BlackRock lowers fees on seven ETFs as it turns focus to price-conscious investors

BlackRock Inc., the largest provider of exchange-traded funds, cut fees on seven U.S.-listed ETFs aimed at price-conscious investors, as competition for market share heats up. The firm is reducing the expense ratios for the funds — all part of its series of “core” ETFs — to as low as 0.03%, according to a statement Tuesday by the New York-based money manager. It also introduced the iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF, which tracks an index of international investment grade bonds while hedging foreign currency risk. (More: Advisers flocking to an ETF that costs more than a mutual fund) BlackRock, which in 2012 started its “core" series of U.S. funds to attract buy-and-hold investors into the products, is stepping up fee cuts as ETF providers compete in an increasingly crowded market. Its fiercest competitor has been Vanguard Group, whose broad-market ETFs appeal to individual investors for their low cost. BlackRock's move follows a similar round last year, when the firm cut fees on its core lineup and rolled out more low-cost funds. "This is part of our continued drive to have really competitive funds in this space," said Ruth Weiss, head of the U.S. iShares product team, in an interview. (More: ETFs having a tough year after roaring 2014) BlackRock's core lineup has attracted more than $62.8 billion in new money since 2012. Vanguard, a latecomer in ETFs, has gained ground on rivals such as BlackRock and State Street Corp., whose offerings are popular with institutional investors. Vanguard, now the second biggest provider of ETFs, has attracted money from retail investors looking for low-cost funds. BROADER INDEX The fee cuts bring the expense ratio for the iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF to 0.03% from 0.07%, effective Tuesday. The fund will start tracking a new, broader index on Dec. 18, BlackRock also said. Expense ratios for the other core ETFs affected by the cuts are now between 0.16% for the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF and 0.07% for the iShares Core U.S. Growth and Core U.S. Value ETFs. The expense ratio of the iShares Core Total USD Bond Market ETF is falling to 0.12% from 0.15%. BlackRock pulled iShares Core GNMA Bond ETF from the core series, changing its name to the iShares GNMA Bond ETF.