Investors will face “a rocky road” in the second half of 2012 compared with the first few months of the year, according to Russ Koesterich, global chief investment strategist for BlackRock’s iShares business.

BlackRock is expanding its iShares ETF business in Asia with a new senior level appointment and enhancing its research and investment advisory group.

The global exchange-traded product (ETP) industry attracted net assets of US$12.1 billion in August 2012, more than twice the US$5.3 billion collected in August 2011, according to a recent BlackRock report.

BlackRock has hired Lavin Mok as head of retail sales for Hong Kong and Singapore, as the fund manager looks to tap more of Asia’s vast wealth potential.

Fixed income exchange-traded products were the fastest-growing asset category in 2011, with assets under management increasing by nearly 25% year-on-year, or $50.6 billion, to $258 billion.

BlackRock has appointed Kevin Hardy as managing director and the head of its Asia Pacific index equity team, responsible for the team’s portfolio management activities and to be based in Hong Kong.

J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s Joseph Pacini has joined BlackRock to head its alternative investors strategy group in Asia Pacific.

BlackRock is bolstering its Asia Pacific franchise by naming Sabrina Gan as director and head of retail distribution in Singapore.

BlackRock has hired Joel Kim as its new head of Asia-Pacific fixed income, to be based in Singapore.

Flows into fixed income exchange-traded products reached a new historical high of US$25.5 billion for the January to April 2012 time period

Lyxor Asset Management has appointed Herman Chen as head of ETF distribution for the Asia Pacific region.

BlackRock has hired Andrew Swan as the new head of its Asian fundamental equities team, to build and strengthen the firm’s offering in this area.

Recent spikes in gold price volatility have overshadowed strong investment demand, central bank purchases and strong growth from the Chinese jewellery market.

BlackRock has hired Julia Lee as director and head of retail distribution in Hong Kong, as part of the firm’s growth of its distribution model.

As investors have continued to return to the markets via exchange-traded products to invest in a range of asset classes, the first quarter of 2012 marked the best-ever start to a year for the industry.

To help restore yield to their portfolios, investors have increasingly turned to fixed income ETFs, with record levels seen during January, a BlackRock report found.

The global exchange-traded product (ETP) industry reached US$1.9 trillion in assets this year; a 23% increase since 2011, according to BlackRock.

With net new asset growth of US$18.4 billion in February, the exchange traded products industry has maintained its strong start to the year, according to BlackRock’s latest report.

The global exchange-traded product (ETP) industry surpassed the milestone figure earlier this month of US$2 trillion in assets under management, according to BlackRock.

Jeong Hoon Lee has joined BlackRock as head of alternative investment strategy group for North Asia.

BlackRock's Global Multi-Asset Income Fund is now available for retail investors in Hong Kong.