Stay informed with free updates
Simply sign up to the Exchange traded funds myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.
Latest news on ETFs
Visit our ETF Hub to find out more and to explore our in-depth data and comparison tools
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, posted $17bn in net outflows in the Asia-Pacific region in the first half of the year, a contrast with its business in Europe and the Americas, where the US fund firm recorded net inflows.
The vast majority of Asia-Pacific redemptions to long-term investments came in the second quarter when the firm saw $16bn in net outflows, an acceleration of the $1bn in net outflows from the first quarter.
In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, BlackRock posted $56bn in long-term net inflows over the first six months of the year, including $36bn in the second quarter.
In the Americas, the US funds group recorded $89bn in long-term net inflows in the first half of 2024, of which $31bn came during the April to June period.
This article was previously published by Ignites Asia, a title owned by the FT Group.
The Asia-Pacific outflows follow a lacklustre performance in the first half of last year when BlackRock recorded $33bn in net inflows, and just $44bn in inflows for the full year. This represented a near 50 per cent decline from $87bn in the previous year.
In the first half of 2024, BlackRock’s total global net flows of $139bn were driven mainly by its exchange traded fund business, which accounted for $150bn in net sales and represented a “record start” to the year for the division.
Its institutional business suffered $35bn in net outflows over the same period, while its retail business posted $13bn of net inflows.
Globally, BlackRock posted record high assets under management of $10.65tn at the end of June, up 13 per cent over the previous 12 months and up 6.5 per cent from $10tn at the start of the year.
Its Asia-Pacific assets represent 8 per cent, or about $850bn, of its total global assets under management at the end of June, but only about 5 per cent of its $3.8bn in base fees.
*Ignites Asia is a news service published by FT Specialist for professionals working in the asset management industry. Trials and subscriptions are available at ignitesasia.com.