Guggenheim Could Introduce ASEAN ETF

As investors look for new avenues of growth in developing world beyond the BRIC nations and highly developed emerging markets like South Korea and Taiwan, ETF issuers are meeting that demand with new concepts that further slice and dice investable developing markets.

Guggenheim, the eighth-largest U.S. ETF issuer, could add to the non-BRIC ETF fray with addition of the Guggenheim ASEAN Leaders ETF. The sponsor has filed plans for the new ETF with the Securities and Exchange Commission, though the SEC filing does not include a ticker or expense ratio for the ETF, nor does it mention which index the fund would track, indicating a launch date probably is not imminent.

The new ETF, assuming it comes to market, would offer exposure to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. That group includes countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Guggenheim’s ASEAN offering would likely be a direct competitor to the Global X FTSE ASEAN 40 ETF (ASEA) .

ASEA, which debuted in February 2011, has exposure to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, though Singapore, a developed market, and Malaysia combine for about 62% of the ETF’s weight. [Best Emerging Markets ETFs]

Guggenheim’s ASEAN offering could join a growing list of emerging markets ETFs that eschew the BRIC nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China. Last year, Emerging Global Advisors introduced the EGShares Beyond BRICs ETF (BBRC), which is heavily allocated to South Africa, Mexico, Malaysia Thailand and Indonesia.

Last month, the issuer said BBRC will drop the Indxx Beyond BRICs Index in favor of the FTSE Beyond BRICs Index. The FTSE Beyond BRICs Index will allow BBRC to expand its lineup to as many as 75 stocks from 50 along with allowing for the inclusion of frontier markets. [Another Beyond BRICs Index Comes to Town]

Also last month, State Street’s (STT) State Street Global Advisors unit, the second-largest U.S. ETF sponsor, filed plans with the SEC to possibly introduce the the SPDR MSCI Beyond BRIC ETF. [State Street Could Introduce Beyond BRICs ETF]

Guggenheim itself is no stranger to successful emerging markets ETFs as the firm issues the $237.5 million Guggenheim BRIC ETF (EEB) and the $198.3 million Guggenheim China Small-Cap ETF (HAO).

Guggenheim BRIC ETF

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

The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Mr. Lydon serves as an independent trustee of certain mutual funds and ETFs that are managed by Guggenheim Investments; however, any opinions or forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Mr. Lydon and not those of Guggenheim Funds, Guggenheim Investments, Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC or any of their affiliates. 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.