The first U.S. government’s first shutdown since the 1990s and the ensuing fear over a debt ceiling crisis did not deter investors from pouring a tidy $32.9 billion into exchange traded funds in October.
As BlackRock data indicate, the shutdown and debt ceiling threat loomed large last month. The world’s largest asset manager said the ETF industry saw inflows of $24.3 billion AFTER Oct. 17, when the government got back to work and the debt ceiling was raised.
“October Equity flows of $35.9bn included $18.0bn from US exposures. Flows into non-US exposures eclipsed $15bn for the second month in a row. Year-to-date Equity flows of $201.3bn are 72% higher than year-to-date 2012 flows of $117.0bn,” according to a research note from BlackRock.
Pan-European ETFs raked in $7.9 billion last month, the third straight month of record-breaking inflows while emerging markets funds saw $2.4 billion worth of inflows, indicating investors are starting to see some value downtrodden developing world stocks. [October a Banner Month for ETF Inflows]
While bond ETFs as a group saw monthly outflows, high-yield debt funds saw inflows of $2.8 billion in October, a 21-month high. [Junk Bond ETFs Loving a No Tapering World]
ETF segments that are showing impressive momentum in terms of inflows, include Pan-European funds, U.K. ETFs along with floating rate and high yield bond ETFs.
“High Yield has seen a burst of inflows of late. Flows had fluctuated throughout the year along with risk sentiment. The Fed’s recent decision to delay tapering helped to boost High Yield inflows as some investors displayed a renewed appetite for yield,” according to BlackRock.
BlackRock’s monthly flows update includes a look at risk sentiment, which the firm defines as dollar flows into or out of so-called riskier secrtors. “Currently the high risk group in US equities includes Small Cap Equities and ETPs that track Gold Miners while the low risk group includes Large Cap Equities and Preferred Stock ETPs,” said BlackRock. [Gold Miners ETF: Catching a Falling Knife]
Of the top 10 ETFs in terms of 2013 inflows, two are Japan ETFs and two are bond funds. Of the 10 worst ETFs for 2013 outflows, five are emerging markets funds. The hardest hit has been the SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEArca: GLD), which has bled $22.1 billion as of Oct. 31, according to BlackRock data.
“Year-to-date flows of $194.2bn remain on pace with last year’s record level, a strong proof point for the secular growth of the industry during what has been a volatile year,” said BlackRock.
Top-10 ETF Asset Gainers Through Oct. 31
Chart courtesy: BlackRock.
ETF Trends editorial team contributed to this post. Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of GLD.