Alternatives and Commodities Drive Trading Volumes in Elevated Session

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Macro Summary

Total ETF market volume registered a robust $296.32 billion, trading at 116% of its recent 30-day average. The session was characterized by significantly heightened activity in Alternatives and Commodities, which saw turnover at 180% and 139% of their respective averages. Fixed Income, Equity, and Non-Traditional products also contributed with above-average volume, while Digital Assets and Multi-Asset funds experienced a comparatively quiet day. The broad-based increase in volume outside of core equity suggests a risk-off or tactical positioning theme dominated the day’s trading.

Asset Class Volume 30D Avg. % of 30D Avg.
Equity $201.42B $171.85B 117%
Fixed Income $29.45B $25.55B 115%
Commodities $7.93B $5.69B 139%
Digital Asset $3.58B $4.87B 73%
Currencies $95.8M $97.8M 98%
Alternatives $1.29B $717.5M 180%
Non-Traditional $52.35B $45.73B 114%
Multi-Asset $198.8M $229.5M 87%
Total $296.32B $254.73B 116%

Equity

Equity ETFs saw elevated turnover, with $201.42 billion changing hands, representing 117% of the 30-day average volume. Thematic strategies were a focal point, particularly Infrastructure (173% of ADV), Midstream & MLPs (138%), and Evolving Consumer (136%). Several international funds experienced outlier volume, led by iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF (ESGE) at a massive 807% of its average. Other notable international funds included SEI Select International Equity ETF (SEIE) at 757% and Capital Group International Core Equity ETF (CGIC) at 667% of their typical volume.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Equity: Thematic – Infrastructure 173% $1.04B -2.03%
Equity: Thematic – Midstream & MLPs 138% $174.0M -0.30%
Equity: Thematic – Evolving Consumer 136% $836.2M -0.22%
Equity: Sector – Financials 136% $4.64B -1.46%
Equity: Region – Country Specific 135% $11.72B -0.49%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
ESGE iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF 807% $237.8M -2.20%
SEIE SEI Select International Equity ETF 757% $32.6M -0.11%
GSSC TR Activebeta US Small Cap Equity ETF 697% $20.6M -1.43%
CGIC Capital Group International Core Equity ETF 667% $109.4M -0.86%
FDT First Trust Developed Markets ex-US AlphaDEX Fund 657% $60.1M -1.52%
PKW Invesco Buyback Achievers ETF 582% $19.3M -0.82%
EWG iShares MSCI Germany ETF 472% $186.5M +0.05%
FBT First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund 441% $101.4M -0.34%
KXI iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF 437% $23.6M +0.38%
SEIV SEI Enhanced U.S. Large Cap Value Factor ETF 431% $29.6M -1.21%

Fixed Income

Fixed Income ETFs posted a solid session with $29.45 billion in volume, or 115% of the recent average. The most pronounced activity was in Securitized products, which traded at an impressive 216% of their 30-day ADV. High Yield (142%) and Government Long Duration (139%) funds also saw significant interest as investors navigated credit and duration risk. Specific fund activity was led by VictoryShares Short-Term Bond ETF (USTB) at 787% of its ADV and iShares MBS ETF (MBB), which traded over $621 million at 385% of its normal pace.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Fixed Income: Taxable – Securitized 216% $822.3M -0.17%
Fixed Income: Municipal – Intermediate 146% $1.37B -0.09%
Fixed Income: Taxable – High Yield 142% $4.89B -0.18%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Government Long 139% $3.90B -1.50%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Long-Term 135% $631.6M -1.07%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
USTB VictoryShares Short-Term Bond ETF 787% $81.7M +0.03%
TUA Simplify Short Term Treasury Futures Strategy ETF 574% $47.7M +0.32%
SJNK State Street SPDR Bloomberg Short Term High Yield Bond ETF 429% $213.3M -0.23%
MBB iShares MBS ETF 385% $621.4M -0.93%
BAB Invesco Taxable Municipal Bond ETF 367% $18.3M -0.58%
HTRB Hartford Total Return Bond ETF 316% $16.8M -0.46%
FIIG First Trust Intermediate Duration Investment Grade Corporate ETF 293% $10.1M -0.46%
CGMU Capital Group Municipal Income ETF 250% $64.6M +0.04%
ANGL VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETF 238% $41.6M -0.29%
STOT State Street DoubleLine Short Duration Total Return Tactical ETF 232% $7.3M +0.02%

Commodities

Commodities were a hot spot, trading $7.93 billion for a notable 139% of average daily volume. Activity was concentrated in Precious Metals (146% of ADV) and Energy (134% of ADV). Gold funds were particularly active, with SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) trading $4.14 billion at 172% of its average. In the energy space, United States Brent Oil Fund LP (BNO) saw volume at 179% of its norm alongside a +7.79% gain.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Commodity: Focused – Precious Metals 146% $6.37B +0.46%
Commodity: Focused – Energy 134% $1.21B +4.52%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
CPER United States Copper Index Fund 196% $31.8M +0.52%
BNO United States Brent Oil Fund LP 179% $140.0M +7.79%
DBO Invesco DB Oil Fund 172% $14.8M +7.19%
GLD SPDR Gold Shares 172% $4.14B +0.65%
GLDM SPDR Gold Minishares Trust of beneficial interest 161% $428.6M +0.64%
IAUM iShares Gold Trust Micro ETF of Benef Interest 156% $115.8M +0.70%
SGOL abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF 155% $130.4M +0.70%
CERY State Street SPDR Bloomberg Enhanced Roll Yield Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF 154% $13.2M +1.92%
SIVR abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF 150% $79.8M +0.23%

Digital Asset

The Digital Asset space experienced a subdued session, with total volume reaching just $3.58 billion, or 73% of its 30-day average. No specific categories or individual tickers registered activity levels high enough to qualify as outliers, indicating a broad lack of directional conviction or catalyst-driven trading in the asset class for the day.

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.

Currencies

Currency ETFs saw a quiet day of trading, with volume of $95.8 million coming in at 98% of the 30-day average. Activity was balanced and in line with recent trends, with no specific funds or categories showing unusual turnover.

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 ETFs were the standout asset class, with volume surging to $1.29 billion, a remarkable 180% of the 30-day average. The activity was almost entirely concentrated in volatility-linked products, with both Long Volatility (195% of ADV) and Short Volatility (196% of ADV) categories seeing nearly double their usual turnover. This was exemplified by iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX), which traded $393.3 million at 226% of its typical pace.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Alternative: Volatility – Short 196% $260.0M -2.81%
Alternative: Volatility – Long 195% $953.6M +6.89%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
SVOL Simplify Volatility Premium ETF 293% $10.4M -2.03%
VXX iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN 226% $393.3M +7.33%
FFUT Fidelity Managed Futures ETF 152% $3.8M +0.68%

Non-Traditional

Non-Traditional ETFs recorded $52.35 billion in volume, representing a moderately active session at 114% of the 30-day average. The most notable activity occurred in Leveraged and Inverse Fixed Income products, which traded at 176% of their norm. Synthetic Income (127%) and broad Leveraged/Inverse Equity (125%) strategies also saw above-average interest. Outlier activity was seen in buffer ETFs like Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF (BUFF) at 413% of ADV and FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFZ) at 375%.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Non-Traditional: Leverage | Inverse – Fixed Income 176% $258.4M +0.31%
Non-Traditional: Synthetic Income – Equity 127% $2.42B -1.19%
Non-Traditional: Leverage | Inverse – Equity 125% $34.83B -1.24%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
BUFF Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF 413% $16.9M -0.55%
BUFZ FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF 375% $14.8M -0.77%
JUCY Aptus Enhanced Yield ETF 321% $9.6M -0.05%
SLVO UBS AG ETRACS Silver Shares Covered Call ETNs due April 21; 2033 ETP 2022-21.04.33 on CS NQ Slv FLS106 Pr 311% $41.2M +0.32%
LQDW iShares Investment Grade Corporate Bond BuyWrite Strategy ETF 306% $8.6M -0.45%
UGL ProShares Ultra Gold 239% $166.5M +1.31%
BUYW Main BuyWrite ETF 230% $10.0M -0.14%
ZALT Innovator U.S. Equity 10 Buffer ETF – Quarterly 223% $14.2M -0.65%
TSPY TappAlpha S&P 500 Growth & Daily Income ETF 216% $10.3M -1.43%
RYLD Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF 208% $18.8M -1.16%

Multi-Asset

Multi-Asset ETFs had a quiet trading session, with total volume of $198.8 million amounting to just 87% of the 30-day average. There were no significant category or ticker-level outliers, suggesting investors’ asset allocation decisions were being implemented through more granular single-asset-class products.

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

Single-stock activity was exceptionally high for several names, driven by earnings and other corporate news. CBIZ, Inc. (CBZ) saw astonishing volume at 2,985% of its 30-day average, trading over $826 million. T3 Defense Inc. (DFNS) and Lithia Motors, Inc. (LAD) also experienced massive turnover at 1,464% and 810% of their respective averages. Several widely-held stocks were also unusually active, including Garmin Ltd. (GRMN), held by 280 ETFs, which traded at 430% of its ADV, and GE Healthcare Technologies Inc. (GEHC), a constituent in 298 ETFs, which saw volume at 301% of its norm.

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

Stock Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return ETFs Holding
CBZ CBIZ, Inc. 2,985% $826.5M +17.00% 59
DFNS T3 Defense Inc. 1,464% $893.1M +112.75% 2
LAD Lithia Motors, Inc. 810% $705.3M +20.01% 146
FBRX Forte Biosciences Inc. 731% $537.8M -0.18% 26
AVTR Avantor, Inc. 579% $566.7M +14.69% 98
MANH Manhattan Associates, Inc. 534% $532.0M +19.92% 156
CAKE Cheesecake Factory Incorporated 467% $514.3M +13.04% 107
BMO Bank of Montreal 459% $556.8M -2.90%
WSO Watsco, Inc. 441% $590.1M -14.88% 181
GRMN Garmin Ltd. 430% $927.1M +16.70% 280
TEVA Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited Sponsored ADR 360% $582.7M +9.15% 76
MAS Masco Corporation 356% $626.4M -11.10% 235
LII Lennox International Inc. 338% $758.6M -21.00% 234
UL Unilever PLC Sponsored ADR 306% $723.5M -1.31% 37
GEHC GE Healthcare Technologies Inc. 301% $968.7M +10.67% 298

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.