Sunday, 22nd November 2009

 

5 January 2009 - David Bain

Swiss investors pile into ETFs, bonds

Data from the Swiss Stock Exchange showed investors increased their appetite for exchange traded funds and Swiss bonds in 2008, whereas demand for equities and structured products had one of their worst years.

ETF turnover on the Swiss Exchange rose more than 36% last year to SFr39.4bn. Demand for ETFs was underlined by the very active trading in them, rising more than 64% in 2008.

Swiss bonds were also popular with investors and turnover rose 24% to SFr189.7bn last year.

The global sell off in equities was mirrored on the Swiss Exchange, where turnover in equities and mutual funds fell 27% to SFr1.6 trillion.

Demand for structural products was also hit by investors eschewing complicated investment products, with the Swiss Exchange data showing a fall in turnover of just under 20% for these products and warrants to SFr60.4bn in 2008.

The Swiss stock market’s main exchange, the SMI, fell 34.4% in 2008.

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