Inflows to equity ETFs fell by 85% year-on-year in the first half, as investors shunned risk assets in favour of fixed income securities during a year of political and economic turmoil.

In the six months to the end of June 2016, global net new assets to equity ETFs reached $15 billion, according to research firm ETFGI. This figure was more than 85% lower than the $101 billion that flowed into equity ETFs in the same period in 2015.