This week, nine ETFs have announced their listing, with most set to debut in early August. Notably, individual investors frequently appear among the top ten holders of these ETFs. Industry insiders observe that as the ETF market rapidly expands, individual investors’ acceptance and enthusiasm for ETFs continue to rise, making these "ETF retail tycoons" a highlight of the market.

New ETFs to Be Listed in Bulk

A wave of new ETFs is set to hit the market. On July 29, six ETFs released their listing announcements, followed by three more since July 30. The listing schedule is as follows:

• August 1: CSSC Southern CSI Robotics ETF, Everbound CSI Hong Kong Stock Connect Central SOE Dividend ETF, Huaan CSI National Aerospace Industry ETF, Bosera Hang Seng Hong Kong Stock Connect Innovative Pharma ETF, GF SSE STAR Market 100 ETF, and Guotai SSE STAR Market Innovative Pharma ETF.

• August 4: E Fund National General Aviation Industry ETF and ChinaAMC ChiNext Software ETF.

• August 5: ChinaAMC CSI 500 Free Cash Flow ETF.

The ETF market is poised for further expansion. Choice data shows that as of July 31, over 10 ETFs are currently or soon to be issued. These ETFs cover broad-based indices like the CSI 500, ChiNext 50, and CSI A500, as well as thematic indices such as STAR Market AI, Hong Kong tech, and general aviation. Additionally, over 10 ETF feeder funds are in the pipeline.

Individual Investors Enter the Market via ETFs

The ownership structure of newly issued ETFs reveals a strong presence of individual investors in the top ten holders. For example, as of July 28, individual investors held 93.57% of the E Fund National General Aviation Industry ETF’s listed shares.

Nine of the ETF’s top ten holders are individual investors, with high-net-worth clients making significant purchases. Zheng Nuoyan holds 10 million yuan worth of the ETF, Wang Huirong holds 7 million yuan, and Fu Zifen, Miao Jinhong, and Zhang Shugen each hold over 5 million yuan.

Similarly, the GF SSE STAR Market 100 ETF saw individual investors holding 98.53% of its total shares as of July 25, with nearly all top ten holders being individuals. Lai Xinyang holds 5 million yuan, while Zhong Yanqiong, Zhu Xiaoyan, and Chen Xiajin each hold over 2 million yuan.

Beyond new ETF listings, a recent Guojin Securities report noted that ETFs predominantly held by individual investors saw net inflows last week, suggesting their activity and consensus may be nearing highs since Q4 last year.

Industry experts believe that as ETF varieties grow, individual investors increasingly embrace them as key tools for asset allocation. ETF growth is not a short-term trend but an inevitable evolution of the market.