April’s rally in domestic and international stocks contributed to a record $1.13 trillion in U.S.-listed exchange-traded products (ETPs), with assets rising 5.4% for the month, or flows of more than $22 billion, IndexUniverse.com reported Monday.
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE Arca: SPY), the world’s biggest exchange-traded fund (ETF), sucked in $2.75 billion in April, more than any other fund, according to data compiled by IndexUniverse.
“It’s clear by now that it’s only a matter of time before SPY becomes a $100 billion fund,” the IndexUniverse news release said.
Year to date, assets in U.S.-listed ETPs have jumped almost 13% from nearly $1.01 trillion at the end of 2010, reported IndexUniverse, which bills itself as the leading independent authority on ETFs, indexes and index funds. IndexUniverse.com and its publications cover product and market developments related to index funds, ETFs and index derivatives.
IndexUniverse pointed to unrest in the Middle East and the Federal Reserve’s low rate policy to explain stocks’ strong performance in April. In addition, investors pulled money out of bond funds in anticipation of a reverse of the Fed’s accommodative money policy.