ZUG (December 10, 2024) — STOXX Ltd., part of the ISS STOXX group of companies and a leading provider of benchmark and custom index solutions to global institutional investors, today announced its expanding collaboration with BlackRock, with BlackRock’s launch of two iShares ETFs tracking the STOXX Global AI Infrastructure and STOXX Global AI Adopters and Applications thematic indices.
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Sarah Ball
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“AI is transforming the investment landscape, offering unprecedented potential growth and innovation opportunities. We are committed to empowering investors with the choice to access AI through the convenience of the ETF wrapper. ETFs have become an increasingly critical part of European portfolios, with one in five investors now holding them, a 19% relative increase in ETF investors in Europe since 20221.”
Manuela Sperandeo, Head of Europe & Middle East iShares Product at BlackRock
The STOXX Artificial Intelligence (AI) Suite of thematic indices provides exposure to companies across the full AI value chain, from building block components such as semiconductors, cloud computing and big data technologies, to adopters in industries that look set to benefit the most from the advancement of the technology. Index construction leverages the STOXX Thematics Framework that uses revenue and/or patent-based approaches to capture a diverse range of companies at various stages of their AI adoption.
“Artificial intelligence is a key, megatrend theme for investors and we are delighted to announce our collaboration with BlackRock, leveraging STOXX’s established capabilities as a leading provider of thematic indices. The STOXX Artificial Intelligence Suite provides a flexible, diversified approach for investors enabling them to harness the AI theme across different phases of the adoption curve, to identify both established companies as well as those bringing new innovation to the market.”
Axel Lomholt, General Manager at STOXX
With over three dozen thematic indices covering the broad categories of future technology, the environment and socio-demographics, STOXX is a leader in index-based thematic investment solutions and research. Thematic investing aims to capture the seismic shifts disrupting our modern world — known as megatrends — that are durable and longer-term in nature, identifying companies that stand to benefit as these themes transform business, economics and consumer behavior. Thematic portfolios cut across traditional sector classifications, as the latter typically provide less flexibility when it comes to accurately grasping the complexity and reach of a theme.
1 Source: BlackRock People & Money/YouGov Plc. All figures, unless stated otherwise, are from YouGov Plc. Sample size: 36,730 adults across Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and UK (any references to Europe in this report refer to these 14 markets). Fieldwork was undertaken between 15th March – 10th May 2024. The survey was carried out online. Figures given an even weighting to produce an ‘average’ value. All calculations conducted by BlackRock. 2022 data refers to the previous ‘Next wave of ETF investors’ survey conducted by YouGov Plc between 12 August 2022 and 8 February 2023. Population figures are based on United Nations 2024 and 2022 Revisions of World Population Prospects report (18+ adults). The content and assumptions in this report are based on data derived directly from these surveys.
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STOXX® and DAX® indices comprise a global and comprehensive family of more than 18,000 strictly rules-based and transparent indices. Best known for the leading European equity indices EURO STOXX 50®, STOXX® Europe 600 and DAX®, the portfolio of index solutions consists of total market, benchmark, blue-chip, sustainability, thematic and factor-based indices covering a complete set of world, regional and country markets. STOXX and DAX indices are licensed to more than 550 companies around the world for benchmarking purposes and as underlyings for ETFs, futures and options, structured products, and passively managed investment funds. STOXX Ltd., part of the ISS STOXX group of companies, is the administrator of the STOXX and DAX indices under the European Benchmark Regulation. stoxx.com
About ISS STOXX
ISS STOXX GmbH, through its group companies, is a leading provider of comprehensive and data-centric research and technology solutions that help capital market participants identify investment opportunities, detect qualitative and quantitative portfolio company risks, and meet evolving regulatory requirements. With roots dating back to 1985, we today deliver world-class benchmark and custom indices across asset classes and geographies and serve as a premier source of independent corporate governance, sustainability, cyber risk, and fund intelligence research, data, and related offerings. Our products and services give clients the scale and leverage they need to grow their business more effectively and efficiently. ISS STOXX, which is majority owned by Deutsche Börse Group, is comprised of more than 3,400 professionals operating across 33 global locations in 19 countries. Its approximately 6,400 clients include many of the world’s leading institutional investors who turn to ISS STOXX for its objective and varied offerings, as well as companies focused on ESG, cyber, and governance risk mitigation as a shareholder value enhancing measure. Clients rely on ISS STOXX’s expertise to help them make informed decisions to benefit their stakeholders.
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