ETF assets hit all time high of USD858bn

Date: Monday, August 31, 2009
Author: Hedgeweek.com

Global exchange-traded fund assets hit an all time high of USD858bn at the end of July 2009 - 6.5 per cent above the previous all time high of USD805bn set in April 2008, according to a report by Barclays Global Investors.

At the end of July, the global ETF industry had 1,768 ETFs with 3,129 listings, assets of USD857.52bn, from 94 providers on 42 exchanges around the world.

Year-to-date assets have risen by 20.6 per cent, while the number of ETFs has increased by 11.1 per cent with 240 new ETFs launched and 74 de-listed. The average daily trading volume in US dollars has decreased by 23.9 per cent to USD61.3bn.

The number of ETFs listed in Europe and surpassed the US with 753 ETFs listed in Europe and 706 in the US. There are currently plans to launch 780 ETFs.

Globally, net sales of mutual funds (excluding ETFs) were USD5.3bn, while net sales of ETFs were USD49bn during the first six months of 2009, according to Strategic Insight.