Portfolio Update

BLACKROCK FRONTIERS INVESTMENT TRUST PLC All information is at 31 MARCH 2011 and unaudited. Performance at month end with net income reinvested One month Since launch* Sterling: Share price -9.7% -9.5% Net asset value +3.6% -4.3% MSCI Frontiers Index +2.8% -6.4% US Dollars: Net asset value +2.1% -1.6% MSCI Frontiers Index +1.3% -3.8% Sources: BlackRock and Standard & Poor's Micropal * 17 December 2010. At month end US Dollar Net asset value - capital only: 148.68c Net asset value - cum income: 150.34c Sterling Net asset value - capital only: 92.75p Net asset value - cum income: 93.78p Share price: 90.50p Total assets (including income): £88.9m Discount to capital only NAV: 2.4% Gearing: 0% Net yield: n/a Ordinary shares in issue: 94,766,267 Benchmark Sector Analysis Gross assets(%)* Country Analysis Gross assets(%)* Financials 25.6 Qatar 13.0 Industrials 21.3 Nigeria 12.3 Energy 15.3 Ukraine 9.8 Consumer Staples 10.5 Kazakhstan 8.6 Telecommunications 8.7 Saudi Arabia 8.2 Materials 6.9 United Arab Emirates 7.4 Consumer Discretionary 4.6 Romania 5.2 Utilities 3.8 Kuwait 4.7 Health Care 2.8 Iraq 4.6 Net current assets 0.5 Croatia 4.4 Panama 4.0 Jordan 3.1 Slovenia 2.1 Pan Africa 2.1 Argentina 2.0 Other 8.0 Net current assets 0.5 ----- ----- 100.0 100.0 ===== ===== *reflects gross market exposure from contracts for difference (CFDs) Ten Largest Equity Investments(in alphabetical order) Company Country of Risk Air Arabia United Arab Emirates Copa Holdings Panama Halyk Savings Bank Kazakhstan Hrvatski Telekomunikacije Croatia Kazmunaigas Exploration Kazakhstan MHP Ukraine Qatar Electricity & Water Qatar Qatar Navigation Qatar Saudi Arabian Amiantit Saudi Arabia Zenith Bank Nigeria Commenting on the markets, Sam Vecht, representing the Investment Manager noted; Markets The MSCI Frontiers Index was up 1.3% in March (in US Dollar terms). Performance across regions was mixed with no one region significantly outperforming. Bangladesh was the best performing market, up 12%, rebounding from the significant underperformance which it showed YTD. Romania also significantly outperformed, up 11%, continuing to add to gains already made this year following continued macro-economic improvement. A number of markets across the Middle East and North Africa including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and UAE saw strong gains (up 5.6%, 10.5%, 10.2% and 10.9% respectively) as fears of political disruption in these countries dissipated and local retail investors took the opportunity to buy stocks at very attractive prices. Despite a rally across some parts of the Middle East, those countries where political instability continues to build performed poorly. Sub-Saharan African markets performed poorly, within which Kenya was the worst performing market. The central bank raised interest rates unexpectedly, a sharp U-turn from their previous loose fiscal stance, as rising oil prices led to higher inflation expectations and increased fears over the funding of the current account deficit. The Nigerian market fell as investors took profits in advance of the Nigerian election process which starts in early April. Performance The BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust NAV rose by 2.1% in March (in US Dollar terms), again showing strong performance relative to the Index. The portfolio was positioned well across geographies. Overweight positions in Romania and Saudi Arabia together with underweight positions in Kuwait, Argentina and Kenya contributed strongly to performance. Stocks which outperformed this month included Qatar utility stock, Qatar Electricity and Water, which rebounded from oversold levels as the Qatar government reaffirmed their $125bn development spending plans. UAE construction company, Arabtec, rose along with the overall UAE market as fears of political instability dissipated and strong signs of recovery in the non-oil sector of the economy emerged. Romanian holding company, SIF 2 Moldova, rallied on macro-economic improvements and ongoing talk of a BCR stake sale. Detractors from performance included Ukrainian agricultural company, Kernel, which fell as the company raised capital to complete an acquisition and Firstbank of Nigeria which fell as investors took profits in the run up to results. Activity The Company is currently holding positions in 46 stocks across 18 markets. As of 31st March, the Company was fully invested. Over the month the Company has increased exposure to Nigeria on the view that stocks had sold off too aggressively in advance of the elections. The Company initiated small positions in Pakistan where we see an improvement in macro-economic activity and invested in a stock trading below replacement value. In Argentina, we bought a company with US dollar revenues which trades on a PE of 9x with an 8% dividend yield. Outlook It is our view that Frontier Markets offer the most attractive opportunity within the broader emerging market universe. The combination of the countries in the world with the fastest growth, the best demographics and the lowest debt /GDP ratios should prove to be highly supportive. We note that equity valuations in the investment trust are low compared to both emerging markets and developed markets despite the far higher corporate earnings growth prospects. Following a period of significant under performance, we would not be surprised to see increased capital allocation towards the asset class during 2011. Despite some signs of political tension dissipating, we continue to watch the Middle East very closely. Our expectation is that Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar, given their wealth, will be relatively unimpacted by the challenges facing other countries in the region. Despite having benefited from the rally seen over the last month, we continue to believe that valuations are extremely compelling. We remain cautious on the outlook for those markets where a regime change has taken place or is likely to take place, such as Tunisia and Bahrain. That said should our relatively benign political view change, we will act in shareholders' interests and reduce the fund's exposure to the Middle East region. The Company's portfolio will remain underweight Kuwait, where valuations are expensive and growth prospects are less compelling and Bangladesh, where despite the significant market correction, stocks still look expensive. In contrast, we continue to look to add positions in South East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, we strongly believe that the outlook for frontier markets as an asset class is robust and we see significant upside for the holdings in the Company's portfolio. 11 April 2011 ENDS Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.co.uk/its on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the Manager's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
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