BlackRock launches first Israel ETF

Stock exchange worth $200bn

BlackRock has launched the world's first ETF investing in the Israeli stock exchange.

The iShares TA-25 Israel UCITS ETF is the first ETF to invest directly in the 25 largest companies on the Tel Aviv stock exchange (TASE). Under Israeli index rules, no company forms more than 10% of the total index and it is rebalanced semi-annually. TASE was launched in 1953 and is home to 461 listed companies with a market capitalisation of $200bn. The country is hoping the product launch will increase Israel's exposure to international investors, and it hopes to develop further partnerships with other financial institutions. Have markets become desensitised to geopolitical co...