News Releases

The first retail index fund linked to commodity index created by Jim Rogers

Hong Kong - Barclays, one of the world’s major financial institutions and a leading provider of retail structured products in Europe, has launched their retail fund directly tracking ¹ the performance of the Rogers International Commodity Index™ - Total Index (“RICI™” Index) in Hong Kong.  

The Global Commodities Delta Fund (USD) is an open-ended structured fund that aims to provide a transparent commodity investment opportunity enabling investors to capture potential return by riding on the performance of the RICI™ Index.

The Fund achieves commodities investment exposure by linking with the RICI™ Index, which is composed of more than 30 commodities in three main categories: energy, metals and agriculture. The diversified Index constituents will be reviewed every year by a committee chaired by Jim Rogers.

Backed by a proven track record, the RICI™ Index has outperformed other major commodity indices including the Dow Jones-AIG Index and the Goldman Sachs Commodity Index since its inception in August 1998.

Jim Rogers, the world-renowned investment guru in commodities said,”A new bull market is under way, and it is in commodities; commodities that are the essentials of not just your life but the lives of everyone in the world.   As economies in Asia continue to grow, there will be a strong worldwide demand for all commodities.

Besides, commodities are tangible assets that offer different characteristics – and no credit risk. They are also liquid. This can be a safe haven against the threat of the sub-prime crisis and political risk. Investment in commodities is a tool for risk diversification, especially in market downturns.

Commenting on the launch of the Fund, Wendy Kwan, Barclays Capital's Director of Investor Solutions said, “The Global Commodities Delta Fund is the first retail fund in Hong Kongwhere the performance is directly linked to the RICI™ Index. This Fund provides investors with exposure to the commodities market using a strategy which has historically proven profitable, and enables us to share the performance and investment insights of Jim Rogers.”

The Fund will be distributed in Hong Kong through Hang Seng Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, DBS, Citibank, Citic Ka Wah Bank, Dah Sing Bank, Mevas Bank, Fubon Bank, ABN Amro, KGI and Sun Hung Kai Investment Services Limited.

Barclays Capital is a recognised global leader in structured products and derivatives, having been named in the Risk magazine awards Structured Products House of the Year 2007, Inflation Derivatives House of the Year in 2006 & 2007, and Currency and Commodities Derivatives House of the Year in 2006.   Regionally, Barclays Capital was named Currency Derivatives House of the Year 2006 by AsiaRisk magazine, and in The Asset Asian Awards won Best Currency Derivatives House & Best Commodity-Linked Structured Product in 2006.

-ENDS-

¹ The performance of the Fund will be calculated net of fees.

For further information please contact:

Clare Williams, Barclays Capital Communications
Tel: +852 2903 2298

Angie Tang, Barclays Capital Communications
Tel: +852 2903 2305

Notes to editors:

Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services with an extensive international presence in Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia. It is one of the largest financial services companies in the world by market capitalisation.  With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in more than 50 countries and employs 127,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for over 27 million customers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com.

About Barclays Capital

Barclays Capital is the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC which has an AA long-term credit rating and a balance sheet of over £1.1 trillion. With a distinctive business model, Barclays Capital provides large corporate, government and institutional clients with solutions to their financing and risk management needs.  Barclays Capital has offices in 26 countries, employs over 15,700 people and has the global reach and distribution power to meet the needs of issuers and investors worldwide.

For further information about Barclays Capital, please visit our website www.barclayscapital.com.

Barclays Capital - the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC. Registered in England 1026167. Registered office 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP, United Kingdom . Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and a member of the London Stock Exchange.