NEW YORK: Exchange-traded funds focused on municipal bonds are raking in unprecedented amounts of cash.

       The funds have seen a record US$5.8bil (RM24.10bil) of inflows in the second quarter, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, driving this year’s haul to about US$11bil (RM45.70bil). That has been a boon to the two biggest ETFs, run by BlackRock Inc and Vanguard Group, which received nearly half of the funds.

       ETFs are a small-but-growing force in the US$4 trillion (RM16.62 trillion) state and local government debt market, with about US$75bil (RM311.59bil) of assets.

       The funds are benefiting from a broader influx of demand for municipal securities this year as President Joe Biden pushes to raise taxes on the highest earners, driving investors to look for ways to shield income from taxes.

       During the summer months, the market also typically benefits from a wave of debt payments that bondholders typically seek to reinvest. Issuers are scheduled to pay US$41.5bil (RM172.41bil) in principal and interest today, adding to the cash hitting the market, according to a June 28 note by CreditSights strategists Patrick Luby and John Ceffalio.

       The muni ETF universe is still dominated by the largest investment-management companies. — Bloomberg

       The Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF, the second-biggest muni ETF with over US$13bil (RM54bil) of assets, has seen US$2.8bil (RM11.63bil) of inflows year-to-date, more than any other state and local debt ETF tracked by Bloomberg.

       And BlackRock’s iShares National Muni Bond ETF, the biggest muni ETF with US$22.7bil (RM94.31bil) of assets, has notched inflows of US$2.2bil (RM9.14bil) so far this year. — Bloomberg