State Street has filed to launch actively managed exchange traded funds (ETFs), another sign of interest in this sector of the market. The Boston-based provider has filed to register six ETFs that are actively managed.
Oliver Ludwig for Index Universe reports that the funds cover a range of assets in different classes, and also span the globe to cover international equities as well as domestic.
Over 99% of the more than $1 trillion in assets in ETFs is in index funds, and active equity funds have, by and large, hit the market with a thud. State Street entering this area of the market is pivotal, as the firm sponsors of two of the largest ETFs trading, SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEArca: SPY) and SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEArca: GLD). The move also puts the provider in competition with iShares, the largest ETF provider. [ETFs Gaining Traction With Active Managers.]
State Street managed about $2 trillion in assets overall at the end of 2010.
Ironically, one of the largest active ETFs is PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund (NYSEArca: MINT), which is a cash-substitute ETF. MINT has become the first actively managed ETF to break the $1 billion milestone. [PIMCO’s ETF hits $1 Billion With Active Success.]
Active ETF assets in the U.S. were up 20% as of March 2011, rising over the $4 billion mark, reports Shishir Nigam on Daily Markets.
Eaton Vance has been approved to start launching actively managed ETFs, Ignites reported Tuesday.
Tisha Guerrero contributed to this article.