State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), the investment management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), today announced that the SPDR® S&P® Russia ETF (Symbol: RBL) began trading on the NYSE Arca on March 11, 2010. Its annual expense ratio is 0.59 percent.
Designed to provide investors with access to companies domiciled in Russia. Russia is the world''s largest producer of natural gas and oil, and the SPDR S&P Russia ETF seeks to track the performance of the S&P BMI Russia Capped Index. The Index includes companies domiciled in Russia with a float-adjusted market cap of $100 million or more and a minimum value traded of $50 million for the last 12 months at the time of annual reconstitution. As of February 26, 2010, the Index included 72 stocks.
"The launch of the SPDR S&P Russia ETF provides investors and investment professionals with diversified, convenient access to a country poised for potential growth as the global economy recovers," said Anthony Rochte, senior managing director at State Street Global Advisors. "The driving force behind the development of this new emerging market SPDR ETF was increasing investor demand for more precise exposure to the BRIC countries."
The BRIC economies, which encompass more than 25 percent of the world''s land mass and 40 percent of the world''s population, have posted strong growth in recent years. According to MSCI, BRIC equities have returned 26 percent per annum versus 18 percent for the standard emerging markets index over the last seven years ending November 30, 2009.
The SPDR S&P Russia ETF enhances State Street''s growing family of emerging markets SPDRs. As of March 5, 2010, State Street Global Advisors managed more than $ 2.4 billion in 8 emerging markets ETFs.
State Street Global Advisors is one of the largest ETF providers globally with assets under management for SPDR ETFs totaling more than $204 billion as of December 31, 2009.
About State Street Global Advisors
State Street Global Advisors, the investment management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), delivers investment strategies and integrated solutions to clients worldwide across every asset class, investment approach and style. With $1.9 trillion in assets under management at December 31, 2009, State Street Global Advisors has investment centers in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Montreal, Munich, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Zurich, and offices in 26 cities worldwide. For more information, visit State Street Global Advisors at www.ssga.com.
ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk and will fluctuate in market value.
Foreign investments involve greater risks than U.S. investments, including political and economic risks and the risk of currency fluctuations, all of which may be magnified in emerging markets.
Non-diversified funds that focus on a relatively small number of stocks or countries tend to be more volatile than diversified funds and the market as a whole.
Because of their narrow focus, sector funds tend to be more volatile than funds that diversify across many sectors and companies.
"SPDR®" is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor''s Financial Services LLC ("S&P") and has been licensed for use by State Street Corporation. No financial product offered by State Street Corporation or its affiliates is sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its Affiliates, and S&P and its affiliates make no representation, warranty or condition regarding the advisability of buying, selling or holding units/shares in such products. Standard & Poor''s®, S&P®, SPDR®, S&P 500® and Select Sector SPDRs® are registered trademark of Standard & Poor''s Financial Services LLC and have been licensed for use by State Street Corporation.
Distributor: State Street Global Markets, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. References to State Street may include State Street Corporation and its affiliates. Certain State Street affiliates provide services and receive fees from the SPDR ETFs. ALPS Distributors, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is distributor for SPDR shares, MidCap SPDRs and SPDR DJIA Trust, all unit investment trusts and Select Sector SPDRs.
Before investing, consider the funds'' investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information, call
1-866-787-2257 or visit www.spdrs.com. Read it carefully.
CORP-0063
Contacts:
State Street Corporation
Marie McGehee, 617-664-1898
or
River
Communications
Troy Mayclim, 914-686-5599
