Total assets of ETFs/ETPs listed globally reached $2.93 trillion (£2.0 trn, €2.76 trn) at the end of the Q1. The US dominated the market with $2.09 trillion, Asia Pacific ex-Japan accounted for $119.6 billion and Japan at $109.3 billion, according to research firm ETFGI’s preliminary monthly report.
However, by the end of quarter the European ETF/ETP industry had assets of $492bn.
In terms of net new assets (NNA), the worldwide total grew by $95.99bn in the first quarter compared to an increase of $37.2bn in Q1 of 2014.
Products listed in the US garnered $57.53bn of net new sales, which is considerably higher than the $15.06bn gathered in Q1 2014. While ETFs/ETPs listed in Europe added $34.97bn, which was more than double the $11.17bn gathered in same period of 2014.
“With the ECB beginning QE investors have allocated the majority of net new assets to European equities,” said to Deborah Fuhr, managing partner of ETFGI.
“Developed (equity) markets were up 4% and emerging markets were up 2% in Q1, while in the US had a turbulent first quarter with the S&P 500 ending Q1 up 1%.”
European anniversary
The big inflows into European ETFs comes on the 15-year anniversary of the first listing of ETFs in Europe.
On 11 April, 2000 the Dow Jones STOXX 50 LDR and the Dow Jones Euro STOXX 50 DLRs were listed on the Deutsche Boerse, sponsored by Merrill Lynch International.
