ETF assets predicted to top $2 trillion

Total assets under management globally in ETFs are expected to top $2 trillion by 2011, up from $669 billion as of June 30, according to a report by Morgan Stanley. The report noted some factors driving growth are larger allocations by U.S. and European investors because of regulatory changes; expansion of the types of ETFs available; and an increasing number of managers bringing products to market.As of Dec. 31, the U.S. remained the most active market, with 1,559 institutions using ETFs. The U.K. followed with 87 institutions; Canada, 77; Spain, 76 and Switzerland, 62 institutions. Emerging markets are expected to become strong players in the ETF arena as many countries explore the possibility of allowing investments in ETFs as they relax constraints on their institutional investors, Deborah Fuhr, managing director at Morgan Stanley and author of the report, said in an interview The most widely used ETFs worldwide as of Dec. 31, were SSgA’s SPDR S&P 500, with 1,067 users; BGI’s iShares MSCI-Japan with 681 users, and BGI’s iShares MSCI EAFE with 671 users.