HSBC lists first ETFs on Continent

HSBC has listed its first ETFs in Continental Europe and added to its ETF range.

The Group has cross listed its recently launched HSBC FTSE 100 and HSBC DJ EuroStoxx 50 ETFs on the NYSE Euronext exchange in Paris. Both of these ETFs are registered for sale in the UK and France. HSBC has also recently launched the HSBC CAC 40 ETF on NYSE Euronext (7 December) and registered this for sale in France.

HSBC plans to launch 30 additional ETFs in 2010. They will be registered for sale in several European countries and available on additional local exchanges. In keeping with the Bank's strong emerging markets focus, many of the launches in 2010 will be linked to emerging markets indices. HSBC also plans to expand the range of ETFs it offers in Asia.

HSBC announced in August its plans to enter the European ETF market, when it launched its first ETF - the HSBC FTSE 100 ETF on the London Stock Exchange.

Farley Thomas, Global Head of Wholesale at HSBC Global Asset Management, said with its international and emerging markets footprint and brand, HSBC is in a good position to grow its ETF business and become one of the prominent providers over coming years.

He added: "ETFs are among the fastest-growing investment products in the market, fuelled by investors' demand for simple, flexible, risk-controlled and good-value products. Despite this rapid growth, we believe ETFs still account for less than 2% of the European mutual fund market by assets compared with around 6% in the US (1). Supported by increasingly favourable trends including regulatory change such as the Retail Distribution Review in the UK, there is much scope for sustained growth."