DB X-Trackers list first regional shariah compliant ETFs in London

The three ETFs are:

- db x-trackers S&P 500 Shariah ETF
- db x-trackers S&P Europe 350 Shariah ETF
- db x-trackers S&P Japan 500 Shariah ETF

To complement the three new regional Shariah ETFs, db x-trackers is also listing a global Shariah compliant ETF on Dow Jones Islamic Market Titans 100 ETF.

db x-trackers' new range of Shariah ETFs provide institutional and retail investors access to investments based on Islamic principles, which exclude any activities challenging Shariah law. The principle exclusions from the investment range are pork-related substances, alcohol, gambling, financials, advertising & media, pornography, tobacco and the trading of gold and silver as cash on a deferred basis.

The new Shariah ETFs will allow investors access to a wide range of sectors and markets including utilities, industrials, energy, technology and healthcare via ETFs characterised as being highly liquid and transparent. Over three and five years the three Shariah indices have outperformed their standard counterparts.

Manooj Mistry, head of db x-trackers UK, commenting on the launches, said:

"The levels of financial sophistication among Muslim investors are growing and with them, the demand for investment products that are compliant with religious norms. The Shariah compliant ETF market is largely untapped and by offering these products to investors we have continued to show-case our innovative and forward thinking capabilities, whilst capitalising on fast growing markets. As well as being an excellent option for those investors wanting investment tools in line with their beliefs and principles, these new ETFs may also provide a new way of accessing certain markets for the conventional investor looking for an alternative investment approach."

Alex Matturri, Executive Managing Director of Standard & Poor's Portfolio Services, comments:

"Shariah-compliant investing has been growing at an exponential pace over the past several years, as investors continue to increase their exposure to Islamic-compliant equities."

"Starting with the launch of the S&P 500 Shariah, S&P Europe 350 Shariah and S&P Japan 500 Shariah in 2006, Standard & Poor's has been at the forefront of offering indices that meet the investing needs of Islamic investors throughout the world. Today, Standard & Poor's Shariah Indices screen approximately $44 trillion of the world's market capitalisation."