BlackRock launches multi-asset liquid alternatives ETF

BlackRock has launched a new multi-asset liquid alternatives exchange-traded fund (ETF).

The iShares Systematic Alternatives Active ETF (IALT) invests across a mix of alternative approaches, including equities, credit, diversified bonds and wider macroeconomic themes.

IALT draws on the resources of BlackRock’s $378bn (£283.6bn) systematic investment platform.

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“In an environment marked by concentrated markets, higher valuations, volatility and a closer link between stock and bond movements, investors are looking for new ways to build diversified portfolios that can cope with uncertainty while staying liquid,” said Raffaele Savi, global head of BlackRock Systematic. “Resilience requires adaptability. IALT’s systematic approach gives investors access to differentiated return sources at scale, making it a versatile tool for those aiming to diversify, manage risk and seek growth.”

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BlackRock said the ETF brings the potential benefits of alternative investing into a simpler, more accessible format. The strategy can take positions across countries and asset classes, between individual securities, and through flexible equity and credit exposures.

The asset manager now oversees more than $5tn across its global ETF range, including over $100bn in active ETFs.

“IALT marks a meaningful expansion of BlackRock’s liquid alternatives range, opening up a part of the market that was once largely limited to institutional investors,” said Jessica Tan, head of Americas for global product solutions at BlackRock.

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