As has been their custom for nearly all of their exchange-traded fund launches, Van Eck Global [see profile] executives spoke to journalists at the firm's Madison Avenue headquarters in New York Friday morning to discuss their newest product.

Jan van Eck Van Eck Principal

The Market Vectors China ETF, which offers access to China's A-Shares market, started trading on the NYSE Arca yesterday [see related story]. The ETF comes with a net expense ratio of 72 basis points. [SEC filing]

Van Eck principal Jan van Eck, who heads up the ETF business, led the roster of speakers, which included director of international equity David Semple and managing director of exchange-traded funds Adam Phillips. Judy Zhou, deputy manager of index sales and marketing at China Securities Index Co., joined in by phone from China.

Van Eck officials noted that the product is the first U.S.-listed ETF that offers exposure to China's A-shares market. As of October 7, there were a total of 24 China A-Share-based ETFs listed on the Hong Kong Exchange.

The ETF will not invest directly in A-Shares from the get-go. It expects instead to invest in swaps and other types of derivative instruments that have economic characteristics substantially identical to those of China A-Share stocks.

MacMillan Communications helped Van Eck put together the media briefing.

The launch comes at a somber time for Van Eck Associates Corporation, whose chief investment officer Derek van Eck (Jan's brother) died unexpectedly at the age of 46 on September 29. 

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