The first half of 2017 was kind to emerging markets and the related exchange traded funds. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEArca:VWO) and the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEArca:EEM), two of the largest emerging markets ETFs, are surging and gathering assets at a rapid rate.
The same sentiments apply to the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEArca:IEMG), the low cost alternative to EEM. The weaker dollar has been helping emerging markets assets this year and many bond traders believe the Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates next month and it is possible the Fed will not do so again this year.
“The weaker dollar has been helping emerging markets assets this year and many bond traders believe the Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates next month and it is possible the Fed will not do so again this year,” reports Reuters. “The Institute for International Finance estimates that total inflows in June were down slightly from $20.2 billion in May, with about $13 billion flowing into debt and $5 billion to equity markets, respectively.”
Year-to-date, only one ETF has added more new assets than the $10.9 billion added by IEMG. VWO, the largest emerging markets ETF by assets, has seen 2017 inflows of $5.4 billion. Only seven ETFs, including IEMG, have added more new assets than VWO.