iShares lists first currency hedged equity ETFs on NYSE Euronext

Amsterdam - NYSE Euronext is pleased to announce that iShares, the Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) platform of BlackRock, Inc. today has listed three Currency Hedged Equity ETFs on its Amsterdam market. These currency hedged ETFs enable investors to invest internationally and hedge currency exposure in one trade, without having to monitor and maintain a currency hedge. These ETFs are the first of its kind on NYSE Euronext.

In addition, iShares listed the iShares MSCI USA, which invests in the MSCI USA Index, one of the most popular benchmarks for institutional investors seeking exposure to the U.S. equity market.

The funds track some of iShares most popular and traded global indices offered by MSCI and Standard and Poor’s:

• iShares MSCI Japan Monthly EUR Hedged
• iShares MSCI World Monthly EUR Hedged
• iShares SP500 Monthly EUR Hedged
• iShares MSCI USA

In line with market best practice, the indices (safe the MSCI USA index) incorporate a monthly currency hedge, with currency exposure hedged using one month forward FX contracts. The hedge is not adjusted during the month for price movements of securities, corporate actions or index changes, and reduces, rather than eliminates, currency exposure.

iShares currency-hedged ETFs allow investors to invest internationally and hedge currency exposure in one transaction, eliminating FX operational and administrative hurdles.

“We are proud that iShares has selected to list these innovative products on our Amsterdam market supported by high capacity and low latency technology offering superior transparency and liquidity to investors,” said Pedro Fernandes, European Head of ETFs at NYSE Euronext. He added: “With the 541 products listed on the European market, NYSE Euronext meets the diverse and growing demand for ETFs in Europe”.

Roel Thijssen, managing director at BlackRock and head of iShares Benelux, said: “These latest currency hedged products – the first of their kind on NYSE Euronext - provide investors with the opportunity to hedge against unintended and often undesirable currency risk, a consideration which is particularly important during periods of volatile currency fluctuations. The US equity market is very popular with investors and the MSCI USA index is well known to many of our clients. In line with the success of the iShares S&P 500 fund, we are confident that the iShares MSCI USA fund will gather significant assets. The funds act as the perfect complement to our existing range of equity product products, and are in line with our strategy of offering investors the most innovative and diverse range of products with which to invest.”

The launch takes the total number of iShares ETFs listed on NYSE Euronext to 101, of which 48 are multi-listed on both the Amsterdam and Paris markets.
The ETF segment continues to grow and is increasingly successful on the European and US NYSE Euronext markets. These products registered an Average Daily Turnover (ADT) of €379.3 million on the European NYSE Euronext markets in 2010, an increase of 26.3% compared with the daily average of €300.3 million in 2009.

ETFs or Trackers are open-end investment funds listed on a stock exchange and tradable in the same way as an individual security. An ETF closely follows or tracks a particular benchmark index, seeking to replicate the performance of the index and offering flexible, low-cost exposure to entire markets or market segments in just one easy transaction. They also combine the simplicity of equities with the diversified risk of investment funds. A further benefit is the low level of management fees associated with this type of passive investment.

Notes to editors

About NYSE Euronext
NYSE Euronext (NYX) is a leading global operator of financial markets and provider of innovative trading technologies. The company’s exchanges in Europe and the United States trade equities, futures, options, fixed-income and exchange-traded products. With approximately 8,000 listed issues (excluding European Structured Products), NYSE Euronext’s equities markets – the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Euronext, NYSE Amex, NYSE Alternext and NYSE Arca – represent one-third of the world’s equities trading, the most liquidity of any global exchange group. NYSE Euronext also operates NYSE Liffe, one of the leading European derivatives businesses and the world’s second-largest derivatives business by value of trading. The company offers comprehensive commercial technology, connectivity and market data products and services through NYSE Technologies. NYSE Euronext is in the S&P 500 index, and is the only exchange operator in the S&P 100 index and Fortune 500. For more information, please visit: www.nyx.com.

About BlackRock
BlackRock is a leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. At September 30, 2010, BlackRock’s AUM was $3.446 trillion. BlackRock offers products that span the risk spectrum to meet clients’ needs, including active, enhanced and index strategies across markets and asset classes. Products are offered in a variety of structures including separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares® (exchange traded funds), and other pooled investment vehicles. BlackRock also offers risk management, advisory and enterprise investment system services to a broad base of institutional investors through BlackRock Solutions®. Headquartered in New York City, as of September 30, 2010, the firm has approximately 8,900 employees in 24 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and Africa. For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.blackrock.com.

About iShares
iShares is the global product leader in exchange traded funds with over 480 funds globally across equities, fixed income and commodities, which trade on 19 exchanges worldwide. The iShares funds are bought and sold like common stocks on securities exchanges and like common stocks, they are subject to investment risk and fluctuation in market value.
The iShares funds are attractive to many individual and institutional investors and financial intermediaries because of their relative low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. However, trading in these funds may result in commissions or other costs that could offset any such savings. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account. The iShares customer base consists of the institutional segment of pension plans and fund managers, as well as the retail segment of financial advisors and high net worth individuals.

© 2010 BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. iShares® is a registered trademark of BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A. All other trademarks, servicemarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Issued by BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited (authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority). Registered office: 33 King William Street, London, EC4R 9AS. Registered in England No. 2020394. Tel: 020 7743 3000. Tel: 020 7743 3000. For your protection, telephone calls are usually recorded. BlackRock is a trading name of BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited.

Index Disclaimers
iShares funds are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI, and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such funds or any index on which such funds are based. The Prospectus contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship that MSCI has with BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited and any related funds.

’Standard & Poor’s®’, ’S&P®’, ’S&P 500’ are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited.iShares S&P 500 Monthly EUR Hedge is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in this product.

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Index Disclaimers

iShares funds are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI, and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such funds or any index on which such funds are based. The Prospectus contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship that MSCI has with BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited and any related funds.

’Standard & Poor’s®’, ’S&P®’, ’S&P 500’ are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited.iShares S&P 500 Monthly EUR Hedge is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in this product.

Provider : Euronext Amsterdam