No doubt the U.S. leads the pack when it comes to exchange traded funds (ETFs) in terms of assets under management and the number available. But as the rest of the world picks up on the advantages they offer, the availability of ETFs and assets flowing into them will continue to grow by leaps and bounds.

The most exciting part of a report issued by Morgan Stanley is their forecast that by 2011, assets in ETFs worldwide could top $2 trillion, thanks to their growing popularity.

The report also said, according to HedgeWeek, that the number of ETFs available worldwide stood at 1,137, assets in them totaled $773.2 billion and they were listed on 42 exchanges.

The U.S. had 583 ETFs at the end of the month, with assets totaling $550.2 billion. Europe has the second most: 412 ETFs with $134.8 billion in assets.

Tags: Europe