BlackRock said its iShares ETF business saw its largest ever rate of growth last year as investors embraced the products in greater numbers.
iShares organic growth accelerated to 19%, or by $246 billion in new flows. Growth in 2016 had been 13%.
iShares assets under management (AUM) closed the year at $1.754 trillion, including $1.33 trillion in equities and $427 billion in fixed income and commodities.
Ucits ETFs sold by iShares saw organic growth of 15% with a record $41 billion of net inflows from investors across Europe, Asia and Latin America.AUM in European iShares ETFs crossed $300 billion to reach $359 billion.
BlackRock said institutions were also drivers of growth as they had continued to expand usage of ETFs as financial instruments alongside swaps, futures, and single-name securities, and as a reference asset for over-the-counter and listed derivatives.
©2018 funds europe