ETFs and ETPs listed globally gathered US$22.4 billion in net new assets in May which, when combined with a small positive market performance in the month, pushed assets in the global ETF/ETP industry to a new record high of US$2.55 trillion, according to preliminary data from ETFGI’s May 2014 Global ETF and ETP industry insights report. At the end of May the Global ETF/ETP industry had 5,283 ETFs/ETPs, with 10,293 listings, from 219 providers listed on 59 exchanges.

The ETF/ETP industry in many countries and regions also hit record highs in assets at the end of May 2014, including: in the United States US$1.8 trillion; in Europe US$459 billion; in Japan US$86.7 billion; in Canada US$63.2 billion and in the Middle East and Africa US$41.69 billion.

“In May investors invested net new money in almost equal amounts into equity and fixed income exposures with net new flows going into a broad spectrum of exposures from riskier EM equities to safer government bond products. The SP 500 ended May at an all-time high (1924). The SP 500 is up 5% year-to-date, while the DJIA is up only 2%. US stocks have advanced each month in 2014 except for January. During May developed markets gained 2% and emerging markets 4% with Asia showing strong performance, up 4%.” according to Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner at ETFGI.

In May 2014, ETFs/ETPs listed globally gathered net inflows of US$22.4 billion. Fixed income ETFs/ETPs gathered the largest net inflows with US$11.5 billion, followed by equity ETFs/ETPs with US$10.3 billion, while commodity ETFs/ETPs saw net outflows of US$565 million.

YTD through end of May 2014, ETFs/ETPs have seen net inflows of US$91.2 billion, which is less than the US$108.2 billion of net inflows gathered at this time last year. Equity ETFs/ETPs have gathered the largest net inflows YTD with US$47.9 billion, followed by fixed income ETFs/ETPs with US$35.9 billion, while commodity ETFs/ETPs have experienced net outflows of US$1.7 billion YTD.

In April 2014, iShares gathered the largest net ETF/ETP inflows with US$9.7 billion, followed by Vanguard with US$6.5 billion in net inflows, and Lyxor ETFs with US$1.4 billion in net inflows.