In a move that represents something of a coup for the relative newcomer to the primary-listings game, BATS Global Markets has announced that the iShares MSCI Norway Capped Investable Market Index ETF (BATS: ENOR) has begun trading on the BATS Exchange.
Joe Ratterman, Chairman & CEO of BATS Global Markets, an electronic alternative trading platform.
The Norway fund is the first of nine new exchange traded funds sponsored by BlackRock iShares scheduled to commence trading on the exchange this week.
Luring iShares to BATS as a destination for primary listings constitutes a major success for the seven-year-old alternative trading system as it aims to take market share from the larger and more well-known exchange rivals, such as the NYSE and Nasdaq.
“Today marks an important milestone for BATS and we are pleased to welcome these new investment products from iShares, one of the leading global providers of exchange-traded products, to our market,” said Joe Ratterman, Chairman and CEO of BATS Global Markets.
“Our goal is to continue to attract dynamic and innovative companies to our market through our focus on customer needs and market quality”, said Ratterman.
The nine iShares ETFs listing on BATS are based on MSCI indexes and are designed to provide investors an opportunity to access various international markets. Seven of the funds are scheduled to commence trading this week including:
Scheduled to commence trading on BATS Exchange on 24 January, 2012:
- iShares MSCI Norway Capped Investable Market Index ETF (BATS: ENOR)
Scheduled to commence trading on BATS Exchange on January 26, 2012:
- iShares MSCI Australia Small Cap Index ETF (BATS: EWAS)
- iShares MSCI Canada Small Cap Index ETF (BATS: EWCS)
- iShares MSCI Denmark Capped Investable Market Index ETF (BATS: EDEN)
- iShares MSCI Finland Capped Investable Market Index ETF (BATS: EFNL)
- iShares MSCI Germany Small Cap Index ETF (BATS: EWGS)
- iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small Cap Index ETF (BATS: EWUS)
Two additional iShares ETFs, the iShares MSCI India Index ETF (BATS: INDA) and the iShares MSCI India Small Cap Index ETF (BATS: SMIN), are scheduled to commence trading on BATS Exchange in the coming weeks.
BATS became a US primary listings venue on 2 December, 2011, providing issuers with a cost-effective new venue to list their stock or exchange-traded products.
In May 2011, the company filed with the SEC to raise up to $100million in an initial public offering.