A survey by ETF issuer Ark Invest Europe has upturned the long-running argument of active versus passive ETFs, revealing that most European professional investors (80%) are indifferent, looking only for the best ETF product.
Ark Invest Europe surveyed around 180 professional investors in Europe on their attitudes towards the European ETF market, finding that 80% of respondents were equally interested in both active and index ETFs as an investment opportunity.
Only one-in-ten were solely interested in active ETF investing, the same goes for indexed strategies.
From this survey, 83% were most keen to invest in AI and robotics-themed ETFs. This was followed by cybersecurity (61%) and innovation (57%). Sustainable infrastructure (41%) and sustainable food (40%) also made up the top five themes for European investors.
Rahul Bhushan, Managing Director at Ark Invest Europe, said: “This survey, despite its small sample size, challenges the often-simplistic narrative of active versus index investing.
“It’s not a binary choice. Instead, professional investors emphasise the importance of well-constructed ETF products and the quality and clarity of the investment process, irrespective of whether it is active or index.
“At Ark Invest, we offer both active and index solutions in an ETF format, and the choice of whether we go with active or an index depends on the nature of the theme.”
Ark Invest Europe is owned by US asset manager Ark Investment Management.
