iShares Readies Seven More Country-Specific ETFs

ETF Statistics January 2010: Total Assets Decline

About: iShares MSCI USA Index Fund, Market Vectors Brazil Small-Cap ETF (NYSE: BRF), iShares MSCI Brazil Index (NYSE: EWZ), Market Vectors Russia ETF (NYSE: RSX), iShares MSCI Russia Capped Investable Market Index Fund, iShares MSCI Egypt Capped Investable Market Index Fund, Market Vectors, Global Xexchange, iShares MSCI Philippines Investable Market Index Fund, traded funds (ETFs), ETF Profit Report Bookmark and Share

iShares, the ETF issuer behind many of the most popular country-specific ETFs, is again expanding its lineup with plans to add six new country-focused ETFs, several of which encroach upon the territory held by popular, currently existing emerging markets ETFs. In total, iShares has announced plans for ETFs offering investors exposure to markets as benign as the U.S. to exotic locales such as the Philippines.

The iShares MSCI USA Index Fund will obviously focus on U.S. stocks with a bias toward an index that tracks 601 companies that rank in the top 85% of all U.S. stocks by market value. There are already dozens of similar ETFs that track U.S. large and mid-caps and given the outflows we saw from domestic ETFs in 2009, the move by iShares to launch a U.S.-specific equity ETF could be viewed as curious.

iShares also has plans to challenge the popular Market Vectors Brazil Small-Cap ETF (NYSE: BRF), which has landed over $600 million in assets since making its debut in May 2009. The iShares MSCI Brazil Small Cap Index Fund will be the new challenger to BRF. Keep in mind that iShares knows its way around Brazil as it is the issuer behind the iShares MSCI Brazil Index (NYSE: EWZ), the biggest Brazil ETF.

iShares is also challenging Market Vector's supremacy when it comes to Russia ETFs. The Market Vectors Russia ETF (NYSE: RSX) was one of the best performing ETFs in 2009 and iShares is also eying Russia with its iShares MSCI Russia Capped Investable Market Index Fund. Like RSX, the iShares ETF will focus on energy, financials and materials names.

Egypt is another country iShares is planning a new ETF for with the introduction of the iShares MSCI Egypt Capped Investable Market Index Fund. The ETF will track a 41-stock index that is heavy on telecom, financials and industrials. Market Vectors and Global X previously announced plans for Egypt ETFs.

iShares may also be late to the party for Ireland ETFs with its plans for the iShares MSCI Ireland Capped Investable Market Index Fund. The ETF will track a 21-company index that focuses on consumer staples, financials and materials stocks. PowerShares and State Street Global Advisors have also filed plans for Ireland-specific ETFs.

The Philippines is the next country that will be added to the iShares fold with the debut of the iShares MSCI Philippines Investable Market Index Fund. The ETF will track a 28-stock index that is heavy in financials, telecom and utilities names. Global X has also announced plans for a Philippines ETF.

The announcements from iShares follow the issuer's plans for a China small-cap ETF and country specific ETFs for Poland, New Zealand and Indonesia that were announced at the end of January.