iShares Strategic Metals ETF
iShares Strategic Metals ETF (NASDAQ: ISTM) is an exchange-traded fund listed on NASDAQ, trading at $30.13 (about ₹2,895 a unit) as of 29 Sep 2026, 4:00 PM ET. It has an expense ratio of 0.49% and holds 87 securities. Indian residents can buy ISTM through Paasa under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme.
Quote
Today's low
$29.82
Today's high
$30.18
52 week low
$26.11
52 week high
$37.54
ISTM opened at $29.85, closed previously at $30.09, and has traded between $26.11 and $37.54 over the past 52 weeks.
About
The iShares Transition-Enabling Metals ETF (ISTM) is dedicated to investing in critical metals that facilitate the global shift towards clean energy. This passively managed fund gains exposure to these essential resources, such as copper, aluminum, silver, nickel, zinc, platinum, and cobalt – all vital for clean energy technologies – through exchange-traded futures contracts. A dedicated committee meticulously selects these commodity futures, utilizing a blend of public and private data and reports that assess each metal's contribution to the clean energy transition, alongside considerations for their market availability, listing exchange, and liquidity. The portfolio of commodity futures is reassessed at least once a year, with quarterly adjustments made to their weightings based on their liquidity and global output. To qualify as a Regulated Investment Company (RIC) rather than a commodities pool, thus allowing it to issue Form 1099s instead of Schedule K-1s, the fund manages up to 25% of its commodity exposure via a wholly-owned subsidiary located in the Cayman Islands. Furthermore, the fund may hold short-term fixed income securities to serve as collateral.
Key statistics
Expense ratio
0.49%
Assets (AUM)
$33.2M
Holdings
87
NAV
$30.22
Avg. volume
—
1-year price change
—
5-year price change
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Price change excludes dividends.
Top 10 holdings
ISTM holds 87 securities in total. These 10 are 39.1% of the fund.
Where the money is invested
Countries
Similar funds
This is not an investment recommendation
How to buy ISTM from India
Indian residents can buy ISTM units through Paasa in three steps. Funds leave India under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme and the units are held in your own name with Interactive Brokers.
Open your Paasa account
KYC takes a few minutes: PAN, Aadhaar and address proof. Your brokerage account is opened in your own name with Interactive Brokers.
Add funds from your Indian bank account
Remit up to $250,000 a year under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Your bank converts the rupees to US dollars at its rate on the day you remit.
Search ISTM and buy
Find the fund by its ticker, ISTM, on NASDAQ, and place your order. Fractional units are available and there is no minimum trade size, so you can buy by amount.
Read the full guide: how to invest in ISTM from India
Trading and taxes when buying ISTM from India
Trading and limits
- Trading hours
- 9:30 am – 4:00 pm ET
- LRS limit
- $250,000Per financial year, under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme.
Tax for Indian residents
- TCS on remittance
- 20%Collected by your bank on LRS remittances above ₹10 lakh in a financial year. The TCS is adjustable against your income-tax liability.Adjusting TCS against your tax
- Capital gains in India
- 12.5% or slab rateGains on foreign ETF units held for more than 24 months are long-term and taxed at 12.5% without indexation. Gains on units held for 24 months or less are short-term and taxed at your income-tax slab rate.Capital gains explained
- Dividends
- Slab rateIt pays the dividends from its holdings out to you in cash, and dividends are taxed at your slab rate in India. The US withholds tax on dividends paid to Indian residents at the treaty rate; Paasa files Form W-8BEN for you, and the tax withheld can generally be claimed as a credit in India.Dividend tax explained
- US estate tax
- May applyUS-situs assets such as US-listed shares can be exposed to US estate tax for non-US persons.US estate tax calculator
Custody. Units are held in your own name at Interactive Brokers LLC and are SIPC-insured up to $500,000 in total, including $250,000 for cash.
FAQs
What is the ISTM price today?
iShares Strategic Metals ETF (ISTM) last traded at $30.13 on NASDAQ, as of 29 Sep 2026, 4:00 PM ET. That is ₹2,895 a unit at the 29 Sep 2026 USD/INR rate.
When does ISTM trade, in Indian time?
NASDAQ trades 7:00 pm – 1:30 am IST, so the close lands after midnight. The window shifts to 8:00 pm – 2:30 am IST when the US is on standard time. Orders can only execute during that window.
How big is ISTM, and what does it cost to hold?
iShares Strategic Metals ETF manages about $33.2M. Its expense ratio is 0.49% a year, deducted inside the fund. It launched in 2023.
What are ISTM's largest holdings?
The top three are BLK CSH FND TREASURY SL AGENCY (18.4%), CASH COLLATERAL USD BZUFT (9.7%) and TREASURY BILL (3.0%). ISTM's 10 largest positions make up 39.1% of the fund.
Does ISTM pay dividends?
Yes. ISTM is a distributing fund and pays the dividends from its holdings out in cash. In India they are taxed at your slab rate. The US withholds 25% tax on dividends before they reach you; Paasa files Form W-8BEN for you, and the tax withheld can generally be claimed as a credit when you file in India.
How are gains on ISTM taxed in India?
Units held for more than 24 months are long-term and taxed at 12.5% without indexation; units held for 24 months or less are taxed at your income-tax slab rate. The gain is worked out in rupees, so the currency move counts.
Can I buy fractional units of ISTM?
Yes. You can buy ISTM by amount rather than by whole unit, and there is no minimum trade size.