ETF issuers to launch on S&P 500 index as exclusive agreement with iShares ends

Several European ETF issuers will be able to launch ETFs on the S&P 500 index as of 17 May, when Standard and Poor's exclusive arrangement with iShares ends.

For the past 10 years iShares has been the only ETF sponsor with the right to use the S&P 500 to underlie its ETFs, meaning the iShares S&P 500 fund listed on the London Stock Exchange has been the only ETF tracking this benchmark in Europe. S&P global head of ETF licensing Reid Steadman says: "On 17 May, we are going to see more S&P 500 ETFs list and trade in Europe - that will be the key point at which our partnership with iShares with respect to the S&P 500 will be non-exclusive." He says Europe in particular has a commercially expanding ETF landscape and more licences would be adv...