Liquidity and Market Makers
Typically, you would look at volume and market depth on the ASX to gauge a listed security's liquidity. ASX data may show iShares with smaller traded volumes and limited availability on market depth. However it is important to note that the iShares are open-ended ETFs and their liquidity is directly related to the underlying basket of securities of the index they represent. In other words, the liquidity of iShares is equivalent to the trading liquidity of the individual-listed shares underlying the fund and not necessarily the liquidity information shown on the ASX.
1. Trading volume and market depth of the iShares are not a measure of liquidity.
2. In Australia, liquidity is ensured by the issuance/cancellation process of CDIs (see Note 2 below).
3. In the US, liquidity is ensured by the creation/redemption process (see Note 1 below).
Market Makers
Bid and offer prices are continuously submitted for iShares by two contracted Market Makers. This encourages price competition and results in tighter trading spread. Market Makers are liquidity providers who can arrange for the creation and issue of more CDIs to balance supply and demand of CDIs available in the Australian market (through the issuance/cancellation process mentioned above).
*ASX has appointed Citigroup and Susquehanna as designated Market Makers. These designated Market Makers are required to make two-sided markets within the maximum spreads and minimum quantities as tabled.
| Bid Price in A$ for Shares | Maximum Spread | Minimum Quantity |
| $25< | 15c | 1000 |
| >$25-$50 | 25c | 500 |
| >$50-$100 | 65c | 100 |
| >$100-$150 | 100c | 50 |
| >$150-$200 | 125c | 50 |
| >$200-$250 | 150c | 50 |
| >$250 | 200c | 50 |
Note 1: ETF Creation/redemption mechanism in the US
Creation/redemption is a feature of open-ended funds, including ETFs such as iShares funds. In the case of ETFs, a special mechanism exists which can only be operated by certain institutional investors in the US known as Authorised Participants (APs) who are able to settle complex baskets of securities. The creation/redemption process for an iShares fund is a primary market activity in the US as a result of 'in-specie' transfers of the underlying securities (making up the particular index) directly with the fund itself. This mechanism means that APs are able to meet daily market demand through the creation of new large blocks of iShares. The redemption process works in reverse by addressing over supply.
Note 2: Issuance/cancellation process of CDIs underlying iShares
The issuance process of CDIs is initiated when Australian trading participants request that new CDIs be delivered to them in Australia. A US market participant delivers the US iShares to Computershare Trust Company (CTCNA) in the US. CTCNA holds the US iShares that it receives and within a matter of hours issues CDIs (on 1:1 ratio) for delivery in Australia by the fund's local registrar Computershare. This facilitates the open-ended supply of ASX listed iShares to meet demand in Australia via the ASX. The cancellation process works in reverse and can address oversupply by cancelling CDIs in Australia and releasing the US iShares held by CTCNA.
