ETFs Decrease by $17B in August

According to the most recent “ETF Snapshot” report from State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), Europe experienced inflows of $1 billion in August, increasing its year-to-date inflows to $8.3 billion. The Asia-Pacific region and Canada had minor outflows.

In terms of global performance by asset class, MSCI AC World IMI decreased 2.1%, while MSCI EAFE decreased by 1.3%. Emerging markets lost 1.7%, while emerging markets small cap fell 2.8%. U.S. large- cap, mid-cap and small-cap markets were all negative, falling 2.9%, 3.8% and 2.4%, respectively. The global aggregate decreased 0.5% and the global treasury ex-U.S. fell 0.3%. The U.S. high yield, U.S. aggregate, U.S. Treasury and U.S. corporate bond markets were all negative in August. The U.S. real estate investment trust (REIT) market was down 6.9%. Commodities were positive, with the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index gaining 3.4% and gold jumping 6.1%.

Global ETF outflows topped $16.7 billion in August. Equity had outflows of $9.4 billion. The equity outflows were driven by the developed-market large-cap equity category, with $11.4 billion in outflows. Fixed income had outflows of $6.5 billion, which were driven by outflows of $3.3 billion in developed market treasuries.

The top three families in the global ETF marketplace were BlackRock, SSgA and Vanguard. Collectively, they account for approximately 70% of the global ETF market.