Assets
under management in Barclays Global Investors’ iShares unit have grown $44
billion in 2005, said Lee Kranefuss, who runs the iShares operation for
Barclays. The growth of the Barclays’ ETF unit third among U.S. mutual fund companies.
What’s new
for 2006? Kranefuss hopes to build on the early success of Barclays’ first
commodities ETF, COMEX
Gold Trust and plans to launch a new silver ETF as well as a commodities ETF
that will mimic the Goldman Sachs Commodities Index.
Right now,
all ETFs are structured as index funds. But Kranefuss thinks actively-managed
ETFs are on the horizon.
First,
though, the industry must solve what he calls the disclosure problem. Under SEC
rules, ETFs must disclose their holdings on a daily basis, as compared to every
six months for traditional mutual funds.
The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.