ETF Trading Volumes Plummet in Subdued End-of-August Session

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Macro Summary

Total ETF market volume was exceptionally light, reaching just $134.78 billion, a mere 56% of the recent 30-day average. The subdued tone was pervasive across the market, with every major asset class trading well below its typical daily volume. This broad-based slowdown in activity suggests a quiet conclusion to the month as traders appeared to step back ahead of the long weekend.

Asset Class Volume 30D Avg. % of 30D Avg.
Equity $82.48B $157.29B 52%
Fixed Income $21.13B $28.38B 74%
Commodities $5.10B $7.28B 70%
Digital Asset $2.73B $4.58B 60%
Currencies $36.1M $97.4M 37%
Alternatives $531.5M $712.6M 75%
Non-Traditional $22.65B $41.84B 54%
Multi-Asset $117.6M $216.8M 54%
Total $134.78B $240.40B 56%

Equity

Equity ETFs saw one of the session’s sharpest drop-offs in activity, with trading volume of $82.48 billion representing only 52% of the 30-day average. Despite the overall quiet, funds focused on the Asia-Pacific ex-Japan region were a notable exception, trading at 231% of their norm. This was driven by outsized interest in specific funds, including MFS Active Value ETF (MFSV) at 918% of its average, iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF (IPAC) at 771%, and iShares Asia 50 ETF (AIA) at 505% of its typical volume.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Equity: Region – Asia-Pacific Ex-Japan 231% $310.9M -0.38%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
MFSV MFS Active Value ETF 918% $27.0M +0.29%
IPAC iShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF 771% $43.5M -0.05%
GSID Marketbeta INTL Equity ETF 738% $20.2M -0.56%
FYX First Trust Small Cap Core Alphadex Fund 548% $22.4M -0.81%
AIA iShares Asia 50 ETF 505% $287.8M -0.56%
APUE ActivePassive U.S. Equity ETF 466% $18.9M -0.37%
SAMT Strategas Macro Thematic Opportunities ETF 393% $15.6M -0.94%
FSCC Federated Hermes MDT Small Cap Core ETF 364% $9.6M -1.11%
OAKM Oakmark U.S. Large Cap ETF 325% $16.8M +0.70%
FNDA Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF 311% $61.3M -0.78%

Fixed Income

Fixed Income ETFs, while still below average, were comparatively more active, turning over $21.13 billion for 74% of their 30-day norm. Pockets of heightened activity emerged in Emerging Markets debt (173% of ADV), Short-Term Government bonds (155%), and Inflation-Protected securities (127%). Individual fund standouts included Fidelity Limited Term Bond ETF (FLTB) at 636% of its average, while Schwab US TIPS ETF (SCHP) saw significant volume of $370.7 million at 307% of its norm, and VanEck J. P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF (EMLC) traded at 217% of its usual pace.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Fixed Income: Taxable – Emerging 173% $110.7M -0.47%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Government Short 155% $1.22B -0.19%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Inflation Protected 127% $739.9M -0.38%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
FLTB Fidelity Limited Term Bond ETF 636% $18.1M -0.63%
GTO Invesco Total Return Bond ETF 332% $30.8M -0.37%
XEMD BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year Bond ETF 332% $29.7M -0.11%
SCHP Schwab US TIPS ETF 307% $370.7M -0.42%
BSCW Invesco BulletShares 2032 Corporate Bond ETF 278% $18.7M -0.49%
BSCT Invesco BulletShares 2029 Corporate Bond ETF 244% $21.8M -0.27%
PULS PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF 218% $270.2M +0.01%
EMLC VanEck J. P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF 217% $102.6M -0.76%
STPZ PIMCO 1-5 Year US TIPS Index Exchange-Traded Fund 212% $7.7M -0.36%
FTRB Federated Hermes Total Return Bond ETF 209% $8.0M -0.32%

Commodities

Commodities ETFs registered $5.10 billion in volume, or 70% of their recent average, with no single category showing unusual strength. However, several precious metals funds experienced a surge in trading. VanEck Commodity Strategy ETF (PIT) led all funds at 433% of its average. Significant activity was also seen in iShares Gold Trust Micro ETF of Benef Interest (IAUM) at 406% of its norm and abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF (PALL) at 401% of its average.

High-Volume Categories

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
PIT VanEck Commodity Strategy ETF 433% $11.8M -0.16%
IAUM iShares Gold Trust Micro ETF of Benef Interest 406% $433.2M -3.27%
PALL abrdn Physical Palladium Shares ETF 401% $71.5M +4.90%
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF 325% $274.7M -3.26%
OUNZ VanEck Merk Gold ETF 248% $60.3M -3.25%
PDBA Invesco Agriculture Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF 248% $7.8M +1.01%
PPLT abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF 243% $91.2M -1.73%
WEAT Teucrium Wheat Fund 234% $35.5M +2.81%
BAR GraniteShares Gold Shares 198% $17.8M -3.37%
IAU iShares Gold Trust 176% $783.7M -3.24%

Digital Asset

Digital Asset ETFs traded $2.73 billion, representing 60% of their 30-day average volume. The standout category was Ethereum-focused funds, which collectively traded at 148% of their recent norm. This was reflected in ticker-level activity, with Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW) trading at 227% of its average. Bitcoin funds also saw elevated interest, led by VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL) at 239% and Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC) at 230% of their typical volumes.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Digital Asset: Cryptocurrency – Ethereum 148% $1.11B -2.58%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
HODL VanEck Bitcoin ETF 239% $55.4M -3.03%
BTC Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF 230% $117.8M -3.04%
ETHW Bitwise Ethereum ETF 227% $32.1M -2.63%
ETHB iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF 208% $20.6M -2.52%
ZCSH Zcash ETF 176% $7.6M -2.74%
GBTC Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF 166% $169.3M -3.09%
ETHA iShares Ethereum Trust ETF 166% $973.5M -2.63%

Currencies

Currency ETF activity was extremely light, with just $36.1 million traded, amounting to only 37% of the 30-day average. No categories or individual tickers experienced notable volume, making for an unremarkable session in the asset class.

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

The Alternatives space saw a quiet session, with total volume of $531.5 million reaching 75% of its 30-day average. Trading was balanced across the category, with no specific strategies or funds attracting unusual investor interest.

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.

Non-Traditional

Non-Traditional ETFs recorded $22.65 billion in volume, or 54% of their recent average. The primary driver of activity was the Leveraged and Inverse Commodity category, which traded at 201% of its norm. This was heavily influenced by precious metals products, as ProShares Ultra Gold (UGL) and ProShares Ultra Silver (AGQ) saw volumes surge to 350% and 340% of their respective averages. Similarly, Direxion Daily Junior Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF (JNUG) traded at 284% of its typical pace.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Non-Traditional: Leverage | Inverse – Commodity 201% $1.63B -0.27%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
UGL ProShares Ultra Gold 350% $424.5M -6.59%
AGQ ProShares Ultra Silver 340% $555.6M -8.89%
JNUG Direxion Daily Junior Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF 284% $123.0M -9.11%
MSTY YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF 245% $51.2M -6.29%
GDXY YieldMax Gold Miners Option Income Strategy ETF 198% $15.1M -2.53%
MSTX Defiance Daily Target 2x Long MSTR ETF 188% $154.2M -14.55%
CONY YieldMax COIN Option Income Strategy ETF 185% $13.6M -5.20%
ETHU 2x Ether ETF 172% $209.9M -5.18%
TSPY TappAlpha S&P 500 Growth & Daily Income ETF 157% $8.0M -0.15%

Multi-Asset

Multi-Asset ETFs experienced a muted session, with trading volume of $117.6 million coming in at 54% of the 30-day average. Activity was broadly distributed, and no individual funds stood out with significant volume deviations.

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.

Single-Stock Volume

Despite the quiet ETF market, several single stocks saw exceptionally high trading volumes. Affirm Holdings, Inc. Class A (AFRM) was the most active, trading $1.72 billion, a stunning 686% of its 30-day average. Sunbelt Rentals Holdings Inc (SUNB) also saw a massive spike in interest, trading at 550% of its norm. Other notable movers included Rubrik, Inc. Class A (RBRK) at 311% of its average. Widely-held Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL), a constituent in 434 ETFs, traded nearly $10 billion in shares, or 193% of its typical volume.

High-Activity Single Stocks (vs 30-Day ADV)

Stock Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return ETFs Holding
AFRM Affirm Holdings, Inc. Class A 686% $1.72B -0.14% 157
SUNB Sunbelt Rentals Holdings Inc 550% $869.1M -0.45% 80
RBRK Rubrik, Inc. Class A 311% $837.4M -13.15% 127
MRVL Marvell Technology, Inc. 193% $9.83B -10.49% 434
PCG PG&E Corporation 178% $762.8M -7.94% 256
ADSK Autodesk, Inc. 154% $753.8M -4.00% 402
NOW ServiceNow, Inc. 153% $3.84B +4.37% 416
TTWO Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. 152% $785.7M +0.62% 310

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.