Assets held in exchange-traded funds reached $994.5 billion by the end of 2010, according to data compiled by the
This compares to the $927.6 billion held in ETFS at the end of November, as reported on December 30 by the Investment Company Institute, the trade group. That compared to $923.5 billion at the end of October 2010 and $737.9 billion at the end of November 2009.
The NSX tally is a close mirror and a first glimpse of final year-end figures. For instance, NSX showed $782.2 billion in ETFs at the end of 2009; ICI put it at $771. billion.
Through 11 months of 2010, ICI had growth at 19.4%. The NSX figures show full-year growth of 27.1%
That is still down from 46.3% growth a year ago. But it's a big swing from 2008, when assets held in ETFs fell 13.5%, to $534.5 billion.
Clearly, though, investments in ETFs are slowing down.
The biggest exchange-traded fund remains State Street's SPDR S&P 500, with $89.8 billion held.