KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index closed lower on Thursday amid profit-taking in big-cap stocks, as investors shifted their focus to smaller-cap counters against the backdrop of weaker regional market performance. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 7.26 points or 0.43 per cent to 1,669.57 from Wednesday’s close of 1,676.83. The FBM KLCI opened 2.61 points lower at 1,674.22 and moved between 1,666.34 and 1,674.44 throughout the day. On the broader market, gainers led losers by 579 to 489, while 565 counters were unchanged, 1,016 untraded, and 12 suspended. Turnover was slightly higher at 2.79 billion units worth RM2.84 billion from Wednesday’s 2.73 billion units worth RM2.76 billion.
The US exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry, valued at $10.4 trillion, witnessed an eventful 2024, marked by record inflows and fund launches alongside near-unprecedented closures. Here's an overview of the year's key trends:
A Mixed Bag: Record Launches and Closures
- Closures: Nearly 200 ETFs shut down in 2024, approaching early-pandemic termination rates.
- Funds focused on ESG themes, China, and cannabis saw significant closures.
- Launches: Over 700 new ETFs debuted, marking a record second-consecutive year of launches.
- Successful launches included Bitcoin and Ether spot ETFs and leveraged single-stock ETFs targeting popular stocks.
Saturated Market Challenges
- The US market now hosts 3,900 ETFs, making it increasingly difficult for new funds to achieve scale.
- Many ETFs fail to meet the asset and trading thresholds required by institutional investors and trading platforms.
- The timeline for success has shortened significantly, with new funds now expected to show promise within 18 months, compared to three years previously.
Factors Driving the Boom
- Regulatory Changes:
- Securities and Exchange Commission rule updates in 2019 and 2020 eased the creation of actively managed and derivatives-based ETFs.
- White-Label Issuers: These firms streamline ETF launches, reducing the barriers for entrepreneurs to bring products to market.
The Fee War and Rising Costs
- Fierce competition among issuers has intensified a fee war, squeezing profit margins.
- New ETF issuers need at least $250,000 in working capital for the first year, excluding marketing expenses.
Success Stories: Niche Appeal
- Niche products, such as leveraged ETFs tracking MicroStrategy Inc. and single-stock ETFs from firms like GraniteShares, have thrived.
- Retail-focused marketing has proven more effective for many new ETFs compared to targeting institutional investors.
Outlook: Growing Challenges
- The ETF landscape continues to evolve, with barriers to entry lower than ever, but barriers to long-term success growing steeper.
- With more entrants and tighter competition, navigating the ETF market in the coming years will demand precision, innovation, and strategic marketing.
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