New ETF Offerings Dried Up During a Volatile March

  • Only four ETFs debuted in March amid turbulent markets
  • That’s down from February, when 29 funds started trading
Photographer: Towfiqu/Moment via Getty Images
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The dramatic volatility in global markets made issuers in the almost $4 trillion exchange-traded fund industry slam the brakes this month.

As the coronavirus pandemic roiled the world, only four new ETFs started trading in March -- the slowest pace since August, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s a steep drop from the 29 funds that were launched in February, the best month since November 2017.