Global ETPs attracted USD40.1bn to lift year-to-date asset gathering into record territory at USD267.9bn, with investors returning to equities after October’s stock market correction boosted fixed income.
That’s according to the latest BlackRock ETO Landscape report, which reveals that US equities brought in USD36.1bn concentrated in large cap funds, as the outlook for the US economy improved and slowing global growth led to accommodative central bank activity in other regions
Japanese equity ETPs listed in the US and Europe accumulated USD4.1bn in response to announcements of expanded stimulus and GPIF equity purchases, though Japan-listed funds saw offsetting outflows following a significant stock rally
The start of ECB bond purchases, and commitment to further action should inflation fail to adjust upward, helped European fixed income inflows reach USD2.0bn, predominantly in investment grade corporate debt
China’s surprise interest rate cut in a bid to support economic growth was welcomed by the market and brought an uptick in flows for US and European-listed ETPs, though the outflow streak for China-listed funds extended into a third month
Ursula Marchioni, Head of ETP Research EMEA at iShares, says: “The global ETP industry recorded USD40.1bn of inflows in November, the strongest month this year. This brings year-to-date flows to almost USD270bn making 2014 the best year ever in the ETP industry’s history, surpassing the previous record of USD262.7bn recorded in 2012. US equity exposures accounted for almost all inflows this month, but US and European listed Japanese equity ETPs also gathered strong flows of over USD4.0bn following expansive monetary stimulus and GPIF asset allocation announcements.
“The European ETP industry has seen YTD inflows topping USD60bn, making Europe the region with the highest organic growth rate for the year globally. Despite weakness in the European economy, investors have increasingly been utilising ETPs as their investment vehicle of choice. Encouraged by the ECB’s dovish monetary policy, Europe-listed fixed income ETPs have seen over USD25bn of inflows this year.”
