Unit Investment Trust Assets Up 25% in June

Total assets of unit investment trusts hit $6.09 billion at the end of June, a 25% increase over the same period a year earlier, according to the Investment Company Institute.

Investors poured $795.7 million of new assets into these funds in June, the data shows. Most of the growth was fueled by equity trusts, which drew $427.9 million of fresh new assets in June, hitting $3.43 billion.

Total assets in bond trusts are diminishing because the interest-rate environment has made them less attractive.

Tax-free bond trusts captured $304 million in fresh assets for a total of $1.97 billion, down from $2.06 billion from June 1994.

Through June, taxable bond trusts held $688.6 million, down from $907.1 million in the same period last year.

The securities in a unit investment trust portfolio are never traded, which distinguishes them from mutual funds. Because the portfolios are fixed, investors often enjoy lower management fees.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER