February ETF Stats: Growth Resumes
The ETF industry has resumed its growth pattern after gaining $20 billion in new assets during February. Exchange traded products now hold $765 billion in assets under management, up from $745 billion in January. In the month February, 363 exchange traded products saw net inflows while 267 saw net outflows.
The S&P 500 SPDR (NYSE: SPY) led the way in terms of new investments, gaining $1.5 billion in new cash during February after seeing $16 billion during January. SPY has $70 billion in assets, making it the largest ETF by a wide margin. The SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD) is a distant second with $40 billion in assets.
The iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index (NYSE: EEM), the most heavily traded emerging markets ETFs, continues to see its primary rival, the Vanguard Emerging Markets ETF (NYSE: VWO) pilfer investments. EEM lost $2.4 billion last month while VWO gained $1.1 billion in new investments. EEM leads all ETFs in terms of net outflows in 2010.
Vanguard ETFs gained $2.2 billion in new inflows last month. State Street Global Advisors gained $2.7 billlion. Inverse and leveraged ETF issuers Direxion ($299 million), ProShares ($860 million) and PowerShares ($620 million) all gained new inflows. iShares ETFs shed $2.2 billion.
The iShares Barclays TIPS Bond ETF (NYSE: TIP) was next in line behind VWO in terms of new inflows with $1.6 billion. The iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Credit Bond ETF (NYSE: CSJ) gained $643 while the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NYSE: BND) at $640 million and rounded out the top five inflow leaders during February.
