ETFGI Reports Assets Invested In ETFs And ETPs Listed In Asia Pacific (Ex-Japan) Reached A New High Of $186 Billion At The End Of August 2018

ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm covering trends in the global ETF/ETP ecosystem, reported today that assets invested in ETFs and ETPs listed in Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) reached a new high of US$186 billion, following net inflows of US$2.93 billion and market moves during August. Inflows during the month were primarily driven by products providing exposure to China, according to ETFGI’s August 2018 Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) ETF and ETP industry landscape insights report, an annual paid-for research subscription service.  (All dollar values in USD unless otherwise noted.) 

Highlights

• Total Assets in ETFs and ETPs listed in Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) reached a record $186 Bn in August.
• Net new assets gathered by ETFs/ETPs listed in Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) were $2.93 Bn in August.
• Fixed income ETFs/ETPs gathered the largest net inflows during August, while Leveraged ETFs/ETPs saw the largest net outflows.

 
“On August 22, 2018 the S&P 500 marked its longest bull market -  3,453 days, without a bear market - a 20% drop from the index’s 52-week high. August was a strong month for U.S. equities with economic strength and strong corporate earnings pushing the S&P 500 to reach record highs and gain 3.26% during the month and up 9.94% year to date.  Most non-US markets suffered declines during August due to investors’ concerns over trade tensions, Brexit, currency crises and a fear of contagion.  Developed markets ex US declined 1.44% in August while up 0.46% YTD, EM markets were down 3.51% and are down 0.81% YTD and Frontier markets were down 4.50% and are down 1.66% YTD.” according to Deborah Fuhr, managing partner and a founder of ETFGI.

At the end of August 2018, the Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) ETF/ETP industry had 1,294 ETFs/ETPs, with 1,450 listings, assets of $186 Bn, from 132 providers listed on 17 exchanges. Following net inflows of $2.93 and market moves during the month, assets invested in ETFs/ETPs listed in Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) increased by 3.78%, from $179 Bn in July 2018 to $186 Bn.

Growth in Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) ETF and ETP assets as of the end of August 2018


 
Fixed Income ETFs and ETPs listed in Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) gathered net inflows of $1.55 Bn in August, growing net inflows for 2018 to $6.14 Bn which is greater than the $1.33 Bn in net inflows at this point last year. Equity ETFs/ETPs listed in Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) gathered net inflows of $1.34 Bn in August, bringing net inflows for 2018 to $15.7 Bn, greater than the $2.61 Bn in net outflows at this point last year.
August marked the 9^th consecutive month of net inflows into ETFs/ETPs listed in Asia Pacific (ex-Japan), the longest period of consecutive inflows since January 2013, which lasted 10 months.

Substantial inflows during August can be attributed to the top 20 ETFs/ETPs by net new assets, which collectively gathered $3.70 Bn.  The CCB Cash TianYi Traded Money Mrkt Fund (511660 CH) gathered $577 Bn, the largest net inflows during August. 

Top 20 ETFs/ETPs by net new assets August 2018: Asia Pacific (ex-Japan)
 

 
Investors have tended to invest in core, market cap and lower cost ETFs in August.