ALPS, a DST Company focused on asset management and asset servicing, today announced the launch of the ALPS STOXX Europe 600 ETF, the first exchange-traded fund in the U.S. built to track one of the industry’s favored benchmarks for developed Europe stocks.

The Fund began trading on October 31, 2014 under the ticker symbol STXX.

STOXX Limited, a leading provider of innovative, tradable, and global index concepts, licensed the STOXX Europe 600 Index to ALPS specifically to underlie a U.S.-based ETF. There are 10 exchange-traded products (ETPs) available globally that track the benchmark, which accounts for about 90% of the market cap for developed Europe.

ALPS, a specialist in satellite and alternative investment strategies including MLPs, REITs, Commodities, and Private Equity, will serve as the Fund’s Advisor.

According to Tom Carter, President of ALPS Advisors, the STOXX Europe 600 Index’s liquidity, transparency, and rules-based methodology make it an ideal tool for investors and financial advisors.

“Simply put, the STOXX Europe 600 Index provides the broadest exposure to a broad range of European equities,” says Carter. “We’re particularly pleased to be working with STOXX Limited to bring the benefits of this innovative benchmark to the U.S. marketplace.”

Launched June 15, 1998, the STOXX Europe 600 Index represents the performance of companies across 18 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. The index’s 600 components include the constituents of the STOXX Europe 200 Large, the STOXX Europe 200 Mid, and the STOXX Europe 200 Small indexes.

“Licensing the STOXX Europe 600 for the first time for an ETF listed in the United States is an important step for us,” said Hartmut Graf, chief executive officer, STOXX Limited. “This new ETF shows that our products are gaining recognition in this important marketplace.”