NYSE Arca · ETF
Invest in FBT ETF from India
Indian and foreign residents can buy First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT) units directly through Paasa.
By Paasa · Updated
FBT at a glance
- Price
- $272.86-$0.44 (0.16%)
- Expense ratio
- 0.55%
- Day range
- $271.09 – $274.39
- Assets
- $3.0B
- Domicile
- the US
- Holdings
- 30
- Launched
- 2006
- Dividends
- —
- 1 month
- -0.38%
- 6 months
- +43.44%
- YTD
- +30.18%
- 1 year
- +55.54%
- 5 years
- +59.88%
Price change, excluding dividends.
Top 10 holdings
- 1Natera, Inc.NTRA4.7%
- 2Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.HALO4.6%
- 3Illumina, Inc.ILMN4.3%
- 4NeoGenomics, Inc.NEO4.2%
- 5Repligen CorporationRGEN4.0%
- 6Corcept Therapeutics Inc.CORT3.8%
- 7Genmab A/S (ADR)GMAB3.7%
- 8BeOne Medicines Ltd. (ADR)ONC3.7%
- 9Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.REGN3.6%
- 10Gilead Sciences, Inc.GILD3.5%
FBT holds 30 securities in total. These 10 are 40.1% of the fund.
Where the money is invested
Countries
- United States83.3%
- Switzerland3.7%
- Denmark3.7%
- Germany3.3%
- Netherlands3.3%
- Ireland2.5%
Similar funds
| Fund | Expense ratio | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| FBTULSEFirst Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology UCITS ETF | 0.6% | 16.7M |
Assets are shown in each fund's own reporting currency.
How to invest in FBT 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 FBT and buy
Find the fund by its ticker, FBT, 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 FBT from India
What FBT holds
The First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) designed with a clear purpose: to accurately reflect the price movements and income generated by the NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index. Its core objective is to closely match the performance of this benchmark index, before accounting for the fund's operational fees and expenses.
Hold a dollar asset
FBT 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 FBT 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 FBT from India?
Yes. Indian residents can buy First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT) 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 FBT invest in?
First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund holds 30 securities. Its largest holdings are Natera, Inc. (4.7%), Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (4.6%) and Illumina, Inc. (4.3%). The fund is domiciled in the US.
What is the expense ratio of FBT?
First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund has an expense ratio of 0.55% a year, taken from the fund's assets rather than billed to you. The fund manages about $3.0B.
What tax do I pay in India when I sell FBT?
The US does not levy capital gains tax on shares for Indian residents. In India, gains on foreign ETF units held for more than 24 months are long-term and taxed at 12.5% without indexation, and gains on units held for 24 months or less are short-term and taxed at your income-tax slab rate. Both are 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 FBT unit?
Yes. You can buy by amount rather than by unit and add to your position over time. One unit is $272.86, and there is no minimum trade size.
What happens to my FBT 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.