ETFs cap off active month on the edge of $300b milestone

A combination of strong inflows, market performance and new product activity has seen the Australian exchange traded fund (ETF) industry edge closer to $300 billion in funds under management (FUM).

According to Betashares’ Australian ETF Review for the month of August, total ETF FUM experienced a $10.2-billion (3.52 per cent) increase from the previous month, hitting a new record high of $299.4 billion.

Product inflows recorded its second-highest and highest amounts ever seen in two consecutive months, with August following up July’s record of $5.8 billion with an elevated $4.9 billion.

The ETF market has jumped by 36 per cent or $79.2 billion, with August a particularly active month in terms of product launches after a small lull. Six new funds launched last month, including Betashares’ own S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF, the MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF, and the Global Aggregate Bond Currency Hedged ETF.

Cryptocurrency-themed ETFs were knocked off their performance throne by products focused on precious metals, with the VanEck Gold Miners ETF returning 19.7 per cent, followed by Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (19.33 per cent), Global X Green Metal Miners ETF (16.6 per cent), Global X China Tech ETF (15.15 per cent) and Betashares Ethereum ETF (14.25).

International equities maintained their lead over fixed income in terms of asset class inflows, recording just over $2.4 billion and $1.2 billion respectively, followed by Australian equities ($823 million), multi-asset ($217 million) and commodities ($139 million).

Over 78 per cent of the industry’s total FUM is still capitalised by five providers, including Vanguard (27.8 per cent), Betashares (18.8 per cent), iShares (16.8 per cent), VanEck (9.5 per cent) and Dimensional (5.8 per cent).