NYSE Arca · ETF
Invest in CMBS ETF from India
Indian and foreign residents can buy iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) units directly through Paasa.
By Paasa · Updated
CMBS at a glance
- Price
- $47.22-$0.08 (0.17%)
- Expense ratio
- 0.25%
- Day range
- $47.22 – $47.48
- Assets
- $462.4M
- Domicile
- the US
- Holdings
- 456
- Launched
- 2012
- Dividends
- Distributing
- 1 month
- -2.36%
- 6 months
- -3.08%
- YTD
- -4.04%
- 1 year
- -3.67%
- 5 years
- -12.65%
Price change, excluding dividends.
Top 10 holdings
- 1FHMS_K117 A2 1.41% 08/25/20301.3%
- 2FHMS_K163 A2 5.00% 03/25/20341.1%
- 3FHMS_K108 A2 1.52% 03/25/20301.1%
- 4FHMS_K098 A2 2.42% 08/25/20290.9%
- 5FNMA_22-M10 A2 1.99% 01/25/20320.9%
- 6FHMS_K170 A2 5.00% 02/25/20350.9%
- 7FHMS_K173 A2 4.60% 09/25/20350.8%
- 8BBCMS_24-5C29 A2 4.74% 09/15/20570.7%
- 9FHMS_K157 A2 4.20% 05/25/20330.7%
- 10FHMS_K-176 A2 4.38% 01/25/20640.7%
CMBS holds 456 securities in total. These 10 are 9.1% of the fund.
Where the money is invested
Countries
- United States96.7%
- Other3.3%
How to invest in CMBS from India
Step 1
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.
Step 2
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.
Step 3
Search CMBS and buy
Find the fund by its ticker, CMBS, on NYSE Arca, and place your order. Fractional units are available and there is no minimum trade size, so you can buy by amount.
Why invest in CMBS from India
What CMBS holds
The iShares CMBS ETF's objective is to match the returns generated by an index that comprises only commercial mortgage-backed securities with investment-grade ratings.
Hold a dollar asset
CMBS is priced in US dollars, so a weaker rupee adds to what it's worth in rupees. The rupee depreciated over 85% against the dollar between 2010 and 2025.
Buy a fraction of a unit
Buy by amount, not by unit, and get the matching fraction of one CMBS unit. There is no minimum trade size.
Paasa handles the paperwork
Investing abroad brings paperwork with it: remittance filings, capital gains reporting, foreign asset disclosure. Paasa prepares all of it for you. Your India-ready tax reports arrive at year end, ready to file.
Planning to hold more than $60,000 in US ETFs? Here's what US estate tax means for you.
US-domiciled ETFs held in your own name fall under US estate tax rules. If your US holdings cross $60,000, the amount above that can be taxed at up to 40% when the account passes to your family.
A UCITS ETF tracking a similar market sits outside US estate tax.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy CMBS from India?
Yes. Indian residents can buy iShares CMBS ETF (CMBS) through Paasa. It is listed on NYSE Arca and trades in US dollars. Your money leaves India under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, and the units are held in your own name at Interactive Brokers.
What does CMBS invest in?
iShares CMBS ETF holds 456 securities. Its largest holdings are FHMS_K117 A2 1.41% 08/25/2030 (1.3%), FHMS_K163 A2 5.00% 03/25/2034 (1.1%) and FHMS_K108 A2 1.52% 03/25/2030 (1.1%). It is a distributing fund domiciled in the US.
What is the expense ratio of CMBS?
iShares CMBS ETF has an expense ratio of 0.25% a year, taken from the fund's assets rather than billed to you. The fund manages about $462.4M.
How are CMBS dividends taxed in India?
iShares CMBS ETF is a distributing fund. It pays the dividends from its holdings out to you in cash. Dividends are taxed at your slab rate in India. Paasa's dividend report lists the gross dividend and any tax withheld for each payment.
What tax do I pay in India when I sell CMBS?
The US does not levy capital gains tax on shares for Indian residents. Gains are taxable in India. Debt-oriented funds can be taxed differently from equity funds, so confirm your rate before selling. The gain is worked out in rupees at the USD/INR rate on the day you bought and the day you sold, so the currency move is part of the gain. Paasa's capital-gains statement gives you the figures for your return.
Can I buy a fraction of one CMBS unit?
Yes. You can buy by amount rather than by unit and add to your position over time. One unit is $47.22, and there is no minimum trade size.
What happens to my CMBS units if I pass away?
US-domiciled ETFs held in your own name fall under US estate tax rules. If your US holdings cross $60,000, the amount above that can be taxed at up to 40% when the account passes to your family. A UCITS ETF tracking a similar market sits outside US estate tax. Paasa's US estate tax calculator shows the exposure for a given portfolio value.