Municipal bond ETFs – a progress report

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Municipal bond ETFs remain a small part of the tax-exempt market, currently holding about $12 billion of total assets, compared to $870 billion for muni mutual funds. But while long-term, tax-exempt mutual fund flows have turned negative (outflowing $1.3 billion in April), muni ETFs are on an asset-gathering roll. Total muni ETF assets have increased by about 50 percent over the past 12 months. Five muni ETFs have exceed the $1 billion asset mark, and each of the four leading sponsors in this market (Blackrock, Powershares, Nuveen and Market Vectors) now has a billion-dollar fund.

These facts and others are contained in a new analysis covering muni ETFs’ first five-plus years of growth, from inception in 2007 through the end of 2012. Authored by Municipal Market Advisors (MMA) and distributed by Market Vectors (Van Eck), the report may be accessed at Van Eck Global’s Muni Nation blog for 4/26/13.