ETFs

WisdomTree Investments notched a record quarter, setting new highs in assets under management, inflows, revenue and income, according to its earnings statement for the quarter ended March 31.

PIMCO's Total Return ETF has seen a healthy percentage gain in assets from inflows since the start of the year, and though it lags the amount flowing into its larger mutual fund sibling, the numbers show the 13-month-old exchange-traded fund is finding its own niche.

BlackRock Inc. officials announced Thursday morning that the company's iShares unit launched three new factor-based equity ETFs designed in conjunction with the investment staff of the Arizona State Retirement System and intended for use by institutional investors.

First-quarter inflows into exchange-traded funds totaled $53.1 billion, with $16.9 billion coming in March, according to a Morningstar report issued Thursday.

ETFs and other exchange-traded products saw a combined $73.4 billion in net inflows in the first quarter, raising total global assets in investments to $2.09 trillion, according to a report by research firm ETFGI released Monday.

Global exchange-traded product net flows were $70.1 billion in the first quarter of 2013, up 7% from the period a year ago, but down 9.7% from the previous quarter. Developed markets equity products saw the majority of net inflows with $60.5 billion, followed by fixed income with $11.6 billion. ...

The global exchange-traded product industry registered its best first quarter ever, amassing net inflows of $70.1 billion in the three months ended March 31.

Exchange-traded funds have a way to go before they become a mainstay on 401(k) menus, but greater awareness of fees is encouraging plan sponsors to consider them.

Although an oligopoly of three money managers dominates 84% of the U.S. market for exchange-traded funds, the relative newcomers to this fast-growing investment segment are capitalizing on their brand names and existing strengths as competitive advantages.

The New Jersey Division of Investment, Trenton, which manages investments for the $72.5 billion New Jersey Pension Fund, plans to transfer $1 billion from emerging markets exchange-traded funds to actively managed portfolios.

Although a recent McKinsey & Co. report predicts active exchange-traded funds will reach $500 billion by 2020, 61% of P&I Online readers do not agree.