Assets invested in actively-managed exchange traded funds (ETFs) and exchange traded fund products (ETPs) listed globally reached a record high of US$79.3 billion at the end of January 2018, according to a new report by ETFGI.

The research company’s January 2018 Active ETF and ETP industry insights report says this new record eclipses the previous one of US$75.2 billion set at the end of 2017.

The report, released Feb. 22, says this increase of $4.1 Bn, or 5.47 per cent, represents “the greatest absolute monthly increase in assets on record.” The previous record was set in June 2017, when assets grew by $3.19 Bn.

Growth driven by U.S. ETFs

ETFGI observes that the majority of this growth is attributable to actively-managed ETFs/ETPs listed in the US, where invested assets increased by $2.73 Bn over the month.

Fixed income and equity

With respect to asset class, assets invested in actively-managed fixed income ETFs/ETPs and equity ETFs/ETPs globally increased by similar amounts at $1.70 Bn and $1.69 Bn, respectively, reports ETFGI.