Index Investing

Index Investing

At BlackRock, our approach to index investing is anything but passive. We understand that investors today demand more efficient returns and innovative ways to use index strategies.

Why BlackRock for index investing?

BlackRock seeks to provide cost-effective access for institutional clients’ desired market exposures through both widely used and customized benchmarks, all through our proprietary, in-house Aladdin technology. In addition to core allocations, clients use our flexible platform of index strategies for a range of investment needs, including risk management, tactical adjustments and cash equitization.

Flexibility
Flexibility
Our flexible range of strategies are designed to meet your needs today and in the future.
Efficiency
Efficiency
We are focused on delivering optimal tracking, consistent returns and lowering the total cost of ownership.
Precision
Precision
Our investment track record spans four decades led us to be entrusted with US$4.9 trillion of assets under management1.

Learn more about index investing at BlackRock

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BlackRock’s Index investing capabilities

With US$4.9tn1 in indexed assets, BlackRock is a global leader in index investing.
Over 2500 strategies
Managed against 1000+ benchmarks
Exposures available across vehicles
Including pooled, separately managed accounts and exchange traded
Breadth of platform
Strategies across market-cap weighted, index “plus,” ESG, smart beta and asset allocation

Distribution by asset class (%)

Chart of BlackRock’s index distribution by asset class.

Source: BlackRock, as of September 31, 2019.

Index investment management cycle

We combine the best of BlackRock technology and benchmark expertise to create a superior experience across the index investment management cycle.

Index investment management cycle. While proprietary technology platforms may help manage risk, risk cannot be eliminated.

Source: BlackRock, for illustrative purposes only.

    • Review cumulative effect of investment decisions to help identify factors contributing to/subtracting from portfolio performance
    • Risk & Quantitative Analysis Team (RQA) monitors dozens of risk factors globally on a continuous basis.
    • Aladdin advantage: Portfolio engineering tools are integrated on the same platform as risk monitoring tools, making it easy for RQA to provide a third-party risk assessment on portfolios.
    • Detailed knowledge of index methodologies
    • Experience with predicting and projecting index changes
    • Focused on optimal treatment of corporate actions
    • Continual research into index events
    • Aladdin advantage: Proprietary Aladdin ‘Index Pro’ application makes analyzing benchmark changes a clean and efficient process
    • Significant investment in technology
    • Market leading portfolio and risk tools provided by our Aladdin® platform
    • Integrated cost and liquidity analysis
    • Sophisticated optimization tools
    • Aladdin advantage: Custom portfolio construction application built by our portfolio engineering team designed especially for index management
    • Building smart trading strategies designed to access optimal liquidity
    • Large internal marketplace for potential netting of client flows
    • Focused trading research and systems
    • Aladdin advantage: Aladdin’s extensive global trading platform ensures low costs and optimal access to liquidity

iShares ETFs seek to help institutions navigate portfolio challenges

ETFs and index investing are an increasingly integral part of the investment process for institutional investors. They are changing the way institutions construct portfolios, fine-tune risk, and manage operational tasks.
iShares ETFs seek to help institutions navigate portfolio challenges

Contact our institutional team

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