ETFs - A Global Phenomenon
The first fund that can be described as an exchange traded fund (ETF) was launched in the US in 1993. Steady growth ensued and by 1997 total assets under management in ETFs approached US$8.2 billion.
Since then, the ETF market has taken off. The message of cost-effective, diversified investing has hit home, making ETFs an ideal vehicle for modern investment strategies.
Fuelled by institutional, intermediary and individual investor demand, the worldwide growth of Exchange Traded Funds over the last ten years has been phenomenal*:
- Global ETF assets hit US$1 trillion at the end of December 2009
- There are 1,947 ETFs with 3,787 listings globally
- There are 110 providers on 40 exchanges throughout the world
*Source: ETF Landscape Industry Review, December 2009, BlackRock.
iShares Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
iShares are the world's leading family of ETFs accounting for around 50% of the ETF market worldwide. There are over 360 iShares listed on major stock exchanges in countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
