New inflows of European ETFs in 2011 were only €17.9 billion—nearly half the amount gathered during 2010, due in part to concerns stemming from the eurozone debt crisis, according to an article in the Financial Times.

Assets of European ETFs reached a record of more than €245.5 billion in July, but fell to €226 billion by the end of the year.

Investors withdrew more than €2.5 billion from ETFs in December, partly to restructure their portfolios, leading to particularly weak flows toward the end of the year, the FT report said.

European ETF inflows primarily came from three areas in 2011: German and U.S. equities and gold. German-linked ETFs brought in €12 billion, or 57 percent of total inflows, the FT article said.

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