ETF Market Hits 144% of Average Volume Amid Aggressive Defensive Rotation

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Macro Summary

The ETF market processed a massive $362.0B in total volume today, representing 144% of its 30-day average. The session was defined by an aggressive Rotation into Safe Havens and Defensive Tacticals. Commodities and Volatility products saw explosive activity, while Equities displayed a bifurcated tone as investors exited high-growth tech in favor of Consumer Staples and value-oriented sectors. Digital Assets remained a significant focal point, maintaining elevated activity levels as Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs continued to draw substantial trading interest.

Asset Class Volume 30D Avg. % of 30D Avg.
Equity $244.8B $173.8B 141%
Fixed Income $33.0B $26.6B 124%
Commodities $28.1B $12.0B 233%
Digital Asset $9.8B $5.7B 172%
Currencies $64.7M $72.9M 89%
Alternatives $1.9B $811.5M 231%
Non-Traditional $44.2B $31.5B 140%
Multi-Asset $205.3M $193.1M 106%

Equity

Equity ETFs traded $244.8B, or 141% of ADV. Activity was heavily skewed toward Large Cap Growth ($53.9B, 164% ADV) and Consumer Staples ($2.8B, 244% ADV). While broad markets were mixed, defensive sectors like Consumer Staples (XLP: +1.36%) outperformed as high-activity outliers like NULG and TGRT saw massive volume spikes despite negative returns.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Equity: U.S. Large Cap – Growth 164% $53.9B -1.00%
Equity: Emerging Large Cap 187% $6.5B +0.43%
Equity: Sector – Energy 270% $6.1B +1.70%
Equity: Sector – Health Care 129% $4.2B +0.88%
Equity: Thematic – Precious Metals 126% $3.6B +0.58%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
NULG Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF 4103% $295.3M -1.37%
NUSC Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF 2969% $107.7M +0.27%
TGRT T. Rowe Price Growth ETF 2732% $81.1M -1.48%
MOO VanEck Agribusiness ETF 999% $68.6M +2.12%
IUSG iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF 995% $905.0M -1.11%
VLUE iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF 858% $595.4M -0.03%
EWJV iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF 805% $31.7M +0.91%
ESGD iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF 458% $138.4M +0.45%
ESGE iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF 445% $119.9M +0.38%
IXJ iShares Global Healthcare ETF 425% $76.5M +0.37%

Fixed Income

Fixed Income ETFs traded $33.0B, 124% of ADV. Treasury and Municipal segments drove activity, with Intermediate Munis ($1.2B, 134% ADV) and Corporate bonds ($5.1B, 127% ADV) showing notable strength. TAGG was the session’s most significant outlier with activity reaching 4865% of its average.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Fixed Income: Taxable – Corporate 127% $5.1B +0.16%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Core 125% $2.4B +0.11%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Short-Term 158% $1.6B +0.03%
Fixed Income: Municipal – Intermediate 134% $1.2B +0.01%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Securitized 226% $1.0B +0.12%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
TAGG T. Rowe Price QM U.S. Bond ETF 4865% $211.7M +0.21%
HYBB iShares BB Rated Corporate Bond ETF 1829% $50.7M +0.04%
INMU iShares Intermediate Muni Income Active ETF 1240% $36.7M +0.12%
EAGG iShares ESG Aware US Aggregate Bond ETF 757% $118.2M +0.16%
USIG iShares Broad USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF 561% $419.1M +0.18%
ICSH iShares Ultra Short Duration Bond Active ETF 527% $349.4M +0.03%
HYMB State Street SPDR Nuveen ICE High Yield Municipal Bond ETF 506% $131.4M +0.62%
EVMO Eaton Vance Mortgage Opportunities ETF 494% $16.0M -0.18%
GOVT iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF 452% $726.8M +0.15%
JMTG JPMorgan Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF 436% $85.3M +0.19%

Commodities

Commodity ETFs were the session’s major highlight, trading $28.1B—an exhaustive 233% of ADV. Precious Metals saw staggering volume ($25.9B, 231% ADV), led by silver ETFs like SLV (+7.14%) and SIVR (+7.10%). Energy also witnessed heavy trading in USO as volatility in oil prices intensified.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Commodity: Focused – Precious Metals 231% $25.9B +2.28%
Commodity: Focused – Energy 296% $1.7B -1.79%
Commodity: Multi-Sector – Broad Market 178% $316.0M +0.22%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
SDCI USCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund 1255% $38.6M +0.50%
USO United States Oil Fund LP 379% $1.2B -1.19%
SLV iShares Silver Trust 302% $14.2B +7.14%
DBC Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund 284% $30.7M +0.11%
SIVR abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF 271% $698.7M +7.10%
OUNZ VanEck Merk Gold ETF 252% $88.9M +0.89%
CPER United States Copper Index Fund 236% $67.9M +1.60%
GSG iShares S&P GSCI Commodity Indexed Trust 206% $28.3M -0.23%
DBA Invesco DB Agriculture Fund 159% $9.3M -0.25%
UNG United States Natural Gas Fund LP 158% $373.1M -9.58%

Digital Asset

Digital Asset ETFs processed $9.8B in volume, representing 172% of ADV. Interest was concentrated in Bitcoin ($7.1B, 171% ADV) and Ethereum ($2.5B, 175% ADV) products, with IBIT and ETHA leading the volume charge as both asset types posted strong gains for the session.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Digital Asset: Cryptocurrency – Bitcoin 171% $7.1B +3.21%
Digital Asset: Cryptocurrency – Ethereum 175% $2.5B +5.41%
Digital Asset: Cryptocurrency – Altcoin 143% $142.4M +1.94%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF 191% $4.7B +3.37%
ETH Grayscale Ethereum Staking Mini ETF 204% $459.7M +5.28%
FETH Fidelity Ethereum Fund ETF 183% $222.0M +5.20%
ETHA iShares Ethereum Trust ETF 170% $1.5B +5.29%
BITO ProShares Bitcoin ETF 160% $897.2M +3.28%
BITW Bitwise 10 Crypto Index ETF 155% $10.3M +3.44%

Currencies

Currency ETFs traded a muted $64.7M, just 89% of ADV. Activity was centered on the Yen (FXY) and Swiss Franc (FXF), which saw elevated relative activity compared to other majors.

High-Volume Categories

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
FXY Invesco Currencyshares Japanese Yen Trust 198% $20.5M +0.38%
FXF Invesco CurrencyShares Swiss Franc Trust 166% $9.2M +0.06%

Alternatives

Alternatives traded $1.9B, a massive 231% of ADV. The surge was almost entirely driven by Volatility Long products ($1.6B, 245% ADV), specifically VXX and UVXY, which saw frantic activity as equity market volatility spiked.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Alternative: Volatility – Long 245% $1.6B +2.70%
Alternative: Volatility – Short 219% $252.6M -1.14%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
VXX iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN 390% $729.0M +2.09%
UVXY ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF 172% $462.7M +3.60%

Non-Traditional

Non-Traditional ETFs saw $44.2B in volume, 140% of ADV. Leverage and Inverse products dominated, particularly in Single Stock ($10.2B, 124% ADV) and Commodity ($4.8B, 244% ADV) themes. High-activity tickers like MSTU and UCO saw extreme volume levels as traders sought aggressive exposure to crypto and energy volatility.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Non-Traditional: Leverage | Inverse – Equity 139% $24.2B +0.13%
Non-Traditional: Leverage | Inverse – Single Stock 124% $10.2B -0.22%
Non-Traditional: Leverage | Inverse – Commodity 244% $4.8B +0.43%
Non-Traditional: Synthetic Income – Equity 134% $2.0B -0.21%
Non-Traditional: Leverage | Inverse – Crypto 148% $1.7B +1.62%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
UWM ProShares Ultra Russell2000 406% $95.0M +1.26%
UCO ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil 359% $177.8M -1.64%
AGQ ProShares Ultra Silver 324% $3.1B +14.80%
USOI UBS AG ETRACS Crude Oil Covered Call ETN 320% $33.2M -0.51%
MSTU T-Rex 2X Long MSTR Daily Target ETF 319% $390.3M +7.01%
ZSL ProShares UltraShort Silver 290% $750.7M -13.96%
PJUL Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF – July 277% $11.5M -0.19%
YMAG YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund 266% $26.9M -1.45%
DFEN Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X 224% $37.8M +1.83%
MSTX Defiance Daily Target 2x Long MSTR ETF 221% $423.4M +6.80%

Multi-Asset

Multi-Asset ETFs saw balanced activity at $205.3M (106% ADV). Specialty Real Assets ($20.6M, 268% ADV) were the primary driver of anomalous volume within the class, highlighted by activity in RAAX.

High-Volume Categories

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
RAAX VanEck Real Assets ETF 488% $13.6M +0.60%

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 volume. 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.