3.61万亿背后的费率暗战：中国 ETF 如何改写被动投资格局（上篇）

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant growth of ETF funds in China, highlighting a historical turning point where passive equity fund sizes are set to surpass active equity funds by the end of 2024, driven by various market dynamics and investor preferences [2][5]. Group 1: Market Trends - By the end of 2024, the size of passive equity funds in China is projected to reach 3.61 trillion yuan, surpassing active equity funds at 3.46 trillion yuan, marking a significant shift in the investment landscape [2]. - The share of passive ETFs within passive equity funds has dramatically increased from 38% in 2015 to 90% in 2024, while passive open-end funds have decreased from 62% to 10% [5]. - The U.S. market has seen a similar trend, with passive funds surpassing active funds in total assets by the end of 2023, indicating a fundamental change in market structure [5]. Group 2: Fee Structure - The rapid development of domestic ETFs over the past seven years has led to a competitive environment where fund companies have reduced fees to differentiate their products [8]. - The net operating fee rate for domestic ETFs has remained stable from 2018 to 2023, with a notable decline in 2024, influenced by regulatory reforms and competitive pressures [9][10]. - Major ETFs have collectively reduced management and custody fees from 0.5% and 0.1% to 0.15% and 0.05%, contributing to the overall decrease in industry fee levels [10]. Group 3: Value Creation - The article emphasizes the importance of actual value creation in ETFs, with a focus on funds that have significantly increased their asset sizes after accounting for inflows and outflows [20]. - The top 10 value-creating ETFs in China are primarily large-scale funds tracking broad market indices, reflecting a prevailing investment strategy focused on low-cost, diversified exposure [20]. - Similar trends are observed in the U.S. market, where low-cost passive funds tracking major indices dominate the value creation rankings [24]. Group 4: Investment Risks - The article notes that ETFs focused on specific themes or sectors tend to exhibit higher volatility and risk, often leading to significant value losses for investors [28][29]. - The top 10 ETFs with the largest value losses in China are primarily thematic funds, highlighting the risks associated with narrow investment focuses [28]. - In the U.S., a majority of the funds with the highest value losses are also ETFs concentrated on specific sectors or themes, reinforcing the notion that broad market exposure generally mitigates risk [31].