Global assets in exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded products jumped by 36 percent in 2017 to an all-time record of $4.83 trillion, according to ETFGI, a London-based ETF/ETP industry research and consulting firm.
Last year saw record net inflows of nearly $654 billion into global ETFs and ETPs, a 67.4 percent jump over the prior year and more double the average for net inflows over the previous five years.
A large chunk of the flows went into the top 20 ETFs by net new assets, which collectively garnered $228.5 billion during 2017. The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) by itself accounted for net inflows of $30.2 billion.
December was the 47th straight month of net inflows into globally-listed ETFs/ETPs, at almost $54 billion.
Someday, the parabolic curve-like growth of the ETF/ETP industry will have to start leveling off. For now, that doesn’t seem to be on the immediate horizon.