Exchange-traded funds saw inflows of EUR3.87bn in September 2012, bringing total inflows for the year to EUR14.5bn with 66 per cent of inflows over the past three months, according to figures released by Lyxor.

Regional equities, especially Europe, continued to have strong inflows with EUR1.6bn representing 40 per cent of all inflows. The commodity area was also a feature with inflows of EUR1.63bn.

Fixed income had more modest flows compared to recent months with EUR366m of new assets.
 
Total AUM rose to EUR267bn at the end of September 2012 – a new all time high. The new high in AUM reflects both the renewed enthusiasm for equities based on Eurozone stability and new inflows.

Net inflows were EUR14.5bn with over two-thirds of this in the last three months, as momentum in ETF usage has picked up inflows of EUR3.87bn – the highest since July 2011.
 
After a long period of outflows the past four months has seen EUR3.6bn of inflows into European regional equities. Developed European and global products saw net new inflows of over EUR1.4bn, with emerging regional inflows of EUR168m.
 
Fixed income saw net inflows of EUR366m. The focus was on broad high yield with over EUR422m in September and year to date flows of EUR1.3bn.

Corporate bonds had continued inflows of EUR285m bringing year to date flows to EUR3.7bn as investors search for yield. For the first time in a year there were modest outflows from emerging market bonds
 
Country related ETFs continued to see outflows in September 2012. German equity ETFs continued their weak run with EUR429m of outflows bringing total 2012 outflows to over EUR1.5bn.

Italy had a fifth month of inflows bringing the recent total to EUR225m and there were also modest inflows into Spanish ETFs.
 
Emerging country products saw a second month of inflows. Overall for the year EM country ETFs have had modest inflows of around EUR546m.
 
Style strategies had modest inflows of over EUR100m. The main focus of style remains high dividend yield strategies. Over the past year flows in this area have been over EUR900m. In September there was EUR100m of inflows into value-based ETFs.
 
Alternative assets saw modest inflows in September. Overall inflows for the year have been EUR516m, predominantly in volatility and hedge fund ETFs.
 
Commodity flows remain dominated by precious metal inflows. September saw over EUR1.3bn inflows into precious metals, bringing quarterly inflows to over EUR3.0bn. Broad diversified commodities had a third month of inflows bringing the total to EUR470m. After seven months of outflows there were EUR154m of inflows into agriculture products.
 
Almost half (48.15 per cent) of assets under management are currently based on physical related products with 36.56 per cent on synthetic products.

The physical commodity area continues to grow and currently has 15.29 per cent of total assets under management.