BlackRock has extended its iShares ETF ranges with exposure to European government debt for the first time.
The firm has launched four iShares iBonds ETFs based on government bonds exposures.
IBonds are exchange traded funds which behave similarly to bonds and mature at a set date.
“iBonds ETFs are designed to mature like a bond, trade like a stock and diversify like a fund, all in a cost-efficient and transparent ETF wrapper,” said Brett Pybus, global co-head of iShares fixed income ETFs at BlackRock.
The new additions bring the range to 13 funds with maturities ranging from 2025 to 2029.
The latest launch is the first time BlackRock is offering iShares iBonds exposed to European government debt.
It also features additional exposure to US government debt to the iBonds range, maturing in December 2027 and 2029 as well as offering investors more access to Italian government debt across 2026 and 2028 maturities.
Pybus added: “Building on the success of Treasury iBonds in the US, these new iBonds ETFs provide additional choice and expand access for Europeans to the income provided by both US and Italian government bonds.”
Each iBonds ETF holds a diversified basket of bonds and are available through wealth management platforms, including digital, and brokerages across Europe.
Blackstone has 13 years of experience in managing iBonds and fixed maturity ETFs.
It said the iBonds ETFs can be used to more easily create bond ladders, a portfolio maturing on different dates, compared with trading numerous bonds.
tara.o'connor@ft.com
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