This will be the ‘year of the exchange-traded fund’ (ETF), according to provider, SPA ETF.

Thanks to many more ETF launches in 2008, providers will take a substantial amount of business from traditional fund managers, according to Daniel Freedman, director pf SPA ETF.

In 2007, there were 100 ETF launches across Europe and there are now more than 120 listed on the London Stock Exchange alone. The US currently has 533 ETFs with US$530.5bn invested in the products. Europe has 386 ETFs with a total US$125.9bn of assets under management, according to SPA ETF.

Freedman added: “A likely milestone for 2008 will be the advent of the first actively managed ETF being launched in the US. The efficiency that has helped establish the ETF platform may attract existing providers of actively managed funds to the ETF arena, as they look to protect their market share.

“In 2008 we also believe the US providers of ETFs will start to list in Europe and the rest of the world as they search for profitable avenues for future growth, improving the competitiveness and attractiveness of the ETF market around the globe.”