Exchange Traded Funds - A Global Phenomenon
The first fund that can be described as an 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*:
- Total assets under management of ETFs worldwide is US$891 billion
- There are now over 3,100 listings for ETFs around the world
- ETF assets under management is expected to reach US$2 trillion in 2011
*Source: ETF Research and Implementation Strategy Team, Barclays Global Investors, Bloomberg, August 2009
iShares
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.
