Don’t Expect a Bigger Indian Presence in EM Bond ETFs

In a move that could be seen as a surprise, India is reportedly postponing efforts to usher more of its bonds into major emerging market indices.

In October 2013, it was reported that India was in talks with J.P. Morgan, Barclays and Citigroup about gaining entry into those banks’ emerging markets bond indices. Some media outlets reported India preferred to gain admission to J.P. Morgan’s index, but that Indian authorities were also holding talks with Barclays and Citi. [Your EM Bond ETF Could Add This Country]

The iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMB) , the largest emerging markets bond ETF, tracks a J.P. Morgan index.

On Tuesday, reports broke that India’s designs on a larger presence in emerging market debt indices have been delayed. “As regards the issue of India’s plan to enter into JP Morgan debt index and other global indices, no action is being envisaged,” Reuters reported, citing an unidentified official.

Although foreign investors, such as pensions plans, endowments and sovereign wealth funds, have recently been buying Indian equities, accessing the country’s bonds is harder compared to some other developing markets. “Foreign holdings in Indian public debt are expected to decline to around 4 percent by end-March to $728 billion, from 5.2 percent two years ago,” according to Reuters. [Some Investors Returning to India]

To this point, India has been excluded from major global debt indices because of its restrictions on foreign investment in onshore debt.

EMB features exposure to over 40 countries, but Indian bonds are not found in $3.6 billion ETF. Other large emerging markets debt ETFs, both dollar-denominated and local currency funds including the PowerShares Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt Portfolio (PCY) and the WisdomTree Emerging Markets Local Debt Fund (ELD) , also do not hold Indian debt.

The Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF (VWOB) , which tracks the Barclays USD Emerging Markets Government RIC Capped Index, had a 1.5% weight to India at the end of January, according to issuer data.

iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

ETF Trends editorial team contributed to this post. Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of EMB.

The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.