NASDAQ · ETF
Invest in ISTM ETF from India
Indian and foreign residents can buy iShares Strategic Metals ETF (ISTM) units directly through Paasa.
By Paasa · Updated
ISTM at a glance
- Price
- $30.98+$0.11 (0.34%)
- Expense ratio
- 0.49%
- Day range
- $30.58 – $30.99
- Assets
- $33.9M
- Domicile
- the US
- Holdings
- 87
- Launched
- 2023
- Dividends
- Distributing
Top 10 holdings
- 1BLK CSH FND TREASURY SL AGENCY18.9%
- 2CASH COLLATERAL USD BZUFT9.6%
- 3TREASURY BILL2.9%
- 4CRH AMERICA FINANCE INC 144A1.5%
- 5TREASURY BILL1.5%
- 6DUKE ENERGY CORP 144A1.0%
- 7KOCH COMPANIES LLC1.0%
- 8EATON CAPITAL UNLIMITED 144A1.0%
- 9FIDELITY NATL INFO SERV 144A0.9%
- 10NTT FINANCE AMERICAS INC 144A0.9%
ISTM holds 87 securities in total. These 10 are 39.3% of the fund.
Where the money is invested
Countries
- United States83.0%
- Canada6.7%
- Sweden2.2%
- Australia1.5%
- United Kingdom1.5%
- New Zealand1.4%
Similar funds
| Fund | Expense ratio | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| WENULSEWisdomTree Strategic Metals UCITS ETF - USD Acc | 0.5% | 330.1M |
Assets are shown in each fund's own reporting currency.
How to invest in ISTM 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 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.
Why invest in ISTM from India
What ISTM holds
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.
Hold a dollar asset
ISTM 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 ISTM 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 ISTM from India?
Yes. Indian residents can buy iShares Strategic Metals ETF (ISTM) through Paasa. It is listed on NASDAQ 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 ISTM invest in?
iShares Strategic Metals ETF holds 87 securities. Its largest holdings are BLK CSH FND TREASURY SL AGENCY (18.9%), CASH COLLATERAL USD BZUFT (9.6%) and TREASURY BILL (2.9%). It is a distributing fund domiciled in the US.
What is the expense ratio of ISTM?
iShares Strategic Metals ETF has an expense ratio of 0.49% a year, taken from the fund's assets rather than billed to you. The fund manages about $33.9M.
How are ISTM dividends taxed in India?
iShares Strategic Metals ETF is a distributing fund. It pays the dividends from its holdings out to you in cash. 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. 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 ISTM?
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 ISTM unit?
Yes. You can buy by amount rather than by unit and add to your position over time. One unit is $30.98, and there is no minimum trade size.
What happens to my ISTM 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.