According to Tom Keenan, Director iShares Australia, the upgrading of the equity ETFs is a boost for the product category.
"It's further evidence of the continued maturation of the Australian ETF market and the evolution of ETFs into the investment mainstream.
Mr Keenan said that iShares has registered a pick-up in interest in its international equity ETFs because of the strong Australian dollar.
"Australians have been taking advantage of the AUD's strength to shop online for consumer goods. The same recognition of the AUD's current buying power also seems to be influencing investment flows.
"We're experiencing increasing interest in our international equity ETFs, especially those providing access to the performance of the S&P 500, global mega-cap stocks and emerging markets," Mr Keenan said.
The 15 iShares ETFs upgraded by Lonsec include:
Australian shares
iShares S&P/ ASX Small Ordinaries (ISO)
Developed markets shares
iShares S&P Global Healthcare (IXJ)
iShares S&P Global Telecommunications (IXP)
iShares S&P Global Consumer Staples (IXI)
iShares S&P Asia 50 (IAA)
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) - Highly Recommended Index
iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH)
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF(IJR)
iShares Core S&P Russell 2000 (IRU)
iShares MSCI Hong Kong (IHK)
IShares MSCI Singapore (ISG)
Emerging markets shares
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets (IEM)
IShares MSCI Taiwan (ITW)
iShares MSCI South Korea (IKO)
iShares FTSE China 25 (IZZ)
