MutualFundWire.com: BlackRock Predicts a Bond ETF Boom
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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

BlackRock Predicts a Bond ETF Boom


Fixed income ETFs are on the rise. New data from iShares [profile] parent Blackrock highlights the growth of this side of the business and some current hot ETFs, while another report ponders the rising importance of one specific fixed-income ETF niche, high-yield.

Johanna Bennett of Barron's highlights BlackRock predictions about the future growth of the fixed-income ETF business. The ETF titan expects a seven-fold increase in fixed-income ETF assets over the next decade, from $309 billion now to $2 trillion by 2022.

Separately, Brendan Conway of Barron's showcases a BlackRock report on the five hottest fixed-income ETFs launched in 2011 and 2012. They are:

  • the $2.2-billion Pimco Total Return ETF [profile], launched in March 2012;

  • the $600-million PowerShares Senior Loan Portfolio [profile], launched in March 2011;

  • the $425-million iShares Barclays Treasury Bond Fund, launched in February 2012;

  • the WisdomTree Asia Local Debt Fund [profile], launched in March 2011; and

  • the $360-million FlexShares iBOxx 3-Year Target Duration TIPS Index Fund [profile].

    Separately, Conway also ponders the growth of high-yield fixed-income ETFs. He notes that high-yield ETFs could be considered more "honest" than mutual funds because investors who pull back their money during chaotic market periods pay for their decision, while mutual fund investors who withdraw their money get the net asset value.

    Conway specifically mentions two high-yield ETFs, the SPDR Barclays Capital High Yield Bond ETF [profile] and the iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF, which felt the love from investors with a combined $7.3 billion of inflows this year, according to data from XTF.


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