ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm covering trends in the global ETFs and ETPs ecosystem, reported today that assets invested in ETFs and ETPs listed globally reach a new record of of US$ 8.56 trillion at the end of Q1. The US$136.20 billion in net inflows gathered during March are the second highest monthly inflows behind the prior record US$139.89 billion gathered during February 2021.

At the end of Q1, the year to date, net inflows are a record US$359.17 billion which are significantly higher than the prior record US$197.2 billion gathered during Q1 2017 and higher than the US$117.61 billion gathered at the end of Q1 2020.

Assets invested in the global ETFs and ETPs industry have increased by 2.9% from the prior record US$8.32 trillion at the end of February 2021, to the new record US$8.56 trillion at the end of Q1, according to ETFGI’s March 2021 Global ETFs and ETPs industry landscape insights report, the monthly report which is part of an annual paid-for research subscription service. (All dollar values in USD unless otherwise noted.)

Highlights

• Assets invested in ETFs and ETPs listed globally reach a record $8.56 trillion at the end of Q1 2021. 
• The $136.20 Bn in net inflows gathered during March are the second highest monthly inflows behind the prior record $139.89 Bn gathered in February 2021.
• Record net inflows year to date of $359.17 Bn at of end of Q1 are significantly higher than the prior record $197.2 billion gathered during Q1 2017.  
• Equity ETFs and ETPs listed globally attracted $113.79 Bn during March or the majority of net inflows.

assets invested in #ETFs and ETPs listed globally reach a new record of US$ 8.56 trillion at the end of Q1 @ETFGI #Read more at https://t.co/ExeczzKvh3

— Deborah Fuhr, ETFGI (@deborahfuhr) April 14, 2021

“The S&P 500® gained 4.4% in March and 6.2%  in Q1, supported by the increasing pace of COVID-19 vaccinations and continued monetary and fiscal support.   Global equities gained 2.5%  in March and 5.2% in Q1, as measured by the S&P Global BMI.  38 of the 50 countries advanced during the month and 35 were positive at the end of Q1.   Developed markets ex-U.S. gained 2.3% in USD terms in March and 4.0% in Q1.  Emerging markets were down 1.6% in USD terms in March and up 2.8% in Q1, as measured by the S&P Emerging BMI.“According to Deborah Fuhr, managing partner, founder and owner of ETFGI.

Global ETF and ETP assets as of the end of March 2021

The Global ETFs and ETPs industry had 8,893 products, with 17,714 listings, assets of $8.56 trillion, from 535 providers  listed on 77 exchanges in 62 countries at then end of Q1.

During March, ETFs and ETPs listed globally gathered net inflows of $136.20 Bn. Equity ETFs and ETPs listed globally gathered net inflows of $113.79 Bn during March, bringing net inflows for Q1 2021 to $274.04 Bn, greater than the net inflows of $69.52 Bn equity products attracted in Q1 2020.

Fixed Income ETFs and ETPs listed globally reported net inflows of $10.69 Bn during March, bringing net inflows for Q1 2021 to $33.04 Bn, much higher than the $7.92 Bn in net inflows fixed income products attracted in Q1 2020.

Commodity ETFs and ETPs listed globally suffered net outflows of $7.26 Bn, YTD in Q1 2021 they suffered net outflows of $6.47 Bn, while in Q1 2020 they attracted net inflows of $19.71 Bn.

Active ETFs/ETPs reported $13.35 Bn in net inflows in March bringing net inflows for Q1 2021 to $47.15 Bn, higher than the $7 Bn in net inflows active products attracted in Q1 2020.

Substantial inflows can be attributed to the top 20 ETFs ranked by net new assets, which collectively gathered $50.49 Bn during March. The pargest gainer was the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY US) which gathered $6.60 Bn in March.

Source: ETFGI