WisdomTree to Launch Emerging Markets Dividend-Weighted ETF

WisdomTree Investments, Inc. has announced that the WisdomTree Trust will launch a new dividend-weighted exchange-traded fund (ETF) on the New York Stock Exchange on July 13.

According to the announcement, the WisdomTree Emerging Markets High-Yielding Fund is designed to track the WisdomTree Emerging Markets High-Yielding Equity Index – a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of high dividend-yielding stocks selected from 19 emerging market nations in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Companies are weighted in the Index based on annual cash dividends paid.

The new ETF will trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol DEM and will have an expense ratio of .63%.

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“We believe the WisdomTree Emerging Markets High-Yielding Fund provides investors with a strong alternative to existing capitalization-weighted emerging markets ETFs.” said Bruce Lavine, President & COO of WisdomTree, in the announcement.

A prospectus is available by calling 1-866-909-WISE (9473) or visiting www.wisdomtree.com.

Emerging Markets Perform Well in Q207

Second quarter returns of the world’s emerging markets outpaced that of the developed markets, according to Standard&Poor’s global stock market review, The World By Numbers.

An S&P news release said emerging equity markets rose 14.81% during the second quarter of 2007 versus 6.82% for developed equity markets. Over the past 12 months, emerging markets have returned 49.8% compared to 24.4% posted by developed markets.

During the second quarter, 23 of the 25 emerging markets finished in positive territory with an average gain of 16.99%, while Jordan (-8.21%) and Russia (-0.61%) both showed losses, according to the release. Among developed markets, 26 of 27 posted gains during the second quarter averaging 10.74%, with Japan as the lone decliner at -0.97%.

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For the month of June, 18 of the 25 emerging markets posted positive gains averaging 3.28%. Hungary and China posted double-digit gains of 11.22% and 10.59% respectively. Argentina (-3.26%), Jordan (-2.93%) and Morocco (-2.61%) all showed losses for the month.

Fourteen of the 27 developed markets posted an average gain of 0.65% in June. Ireland (-4.80%), Spain (-2.54%) and Switzerland (-2.35%) showed substantial declines. Slovenia posted an increase of 12.79% for the month, resulting in a 109% 12-month gain over the 12-month period.

The World By Numbers report for June can be accessed at www.standardandpoors.com/indices.

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