Net new asset flows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded products (ETPs) reached US$35.8 billion in October, according to new data from ETFGI. However, the Canadian industry saw net outflows during the month.

The firm reports that global net new asset inflows for the ETF/ETP industry during the month pushed year-to-date net inflows to US$233.0 billion, surpassing the previous high of US$205.2 billion for the first 10 months of 2013.

ETFGI reports that its research finds ETFs listed in Canada saw net outflows of US$85 million in October. For the year-to-date, Canadian funds have recorded net inflows of US$6.0 billion.

On a global basis, ETFGI reports that the ETF/ETP industry generated a record level of net new assets into fixed income products in October, with US$20.3 billion worth. This surpassed the prior high of US$16.2 billion, which was set in February of this year. Equity inflows came in at US$12.7 billion, and the commodity sector had net outflows of US$833 million, the firm reports.

For Canada, equity ETFs/ETPs experienced net outflows of US$537 million; fixed income products gathered net inflows of US$319 million; and, commodity ETFs/ETPs managed net inflows of US$13 million.

“October was a challenging month with increasing macroeconomic concerns over deflation fears in Europe, the ECB’s stimulus program, Germany cutting GDP forecasts due to “geopolitical crisis”, dismal employment figures in France, 25 of around 130 European banks having reported to have failed the ECB’s “stress test”, and questions over the U.K.’s continued membership in the European Common Market,” noted ETFGI managing partner, Deborah Fuhr.

“At the end of the month the markets reacted positively to the Bank of Japan’s announcement of new annual purchasing targets of ¥80 trillion in bonds and ¥3 trillion in ETFs. The S&P 500 reached a new record, 2,017, which is up 1.2% for the month and 9.2% for the year. Developed markets ended the month down 2% while emerging markets gained 2%,” Fuhr said.

Total assets for the global ETF/ETP industry finished the month at US$2.68 trillion, which is down slightly from the record high of US$2.7 trillion at the end of August. At the end of October, the Canadian ETF/ETP industry had total assets of US$65 billion.

ETFGI says that iShares gathered the largest net inflows in October at US$21.1 billion, followed by Vanguard at US$9.4 billion, and Nomura AM with US$2.2 billion.

In Canada, BMO AM led the way with US$759 million of net inflows, followed by Mirae Horizons with US$163 million, and Vanguard with US$156 million net inflows. BMO also leads the way on a year to date basis, followed by Vanguard and First Asset.