Barclays Global Investors News

Barclays Global Investors Announces Launch of iShares Exchange Traded Funds that Offer Exposure to Alternative Energy and Broad Exposure to China

SAN FRANCISCO, June 25 PRNewswire — Barclays Global Investors (BGI) announced today the launch of four new iShares exchange traded funds (ETFs) on the NASDAQ Stock Market. The iShares S&P Global Funds deepen the large iShares international ETF family by offering access to nontraditional segments of the global equity markets with well-known index provider Standard & Poor's. The iShares FTSE China (HK Listed) Index Fund provides broad exposure to the China market. The index currently holds approximately 90 large- and mid-cap companies (H shares or Red Chip). With these new funds, iShares has the largest international ETF family with 65 global, international and emerging market ETFs.

Trading Fund Fund Name Symbol Expenses iShares S&P Global Clean Energy Index Fund ICLN 0.48% iShares S&P Global Nuclear Energy Index Fund NUCL 0.48% iShares S&P Global Timber & Forestry Index Fund WOOD 0.48% iShares FTSE China (HK Listed) Index Fund FCHI 0.74%

"As our world becomes more global and borders have less meaning, investors are increasingly interested in diversifying their portfolios into ETFs that help them capitalize on macro trends such as urbanization, population growth and the need for alternative energy sources," said Noel Archard, Head of U.S. iShares Product Development. "Since launching the first pure mainland China ETF for U.S. investors in 2005, some investors are interested in deeper access to the country, so we developed the new iShares FTSE China (HK Listed) Index Fund."

Archard continued, "We plan to continue to expand our international iShares product line to respond to our client's need for precise allocation and by leveraging BGI's institutional global markets experience."

The iShares Funds are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on securities exchanges. The iShares Funds are attractive to many individual and institutional investors and financial intermediaries because of their relative low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

Carefully consider the funds' investment objectives, risk factors and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the funds' prospectuses, which may be obtained by calling 1-800-iShares or by visiting www.ishares.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Barclays Global Investors is one of the world's largest asset managers and a leading global provider of investment management products and services. It has over 2,900 institutional clients and over $2.0 trillion of assets under management. It transformed the investment industry by creating the first index strategy in 1971 and the first quantitative active strategy in 1979. BGI is the global product leader in exchange traded funds (iShares) with over 320 funds for institutions and individuals globally.

Contacts for Press: Lance Berg 415-597-2045 lance.berg@barclaysglobal.com Christine Hudacko 415-597-2687 christine.hudacko@barclaysglobal.com All Other US Inquiries: 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737)

Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal. Transactions in shares of the iShares Funds will result in brokerage commissions. Diversification may not protect against market risk. In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, international investments may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations. Emerging markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors as well as increased volatility and lower trading volume. Securities focusing on a single country may be subject to higher volatility. Narrowly focused investments typically exhibit higher volatility.

The iShares Funds ("Funds") are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. (SEI). Barclays Global Fund Advisors (BGFA) serves as an advisor to the Funds. BGFA is a subsidiary of Barclays Global Investors, N.A., a majority-owned subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC, none of which is affiliated with SEI.

iShares(R) is a registered trademark of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. All other trademarks, servicemarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Barclays Global Investors

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