The funds cover the US, Europe, Japan, Pacific ex Japan, developed global and emerging markets.
The range of six Irish-domiciled (Icav) funds have fees starting at 0.06% for the S&P 500 fund and reaching 0.20% for the MSCI Emerging Markets fund.
The firm has also slashed its ongoing charges figure (OCF) by 1 basis point on three existing UK Oeic funds to align with pricing on the new cross-border range. The changes became effective on 1 April.
The US, Europe, World and Emerging Market funds are in line with the cheapest index funds on offer to European investors, while the Japan and Asia Pacific funds are cheaper than alternatives, Fidelity said.
However, ETFs still provide a cheaper alternative for passive exposure with Lyxor Asset Management last month launching the cheapest-cost product in Europe, bringing prices in the UK and Europe in line with US products for core exposure.
Fidelity International head of wholesale, John Clougherty, said: “While active management remains at the heart of our business, we know that investors want choice and value when it comes to investing, whether that’s through an active fund, a tracker or both”.
“We have led the market in recent years in driving down the cost for index funds and I am pleased we can once again provide UK investors with cheaper access to our market leading index range,” he said.
Fidelity’s announcement also brings these funds in line with its UK index fund which is one of the UK’s cheapest FTSE All Share trackers.
Sterling and euro currency hedged share classes will be available for the US, Global, Europe and Japan funds.
Performance fees
In October last year, Fidelity International switched to an innovative variable charging structure last year, returning back money to clients when its funds underperform and taking a performance fee from outperformance.
A Fidelity spokesperson told, Expert Investor’s sister publication, Portfolio Adviser that it has no plans to unveil unveil further changes to its charging model.
The Financial Conduct Authority said in its final rules and guidance on the asset management market study it did not wish to stymie innovation on performance fees as it launched a consultation that included a focus on the variable charging structure.
Moody’s this week said Fidelity International was well placed to weather changes announced by the FCA in its final package of remedies that would have an impact on compliance and operational costs and put further pressure on fees.
