Assets invested in ETFs/ETPs listed in Europe reached a new record high of $620 billion at the end February 2017, surpassing the prior record of $599bn set at the end of January 2017.

February marked the 30th consecutive month of net inflows for ETFs/ETPs listed in Europe.

ETFs/ETPs listed in Europe gathered $12.4bn of net new assets in February, marking the 30th consecutive month of net inflows, according to research from London-based ETF industry consultant ETFGI. The figures indicate that $9bn appreciation of existing ETFs/ETPs, driven by strong performance in global equity markets, contributed to the new record.

Deborah Fuhr, managing partner and co-founder of ETFGI, commented: “The US equity market performed strongly in February with the S&P 500 up 4.0% and the DJIA was up 5.2%. International equity markets continued to perform well in February with the S&P Developed Ex-US BMI up 1.4% while the S&P Emerging BMI was up 3.5%.

Record levels of assets were also reached at the end of February 2017 for ETFs/ETPs listed globally at $3.844 trillion, in the United States at $2.758tn, in Asia Pacific ex Japan at $136bn, Japan at $198bn and in Canada at $91bn.

Echoing the concerns of analysts globally, Fuhr noted several risk factors that may act as headwinds to equity markets driving global ETF/ETP AUM higher. She said: “There are significant upcoming political and economic events that investors will be watching in Europe in the next two months: the first round of the French election, a Dutch general election, the beginning of the UK’s “Brexit” negotiations and, officials from the EU and the IMF are once again locked in negotiations over the Greek bailout.”

Total year to date (YTD), net inflows for Europe-listed ETFs/ETPs stand at $24.0bn

Equity ETFs/ETPs gathered net inflows of $7.1bn in February, bringing YTD net inflows to $14.6bn; fixed income ETFs/ETPs experienced net inflows of $2.5bn in February, growing YTD net inflows to $4.8bn; and commodity ETFs/ETPs accumulated net inflows of $2.0bn in February, raising YTD net inflows to $3.4bn.

iShares was the most successful gatherer of net new assets with $3.9bn and $7.2bn in net inflows during February and YTD respectively, followed by Lyxor with $2.6bn and $3.7bn, and Amundi ETF $1.7bn and $2.4bn net inflows.

At the end of February 2017, the European ETF/ETP industry had 2,233 ETFs/ETPs, with 7,025 listings from 58 providers listed on 25 exchanges in 21 countries.