Assets in U.S.-Listed ETFs and ETPs Hit New High: ETFGI

Assets invested in exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded products listed in the United States have reached a new record high of $2.17 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2016, according to ETFGI data.

This surpassed the previous record of $2.15 trillion set at the end of May 2015. According to preliminary data from ETFGI’s March 2016 global ETF and ETP industry insights report, the industry had a total 1,863 products from 94 providers on three exchanges at the end of Q1. This is up from 1,845 products at the end of 2015. In March 2016, ETFs and ETPs listed in the U.S. gathered net inflows of $33 billion, according to ETFGI. Equity gathered the largest net inflows with more than $22 billion, followed by fixed income with $8.38 billion, and commodities with $1 billion.

“U.S. equities rebounded in March ending the month up 7%,” Deborah Fuhr, managing partner at ETFGI, said in a statement. “Emerging markets and Developed ex U.S. markets also had a strong March, ending up 12.5% and 7.2% respectively. Based on comments from the Fed there is a growing belief that interest rates will be held lower for longer than previously anticipated. The European Central Bank cut rates and announced additional stimulus will begin in April, accelerating the rate of bond purchases from 60 to 80 billion euros per month.”

In March 2016, 17 new funds and products were launched by nine providers and 17 were closed.

According to ETFGI, iShares gathered the largest net ETF and ETP inflows in March with $14.78 billion, followed by Vanguard with $9.07 billion and SPDR ETFs with $5.76 billion net inflows.

Year to date, iShares gathered the largest net ETF and ETP inflows YTD with $16.5 billion, followed by Vanguard with $16.43 billion and SPDR ETFs with $7.64 billion net inflows.