Barclays Global Investors launched two new ETFs that invest in international treasury bonds.
The iShares S&P/Citigroup International Treasury Bond Fund (IGOV) and the iShares S&P/Citigroup 1-3 Year International Treasury Bond Fund (ISHG) offer convenient, cost-effective, liquid ways to access the international fixed income markets.
The underlying indexes for the funds are broad, diverse and market value-weighted designed to measure the performance of Treasury bonds issued in local currencies by developed market countries outside of the U.S. that have a remaining maturity greater than one year and one to three years respectively.
As of December 31, 2008, the index securities were issued by the following 19 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
See the iShares ETF Directory and Fixed Income – International ETF Directory for a complete listing.