ETFGI, a London-based ETF research and consultancy firm, has released the results of its monthly ETF landscape report showing assets invested in globally-listed ETFs have grown 35.3% in the first eight months of 2017 to reach a new record high of $4.8 trillion. On current momentum, global ETF assets look set to reach $5tn in the next few months.

The importance of ETFs within an average investor’s portfolio has increased substantially over the past five years, according to the 7th annual survey of investor attitudes by Charles Schwab. Heather Fischer, ETF and mutual fund platforms, Charles Schwab, commented: “As investors have become more familiar with the versatility of ETFs, their confidence levels have grown.”

Exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded products listed globally gathered $43.5 billion in net new assets during July, bringing year-to-date (YTD) flows to $391.3bn and passing the $390.4bn recorded during all of last year, according to ETF industry consultant ETFGI. The strong demand for ETFs/ETPs during July marked the 41st consecutive month of positive net inflows for the industry.

Assets invested in smart beta equity ETFs/ETPs have reached a new record high of $592 billion at the end of June 2017, according to ETF industry consultant ETFGI. Smart beta equity ETF/ETP assets have increased by nearly 15% from $515bn during the first half of 2017.

Exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded products listed globally gathered record net inflows of $63.6bn in June and $347.7bn over the first half of this year, according to research by ETF industry consultant ETFGI. This marks a significant increase compared to the net inflows of $123.5bn recorded over the first six months of 2016.

Charles Schwab has filed a regulatory request with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list its first ETF since 2013. The fund, named the Schwab 1000 Index ETF, will track an in-house index composed of the largest 1,000 US stocks by market cap putting the fund in direct competition with ETFs that track the Russell 1000 Index.

Deutsche Asset Management has announced it is offering three new ETFs on Schwab ETF OneSource, the program that provides investors and advisors with access to commission-free ETFs. The funds provide exposure to US high yield corporate bonds, as well as emerging market and Japanese equities. Fiona Bassett, head of passive asset management in the Americas for Deutsche AM, said: “Investors now have greater access to a broader selection of our unique strategies through the Deutsche X-trackers ETFs, including high yield, comprehensive factor and equity.”

Exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded products listed in the US gathered $36.1 billion in net new assets during last month, a record amount for April, according to analysis from London-based ETF industry consultant ETFGI.

BlackRock Inc, the world’s biggest asset manager, on Wednesday reported double-digit profit gains as investors plowed money into lower-cost index funds, but the company’s share price slipped as revenue fell short of analysts’ expectations.

ETFGI, a London-based ETF industry consultant, has reported that assets invested in smart beta ETFs/ETPs listed globally reached a new record high of $560 billion at the end of February 2017, up from $534bn at the end of the previous month. Record levels of assets were also reached for smart beta equity ETFs/ETPs listed in the US ($499bn), Europe ($39bn), Canada, (13bn) and Asia Pacific ex-Japan ($5bn).