Assets invested in ETFs listed in the United States increased by over a third (34.3%) during 2017 to reach a new high of $3.42 trillion at the end of December, according to London-based ETF industry consultants ETFGI.
It was a record year for the country’s ETFs, which grew by $874 billion during 2017, over double the previous record of $419bn set in 2016.
ETFGI reports that the increase of 34.3%, from $2.55tn at the end of 2016, represents the fastest growth in ETF assets since 2009 when markets recovered following the 2008 financial crisis.
ETFs saw record net inflows of $468bn during the year, representing 68.0% more than the net inflows registered for 2016, and over double the average for net inflows over the previous five years.
The US is on track to chalk up two straight years of consecutive monthly net inflows, with $44.3bn gathered in December 2017 marking the twenty-third successive month of net inflows.
Almost 45% of total net inflows during the year can be attributed to the top 20 ETFs by net new assets, which collectively gathered $209bn during 2017. The most in-demand fund – the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV US) – on its own accounted for net inflows of $30.2bn.
The list of top 20 ETFs 2017 by net new assets is outlined below:
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV US). $30.2bn
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA US). $20.9bn
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA US). $17.5bn
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG US). $16.6bn
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO US). $15.0bn
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD US). $11.5bn
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA US). $11.2bn
iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG US). $10.8bn
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO US). $9.3bn
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI US). $8.3bn
Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT US). $8.0bn
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR US). $6.5bn
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY US). $6.2bn
Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH US). $5.8bn
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF US). $5.8bn
iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU US). $5.7bn
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND US). $5.4bn
Vanguard Value ETF (VTV US). $5.1bn
Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK US). $4.8bn
Vanguard FTSE All-World Ex-US Index Fund (VEU US). $4.7bn