ETF assets to hit $2trn

The global exchange traded fund (ETF) industry is set to explode, with assets projected to reach US$1trn and double in 2010, data from Barclays Global Investors (BGI) reveals. Although the continuing economic downturn has harmed some of the market, which is down 4.1% in the year to date, to $764bn, this compares favourably with the MSCI World Index. The rapid predicted growth of the assets was based on the changing ways institutional investors and managers view the asset class and the increasing acceptance of ETFs as a mainstream investment tool. Manooj Mistry, head of equity ETF str...