Commodity Surge: Metals & Energy Drive Record ETF Activity

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Macro Summary

Total market volume for the session was $483.7B, representing a substantial 186% of the 30-day average. The trading day was defined by widespread volatility and aggressive positioning, particularly within Commodities and Digital Assets, which saw activity levels surge to 415% and 197% of their averages, respectively. While Equity markets remained heavy with $284.0B in volume, the narrative shifted toward safe havens and risk-mitigation strategies as Non-Traditional and Alternative classes saw heightened engagement amidst broader market fluctuations.

Asset Class Volume 30D Avg. % of 30D Avg.
Equity $284.0B $172.6B 165%
Fixed Income $38.5B $27.6B 140%
Commodity $85.3B $20.5B 415%
Digital Asset $10.8B $5.5B 197%
Currency $136.5M $85.8M 159%
Alternative $1.5B $828.7M 181%
Non-Traditional $63.3B $32.3B 196%
Multi-Asset $295.8M $205.4M 144%

Equity

Equity volume totaled $284.0B (165% of ADV). Heavy turnover was noted in thematic sectors like Precious Metals (317% activity) and Natural Resources (320% activity). Large-cap growth also saw a significant spike, with activity at 178% as investors navigated a -0.12% average return for the class.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Equity: Region – Asia-Pacific Ex-Japan 326% $393.1M +0.02%
Equity: Thematic – Natural Resources 320% $4.8B -0.47%
Equity: Global Large Cap – Value 320% $117.1M +0.43%
Equity: Thematic – Precious Metals 317% $11.5B -3.98%
Equity: U.S. Mid Cap – Growth 274% $715.6M -0.92%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
FIDU Fidelity MSCI Industrial Index ETF 2286% $150.4M +0.74%
FCOM Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF 2266% $162.2M +2.82%
MGC Vanguard Mega Cap ETF 1672% $365.6M -0.19%
SMLF iShares U.S. SmallCap Equity Factor ETF 1099% $197.0M -0.22%
BBCA JPMorgan BetaBuilders Canada ETF 841% $174.7M +0.42%
AIA iShares Asia 50 ETF 844% $293.5M -0.84%
BBRE JPMorgan BetaBuilders MSCI US REIT ETF 759% $23.1M +1.53%
VSS Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF 733% $272.4M +0.22%
FLJP Franklin FTSE Japan ETF 683% $156.2M +1.02%
ACWV iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF 588% $87.2M -0.14%

Fixed Income

Fixed Income volume reached $38.5B (140% of ADV). Activity was highest in Municipal Long (399%) and Bank Loans (296%), as investors adjusted to yields in a flat session for returns (-0.01%).

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Fixed Income: Municipal – Long 399% $178.6M -0.04%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Bank Loans 296% $1.3B -0.06%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Convertible 222% $276.6M -1.22%
Fixed Income: Taxable – International USD 185% $743.7M +0.16%
Fixed Income: Taxable – International 164% $80.7M +0.17%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
VCRB Vanguard Core Bond ETF 489% $172.7M +0.15%
PAAA PGIM AAA CLO ETF 482% $360.5M 0.00%
PZA Invesco National AMT-Free Municipal Bond ETF 462% $168.2M +0.24%
SPTI State Street SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Treasury ETF 425% $239.6M +0.12%
JMBS Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF 398% $190.5M +0.12%
BKLN Invesco Senior Loan ETF 387% $863.3M -0.26%
SPTS State Street SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF 315% $170.3M +0.05%
FBND Fidelity Total Bond ETF 303% $324.4M -0.24%
JAAA Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF 257% $648.1M +0.01%
ICVT iShares Convertible Bond ETF 251% $154.2M -0.75%

Commodity

Commodity volume exploded to $85.3B (415% of ADV). The Focused Industrial Metals category led all activity with a massive 674% spike, while Focused Precious Metals saw over $82B change hands. The asset class delivered a positive +0.98% return.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Commodity: Focused – Industrial Metals 674% $378.1M +2.39%
Commodity: Focused – Precious Metals 423% $82.9B -0.50%
Commodity: Focused – Energy 227% $1.5B +2.27%
Commodity: Multi-Sector – Broad Market 203% $373.6M +1.23%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
BAR GraniteShares Gold Shares 1756% $805.4M +0.25%
IAUM iShares Gold Trust Micro ETF 1424% $2.8B +0.21%
AAAU Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF 1313% $1.8B +0.13%
USO United States Oil Fund LP 297% $1.0B +2.97%
PDBC Invesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy ETF 287% $171.0M +0.84%

Digital Asset

Digital Assets saw a significant volume of $10.8B (197% of ADV). Spot Bitcoin products drove the bulk of activity (208%), though the class was hit hard by a sharp -5.86% average return.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Digital Asset: Cryptocurrency – Bitcoin 208% $8.4B -4.46%
Digital Asset: Cryptocurrency – Altcoin 193% $180.5M -6.95%
Digital Asset: Cryptocurrency – Ethereum 164% $2.1B -6.25%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
ARKB ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF 231% $260.2M -5.43%
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF 227% $5.4B -5.48%
BITB Bitwise Bitcoin ETF Trust 199% $243.0M -5.52%
FETH Fidelity Ethereum Fund ETF 192% $212.0M -6.81%
ETHE Grayscale Ethereum Staking ETF 176% $259.9M -6.63%

Currency

Currency volume was muted compared to larger asset classes but showed a high activity level relative to its average at 159% ($136.5M). Swiss Franc trust was a highlight for activity as the class returned +0.07%.

High-Volume Categories

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

Alternatives

Alternative assets saw a notable turnover of $1.5B (181% of ADV). Long Volatility continues to be the focus (173% activity) as hedging demand remains high. The asset class averaged a +0.34% return.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Alternative: Volatility – Long 173% $1.1B +1.37%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
UVIX 2x Long VIX Futures ETF 231% $302.8M +2.46%
UVXY ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF 174% $390.4M +1.43%

Non-Traditional

Non-Traditional volume was massive at $63.3B (196% of ADV), largely driven by leveraged and inverse commodity positioning which saw 395% activity. Volatility in single-stock long/short products also spiked. Average returns for the session were -1.34%.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Non-Traditional: Leverage | Inverse – Commodity 395% $13.7B +1.74%
Non-Traditional: Synthetic Income – Crypto 198% $91.8M -6.78%
Non-Traditional: Leverage | Inverse – Equity 179% $30.3B -0.22%
Non-Traditional: Leverage | Inverse – Single Stock 171% $13.9B -3.93%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
UGL ProShares Ultra Gold 1062% $3.1B +0.12%
JEPQ JPMorgan NASDAQ Equity Premium Income ETF 224% $619.3M -0.15%
TECL Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3x Shares 367% $351.3M -4.68%
TMF Direxion Daily 20+ Year Treasury Bull 3X Shares 169% $322.2M +0.17%

Multi-Asset

Multi-Asset volume was $295.8M (144% of ADV). Real asset allocation and gold-miner hybrid strategies were the primary drivers. Average returns for the class were -0.32%.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Asset Allocation: Specialty – Real Assets 262% $26.2M +0.49%
Asset Allocation: Specialty – Alternative Asset Sleeve 219% $83.4M -1.60%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

Disclaimer: This AI-assisted commentary is for informational purposes only. The “High-Volume Categories” table includes categories with over $100M in volume and activity at least 125% of their 30-day average, limited to the top 5 by activity percentage. The “High-Activity Ticker Outliers” table shows the top 10 ETFs from each asset class, sorted by the highest trading activity versus their 30-day average. All reported ETFs have AUM over $250M and an ADV greater than $2.5M.

Disclosures: This material is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. All investments, including ETFs, involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investors should consider their investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing.

This analysis was developed by the team at ETF Action. We leverage advanced AI tools to assist in the drafting and refinement of our content, based on our expert prompts, direction, and final review.