Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in Asia-Pacific ex-Japan continued to scale new heights, with assets hitting a record US$979.28 billion at the end of July, according to independent research and consultancy firm ETFGI.
Net inflows reached US$48.96 billion for the whole month, propelling the year-to-date total to US$191.13 billion. It was the 37th consecutive month of net inflows for the region.
Equity ETFs led the way, attracting US$35.83 billion in July and pushing year-to-date net inflows to US$138.23 billion, three times higher than last year’s figure for the same period. Fixed income ETFs followed suit, registering US$7.05 billion in net inflows, bringing their year-to-date total to US$37.88 billion.
Commodities and active ETFs also joined the rally, with net inflows for the month at US$480.63 million. Year-to-date net inflows reached US$3.87 billion, significantly higher than the US$239.84 million total for the same period in 2023.
Deborah Fuhr, ETFGI’s managing partner and founder, highlights the broader market dynamics underpinning the growth: “The S&P 500 index rose by 1.22% in July and is up 16.70% year-to-date in 2024. This positive momentum in global markets, combined with robust performances in emerging markets like Greece and the UAE, has fuelled investor confidence in the Asia-Pacific region,” she says.
The ETF industry now claims 3,474 products across 21 exchanges in 15 countries, a testament to its expanding influence. The Huatai-PineBridge CSI 300 ETF stood out, securing the largest net inflow of US$7.06 billion.