Another, arguably more puzzling example, is the iShares MSCI Brazil Capped ETF (NYSEArca: EWZ). The largest Brazil ETF has lost almost $463 million since the start of April even though the fund has surged about 21% in just the past month. [Investors Miss out on Brazil in Preference for Mexico]
As for smart beta ETFs, there is plenty of evidence that the popularity of these products is on the rise. For example, in the past 30 days, four of the top seven PowerShares ETFs in terms of inflows are smart beta funds. That group includes the PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility Portfolio (NYSEArca: SPLV) and the PowerShares FTSE RAFI US 1000 Portfolio (NYSEArca: PRF).
WisdomTree (NasdaqGS: WETF) and FirstTrust have become the fifth- and eighth-largest U.S. ETF sponsors, respectively, due in part to lineups that comprised primarily of smart beta funds.
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF
ETF Trends editorial team contributed to this post.