How does a swap-based ETF work?
ETFs replicate benchmark indices in different ways: physically, and synthetically – also known as a swap-based approach. Find out how a swap-based ETF works.
European ETFs gathered US$373bn in 2025, with US$98bn in Q4 alone.
Emerging markets and Europe gained momentum in Q4, pushing the US down the rankings.
Cash‑focused fixed income and commodities, beyond gold, saw strong year‑end demand.
Monthly flows into European ETFs maintained their impressive streak into year-end, with the US$98 billion in net new assets (NNA) gathered in Q4 taking the full-year total to a record-breaking US$373 billion. Total AUM closed 2025 at US$3.18 trillion, up 40% year-on-year.
Although broad asset class flows observed in December were almost perfectly aligned with the full-year breakdown – 74% into equities, 21% into fixed income and 5% into commodities – Q4 paints a slightly different picture, particularly when you look beneath the surface.
Global equity exposures dominated flows throughout the year, but demand for emerging market equities accelerated in Q4, pushing the US into third place. The US fell even further when isolating December, as demand for European equities saw a clear resurgence.
Fixed income punched above its weight relative to the rest of the year. Cash management exposures, such as overnight return swap ETFs, continued to capture the lion’s share, likely reflecting stretched equity valuations and ongoing economic uncertainty.
Despite outflows from physical gold ETPs in October, commodity flows turned positive in the final two months, ending the year on a high. Alongside gold ETPs, physical silver and broad commodity exposures also saw increased demand into year-end.
ETFs replicate benchmark indices in different ways: physically, and synthetically – also known as a swap-based approach. Find out how a swap-based ETF works.
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