Assets in exchange traded funds jump to record $6 trillion globally

Total assets in exchange traded funds jumped to a record $6 trillion (Dh22.03tn) globally by the end of October, doubling in size in less than four years, driven by a bull market in the US, independent research and consultancy firm ETFGI found.

Global ETF asset growth as of October 31 surpassed the $2.89bn levels of 2015, according to London-based ETFGI. The massive growth of the ETF industry is raising regulator concerns over their widespread use across financial markets worldwide.

"Regulators are concerned if regulations are fit for purpose given the growth in assets and types of ETFs," Deborah Fuhr, managing partner and founder of ETFGI, told The National. "They are monitoring the situation."