What is the Principal FTSE China 50 ETF?
The Principal FTSE China 50 ETF (0823EA), ticker PAM-C50, is Malaysia's oldest and most direct ETF for gaining exposure to China's equity market. Managed by Principal Asset Management Berhad (formerly CIMB-Principal Asset Management), it tracks the FTSE China 50 Index — a benchmark of the 50 largest and most liquid Chinese companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
This means 0823EA gives you ownership of household names like Tencent, Alibaba, ICBC, HSBC, China Construction Bank and China Mobile — companies that collectively represent the backbone of the Chinese economy — all through a single trade on Bursa Malaysia in ringgit.
Unlike the TradePlus S&P New China Tracker (which focuses on consumption/internet names) or the VP-DJ Shariah China A-Shares 100 ETF (which targets mainland A-shares), 0823EA is a broad-market China ETF with heavy financial sector exposure.
The FTSE China 50 Index Explained
The FTSE China 50 Index, maintained by FTSE Russell, comprises the 50 largest and most liquid Chinese stocks listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). These include three share types:
H-Shares — Mainland Chinese companies incorporated in China but listed in Hong Kong (e.g., ICBC, China Construction Bank, PetroChina).
Red Chips — Companies incorporated outside mainland China but controlled by Chinese government entities (e.g., China Mobile, CNOOC).
P Chips — Privately controlled Chinese companies incorporated outside mainland China and listed in HK (e.g., Tencent, Meituan, Alibaba-W).
The index is cap-weighted and rebalanced quarterly. It is designed to represent the performance of mainland Chinese companies accessible to international investors — making it a cleaner, more liquid China exposure than domestic A-share indices.
Top Holdings
The FTSE China 50 Index is heavily concentrated in financials and internet giants. The top 10 holdings typically account for over 50% of the index.
| # | Company | Type | Sector | Weight |
|---|
Holdings are approximate and change quarterly. Source: FTSE Russell index composition. Verify current weights at principal.com.my.
Portfolio Breakdown
Sector Allocation
Share Type
Source: FTSE Russell. Approximate as at Q4 2025. The FTSE China 50 Index excludes mainland A-shares — all holdings are HK Exchange-listed.
Performance
| Period | Fund Return | Benchmark | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD (Jan 2026) | +0.61% | +1.14% | -0.53% |
| 1 Year | +13.85% | +13.38% | +0.47% |
| 3 Years | +20.12% | +17.18% | +2.94% |
| 5 Years | -17.13% | -19.83% | +2.70% |
| Since Inception | +50.77% | +26.26% | +24.51% |
As at 31 January 2026. NAV-to-NAV basis. Benchmark: FTSE China 50 Index. Source: Principal Asset Management Berhad.
The 5-year negative return reflects China's difficult 2021–2023 period (tech crackdowns, property crisis, COVID). The recovery since mid-2024 has been strong, with the fund outperforming its benchmark over most long-term periods.
How Does It Compare?
0823EA is the broadest and most established China ETF on Bursa. The key distinction: it holds HK-listed stocks (financials-heavy), while 0829EA focuses on internet/consumption HK names and 0838EA targets Shariah-compliant A-shares on mainland exchanges.
Fees & Charges
| Fee Component | Rate (p.a.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Management Fee | ~0.60% | Paid to Principal Asset Management Berhad |
| Trustee Fee | ~0.05% | Deutsche Trustees Malaysia Berhad |
| Index Licence Fee | ~0.05% | FTSE Russell licence |
| Total Expense Ratio | ~0.70% | Approx. total ongoing cost |
| Brokerage | 0.08%–0.10% | Per trade. Varies by broker. Stamp duty applies. |
Verify exact fee rates in the official prospectus at principal.com.my.
How to Buy 0823EA
0823EA trades on Bursa Malaysia Securities under the stock short name PAM-C50. You can buy it through any Bursa-connected stockbroker.
Step 1: Open a CDS account and trading account with a licensed broker (Rakuten Trade, moomoo MY, CGS International, RHB IB, Maybank IB etc.).
Step 2: Search for 0823EA or PAM-C50 in your trading platform.
Step 3: Minimum lot size is 100 units. At ~RM 1.40/unit, minimum investment is approximately RM 140.
Step 4: Place a market or limit order. Settlement is T+2.
There are no sales charges or redemption fees for secondary market trades — you pay only the brokerage commission (typically 0.08%–0.10% of transaction value, minimum RM 8).