GLOBAL - Average daily trading volume in exchange-traded funds has risen to 161 million shares or 7.2 billion dollars at the end of February, up from 143 million shares or 6.3 billion dollars at the end of 2002.

Assets under management remained virtually unchanged for ETFs listed in Europe at 10.65 billion dollars in Europe, according to data collected by Morgan Stanley.

“There are now 284 ETFs with 368 listings on twenty-six exchanges around the world,” it added.

Europe has the largest number of products, 120, and cross-listings, 196. Europe also has the largest number of managers, 14.

ETFs are securities that track indices but have the flexibility of trading like a stock.