The company announced Monday its iShares business has led the global industry in 2012, boasting $85.3 billion in ETP market flows. Global ETP market flows for the entire industry totaled $262.7 billion.
iShares global assets under management reached $758.6 billion as of Dec. 31.
The iShares U.S. product line topped flows with $61 billion in new assets, surpassing the previous record for U.S. iShares ETPs of $591. billion in 2007. Globally, iShares captured 56% of all new money entering European ETPs, or $18.3 billion in net new flows, while in Canada it increased its assets to $42 billion.
The popularity of ETPs are fueled by regional regulatory developments, deepening ETP liquidity, and increasing awareness among investors regarding the benefits of ETPs, iShares explained in a press release.
Regarding iShares performance, Mark Wiedman, global head of iShares, stated that fixed income was a major contributor to record flows, adding that iShares captured $28.8 billion globally, or 41% of all new flows into fixed income ETFs.
"Fixed income was a key driver of flows globally, as investors of all kinds increasingly adopt ETFs as an essential instrument for accessing the bond markets," Wiedman said.
