Buying funds,,why so many indentifiers eg ISIN,SEDOL,Mex etc

C_Mababejive

is there a reason why we dont have one system and one identifier? it creates confusion. Also why dont we have a website which translates one identifier into all the others it is known by.

I am currently looking at MEX:VVFUSI which confusingly appears to be a Vanguard acc fund but has an I o the end whereas the income version of the same fund has an A on the end of its MEX code i think. Why not just stick to ISINs..?

SonOf

Originally, codes were issued to certain asset types by different companies. So, they it all started with in-house ways to identify certain funds and investments. Some wouldn't have a code on certain methods. Over time, the lesser methods dropped away and you are left with the main identifiers with about four (ISIN, Mex, Citi and Sedol).

Why not just stick to ISINs..?

If that is your preferred method, then you can do that and ignore the rest.

C_Mababejive

yes bit different platforms use different codes. If i go look at the KIID it may not list all the codes it may not list all the codes a particular fund is known by. Its time they standardised or the industry provided a lookup directory

Mr.Saver

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Why not just stick to ISINs..?

Because a security trading on multiple exchanges and denominated in different currencies will have the same ISIN on each.

E.g.: an ETF trading on both LSE in GBP and NYSE in USD would have the same ISIN, but you can't but the same EFT from LSE using GBP and then sell it on NYSE for USD.