Core Bond ETFs Surge with Massive Volume in Otherwise Quiet Session

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Macro Summary

Total ETF market volume was exceptionally light, reaching just $171.62 billion, a mere 69% of the 30-day average daily volume. The subdued tone was pervasive across nearly all asset classes, with equities, digital assets, and alternatives all trading at less than 70% of their recent norms. The clear exception was a concentrated burst of activity within Fixed Income, where specific core bond funds saw extraordinary turnover, bucking the broader market’s quiet summer trading day.

Asset Class Volume 30D Avg. % of 30D Avg.
Equity $112.63B $166.35B 68%
Fixed Income $22.66B $27.48B 82%
Commodities $6.25B $5.93B 105%
Digital Asset $2.36B $4.42B 54%
Currencies $63.1M $112.1M 56%
Alternatives $397.7M $729.7M 54%
Non-Traditional $27.10B $44.83B 60%
Multi-Asset $160.6M $222.7M 72%
Total $171.62B $250.06B 69%

Equity

Equity ETFs saw a very quiet session, with total volume of $112.63 billion representing just 68% of the 30-day average. No specific equity categories experienced unusually high turnover. Activity was instead confined to a handful of specific funds trading on idiosyncratic catalysts. Notable outliers included Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF (GSWO), which traded 1,714% of its average on $61.2M, and WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Fund (EPS) at 673% of its ADV. Other funds with volume spikes included VictoryShares Free Cash Flow Growth ETF (GFLW) and Dimensional US Core Equity 1 ETF (DCOR), both trading over 500% of their typical volume.

High-Volume Categories

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
GSWO Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF 1,714% $61.2M -0.30%
EPS WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap Fund 673% $22.4M -0.32%
GFLW VictoryShares Free Cash Flow Growth ETF 615% $32.4M +0.18%
DCOR Dimensional US Core Equity 1 ETF 549% $54.2M -0.09%
CSRE Cohen & Steers Real Estate Active ETF 479% $18.9M -1.27%
LSGR Natixis Loomis Sayles Focused Growth ETF 436% $11.2M -0.74%
GSSC TR Activebeta US Small Cap Equity ETF 428% $14.3M +0.19%
KXI iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF 407% $26.2M -0.51%
SMDV ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF 354% $23.6M +0.42%
CPAI Counterpoint Quantitative Equity ETF 326% $8.5M -0.06%

Fixed Income

Fixed Income was the session’s standout, logging $22.66 billion in volume, or 82% of its 30-day average. The headline number masks a massive concentration of activity in the Taxable Core Bond category, which traded at 145% of its recent norm. This was driven by two enormous block trades in Schwab Core Bond ETF (SCCR), which saw an incredible 3,678% of its average volume on $207.7M, and Capital Group Core Bond ETF (CGCB), which traded 2,348% of its ADV on a substantial $631.4M. Other notable activity was seen in iShares iBonds Dec 2033 Term Corporate ETF (IBDY) and PIMCO Enhanced Low Duration Active ETF (LDUR), both trading over 600% above their averages.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Fixed Income: Taxable – Core 145% $2.83B +0.09%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
SCCR Schwab Core Bond ETF 3,678% $207.7M +0.16%
CGCB Capital Group Core Bond ETF 2,348% $631.4M +0.38%
EVMO Eaton Vance Mortgage Opportunities ETF 736% $23.1M +0.03%
IBDY iShares iBonds Dec 2033 Term Corporate ETF 682% $42.7M +0.02%
LDUR PIMCO Enhanced Low Duration Active ETF 624% $43.7M -0.08%
MYCH State Street My2028 Corporate Bond ETF 391% $20.4M +0.06%
JEMB Janus Henderson Emerging Markets Debt Hard Currency ETF 372% $10.6M -0.29%
TAFM AB Tax-Aware Intermediate Municipal ETF 349% $15.2M +0.14%
CORB AB Core Bond ETF 335% $8.9M +0.17%
IBDT iShares iBonds Dec 2028 Term Corporate ETF 301% $46.9M -0.02%

Commodities

Commodities ETFs traded $6.25 billion, a slightly elevated 105% of their 30-day average. The activity was not broad-based, but rather focused on a couple of specific funds. The iShares Bloomberg Roll Select Commodity Strategy ETF (CMDY) saw volume spike to 327% of its daily average. More significant in dollar terms was the SPDR Gold Minishares Trust (GLDM), which traded 201% of its norm on a hefty $564.5 million as gold prices softened.

High-Volume Categories

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
CMDY iShares Bloomberg Roll Select Commodity Strategy ETF 327% $14.8M +0.12%
GLDM SPDR Gold Minishares Trust of beneficial interest 201% $564.5M -0.41%

Digital Asset

Activity in the Digital Asset space was deeply subdued, with total volume of $2.36 billion amounting to only 54% of the 30-day average. The session was quiet across the board, with only one fund showing any notable deviation from its typical turnover. The Bitwise XRP ETF (XRP) traded 172% of its average, though this represented a minor $11.1 million in value.

High-Volume Categories

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
XRP Bitwise XRP ETF 172% $11.1M +0.18%

Currencies

Currency ETFs experienced a very quiet day, with total volume reaching just $63.1 million, or 56% of the recent 30-day average. No funds within the asset class registered trading activity significantly above their typical daily levels.

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 category saw muted trading, with volume of $397.7 million representing only 54% of its 30-day average. There were no high-volume categories or individual ticker outliers to note in a session marked by low investor engagement with the space.

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, primarily composed of leveraged, inverse, and buffered products, saw trading volume of $27.10 billion, a quiet 60% of their 30-day average. Despite the low overall volume, several leveraged funds saw notable activity. ProShares Ultra Dow30 (DDM) traded 493% of its ADV on $59.6M. Additionally, Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF – January (UJAN) and the UBS AG ETRACS Silver Shares Covered Call ETN (SLVO) also saw turnover well above their recent norms.

High-Volume Categories

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
DDM ProShares Ultra Dow30 493% $59.6M -0.67%
UJAN Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF – January 369% $10.7M -0.02%
SLVO UBS AG ETRACS Silver Shares Covered Call ETNs due April 21; 2033 ETP 2022-21.04.33 on CS NQ Slv FLS106 Pr 240% $32.5M -0.64%
OMAH VistaShares Target 15 Berkshire Select Income ETF 169% $33.2M -0.70%
QDPL Pacer Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 400 ETF 164% $8.9M -0.37%
RKLX Defiance Daily Target 2X Long RKLB ETF 163% $113.3M -1.23%
CAIQ Calamos Nasdaq Autocallable Income ETF 153% $8.6M -0.39%
PAUG Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF – August 153% $10.9M -0.09%

Multi-Asset

Multi-Asset ETFs saw a quiet session with total volume of $160.6 million, approximately 72% of the 30-day average. Trading was balanced across the category, with no individual funds experiencing unusually high volume.

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 highlighted by several extreme moves on company-specific news. Planet Green Holdings Corp. (PLAG) saw an astronomical surge, trading 37,664% of its average volume on $619.4M as its price soared +495.72%. On Holding AG (ONON) plummeted -20.15%, driving volume to 845% of its ADV on $1.31B; the stock is a constituent in 49 ETFs. Conversely, Sea Limited (SE) jumped +14.59%, with volume hitting 395% of its average on $1.93B in shares traded and is held by 113 ETFs. Other widely-held names with outsized volume included Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) and Airbnb, Inc. (ABNB), which is held by 382 different ETFs.

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

Stock Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return ETFs Holding
PLAG Planet Green Holdings Corp. 37,664% $619.4M +495.72%
ONON On Holding AG Class A 845% $1.31B -20.15% 49
SE Sea Limited Sponsored ADR Class A 395% $1.93B +14.59% 113
RIOT Riot Platforms, Inc. 387% $1.46B +3.58% 101
ACHR Archer Aviation Inc Class A 337% $591.0M +8.31% 69
P Everpure, Inc. Class A 277% $523.4M +11.77% 205
SIMO Silicon Motion Technology Corporation Sponsored ADR 234% $615.9M -3.11% 40
TSCO Tractor Supply Company 222% $716.2M +2.61% 266
ABNB Airbnb, Inc. Class A 211% $1.31B +0.27% 382
MELI MercadoLibre, Inc. 186% $1.33B +6.09% 232
NET Cloudflare Inc Class A 182% $1.74B -1.12% 251
KKR KKR & Co Inc 177% $717.0M +7.71% 261
SMCI Super Micro Computer, Inc. 163% $2.02B +8.58% 246
BX Blackstone Inc. 159% $954.3M +3.06% 273
TWLO Twilio, Inc. Class A 158% $676.8M +1.91% 240

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.