management fees payable as a percentage of net asset value for all of the funds in the iShares Core Series, now ranging from 5 to 25 basis points, depending on the fund, effective March 25.

The iShares Core Series is a suite of nine existing iShares funds specifically designed for the long-term needs of investors by combining competitive pricing with diversified products using established index providers. These funds changed their names effective March 25, in order to replace the word “Fund” with “ETF”.

The funds cover key asset classes including Canadian equities, dividends and bonds, as well as U.S. and international equities.

The funds in the series are: iShares S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF (TSX:XIC); iShares S&P/TSX Equity Income Index ETF (TSX:XEI); Shares Canadian Short Term Corporate + Maple Bond Index ETF (TSX: XSH); iShares High Quality Canadian Bond Index ETF (TSX:CAB); iShares Canadian Long Term Bond Index ETF* (TSX:XLB); iShares S&P 500 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged) (TSX:XSP); iShares S&P 500 Index ETF (TSX:XUS); iShares MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (TSX:XEF); and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF (TSX:XEC).

“As we look to build on BlackRock’s leadership position in Canada, we are taking another step to bolster our value proposition for investors,” said Noel Archard, managing director, head of BlackRock Canada. “We have brought the benefits of our global scale to an iShares Core Series in Canada, a low-cost range of key investment exposures for long-term investors.”

With the new pricing on the funds, BlackRock Canada says its is providing retail investors and their advisors with significant price flexibility as they implement their core asset allocation strategies more affordably.