The Paris Bourse celebrates 10 years of trackers
January 2001. All eyes on the United States, where already more than 100 such funds were traded, Lyxor, a subsidiary of Societe Generale, launched the first ETF in France. A fund that offers the same performance as the CAC 40, which is listed, and bought and sold on the stock exchange so as an action in minutes. A revolution for investors accustomed to having to wait at least a day to invest or withdraw from a conventional mutual funds. And quickly realized that the other advantage of this product: its price. The costs of managing an investment fund shares often exceed 1.5% per year. Those of a tracker on the CAC 40 are 0.25%.
Ten years later, this ETF (Exchange Traded Fund, the name International ETFs) is one of the 40 stocks most traded on the Paris Stock Exchange (the 36th in 2010). This is one of the largest equity fund French (over three billion euros in assets). And it has many competitors.Over 480 ETFs are now traded on the Paris, more than 1,000 in Europe. Investors have at their disposal to build on the ETF shares Russian, Chinese, Brazilian, but also on government bonds, corporate bonds … All indications are almost covered by one or more ETFs.
The most important (more than 6 billion euros), also managed by Lyxor, replicates the performance of the Euro Stoxx 50. In total, the outstanding European ETFs grazes 200 billion euros. Twice more than in 2008. The financial crisis has strengthened investor interest in these liquid products, so convenient when you have to invest very fast payday loans… or cut an urgent position.
A coveted market
Management companies are scrambling for a toehold so this growing market dominated by three heavyweights: BlackRock (branded iShare), Lyxor and Deutsche Bank.Credit Suisse, for example, has launched its first 45 ETFs on the Paris Bourse.
In Europe, the stock of these products is still low compared to those pension funds and mutual funds (2%). But across the Atlantic, it represents 10% of assets under management in funds. "If Europe reached the same level, ETFs could reach 525 billion there," said Nizam Hamid, head of Lyxor ETF in Europe.
And investors continue to subscribe. "Worldwide, the conventional mutual funds suffered net withdrawals of nearly $ 140 billion over the first ten months of 2010. ETFs, they have raised over $ 140 billion, "says Deborah Fuhr, global director of ETF research at BlackRock.
In the U.S., ETFs owe much of their success to investors."Over 50% of assets from individual investors," says Dan Draper, head of the ETF business at Credit Suisse. In Europe, however, are the institutional who made them successful. Individuals represent only 10% to 20% market share. But proponents of ETFs still cherish the hope of seducing them.
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