Barclays Bank has provided a diversified opportunity to invest in various currencies of the Asian region. According to the Mondo Visione article, Barclays has listed a new ETN on the NYSE Arca that gives access to eight different currencies within emerging markets of Asia. The new ETN, known as the Barclays GEMS Asia 8 ETN (AYT), will follow the Barclays Global Emerging Markets Strategy (GEMS) Asia 8 Index. Mondo Visione has listed the eight markets and associated currencies that are included in the new note: Indonesian rupiah, Indian rupee, Philippine peso, South Korean won, Thai baht, Malaysian ringgit, Taiwanese dollar, and Chinese yuan.

The second ETF in Thailand, and the first to follow a sector (Energy), is gearing up for release on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) in July. The Bangkok Post reports that the portfolio will encompass large-cap, high liquidity energy stocks. Some of the companies listed include: PTT Exploration and Production, PTT Aromatics and Refining, Glow Energy, and Esso. SET president Patareeya Benjapolchai explained that since oil and energy prices have been on the rise she believes their new Energy Sector Index ETF will attract many investors. In addition, the senior vice-president for the SET pointed out that the energy sector makes up 35% of the total market capital, and the upcoming ETF will account for 97% of that sector with an initial size of 500 million baht. The Bangkok Post goes on to report that Thailand is not satisfied with only introducing the new energy-based ETF. The SET is looking at a potential new gold index later in the year, as well as an ETF that follows the banking industry within the financial sector.