Assets in ETPs have more than doubled since the end of 2008 as investors were attracted by the efficient and cost-effective fund structure. ETFs have an average expense ratio of about 0.55%, whereas the average expense ratio of equity funds was 0.79% at the end of 2011 and bond funds had an average 0.62% expense ratio, according to the Investment Company Institute.
Over the year, providers launched 176 new ETPs, including 104 exposed to equities, 42 in bonds, 18 in commodities, and 17 in the mult-class category.
For more information on ETF flows, visit our ETF performance reports category.
Max Chen contributed to this article.