Assets in ETFs and ETPs across the globe reached US$2.9 trillion in April, finds preliminary monthly data from research firm ETFGI.
Assets fell short of breaking through the US$3-trillion milestone, but the firm predicts that will occur in the next couple months. To date, the global ETP industry is composed of 5,719 ETFs and ETPs, with 11,077 listings from 250 providers that are listed on 63 exchanges.
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In April, ETFs and ETPs saw net inflows of US$10.6 billion—net new assets for the year so far total US$108.8 billion, a significant increase over the US$71.7 billion seen in in the first four months of 2014.
In particular, “market performance outside the U.S. contributed to the overall increase in assets invested in ETFs and ETPs, says Deborah Fuhr, managing partner of ETFGI. “Developed and emerging markets had a very good month, gaining 5% and 8%, respectively,” while the U.S. ETF market was up less than 1%.
Across the globe, fixed-income ETFs and ETPs gathered the largest net inflows in April (+US$9.8 billion), followed by equity products (+US$1.8 billion). Meanwhile, commodity ETFs and ETPs saw net outflows of US$1.1 billion.
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But, year-to-date, equity products have gathered the largest net inflows (+US$53.2 billion), followed by fixed-income ETFs and ETPs (+US$41.2 billion). Over the last four months, commodity offerings have seen net inflows of US$5.6 billion.
Canadian stats
Exchange-traded assets in Canada reached a new record high of US$69.9 billion in April, says ETFGI.
The Canadian industry has 360 ETFs, it adds, and includes 511 listings from 10 providers that are listed on one exchange.
In April 2015, domestic ETFs and ETPs saw net inflows of US$885 million, with fixed-income products gathering the largest net inflows (+US$701 million). They were followed by equity ETFs and ETPs (+US$56 million), while commodity offerings saw net outflows of US$24 million.
Over the first four months of 2015, Canadian ETFs and ETPs have seen net inflows of US$4.6 billion. That gain has been led by equity offerings (+US$2.1 billion) and fixed income products (+US$1.9 billion), while commodity ETFs and ETPs have posted outflows of US$63 million.
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U.S. stats
South of the border, ETF and ETP assets grew to US$2.1 trillion by the end of April, according to ETFGI. The industry includes 1,703 products, from 76 providers that are listed on three exchanges.
In April 2015, U.S. ETFs and ETPs saw net inflows of US$14.6 billion, with equity offerings gathering the largest net inflows (+US$11.3 billion). That was followed by fixed income (+US$3.7 billion), and commodity ETFs saw net outflows of US$1 billion.
Year-to-date, ETFs and ETPs in the U.S. have gathered a record level of net inflows of US$72.1 billion—more than double the record set at this time last year (US$34.9 billion).
This story originally appeared on the site of our sister publication, Advisor.ca.