Short-Term Treasury ETFs See Volume Surge Amid Quiet Market

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Macro Summary

Total ETF market volume registered at a subdued $180.63B, just 74% of the recent 30-day average. The session was characterized by divergent activity across asset classes, with notably quiet trading in Equities contrasting sharply with elevated turnover in Commodities and Digital Assets. Fixed Income was the session’s main story, trading slightly above its average, propelled by a significant concentration of activity in short and intermediate-term government bond funds.

Asset Class Volume 30D Avg. % of 30D Avg.
Equity $107.50B $161.04B 67%
Fixed Income $28.46B $28.01B 102%
Commodities $9.48B $7.10B 134%
Digital Asset $5.32B $4.70B 113%
Currencies $69.5M $101.5M 69%
Alternatives $436.9M $722.9M 60%
Non-Traditional $29.16B $43.29B 67%
Multi-Asset $202.5M $222.5M 91%
Total $180.63B $245.18B 74%

Equity

Equity ETFs saw a very quiet day, with total volume of $107.50B representing only 67% of the 30-day average. Despite the overall lull, certain thematic and international categories showed signs of life, including Health Innovation (214% of ADV) and Eurozone equities (133%). The session was marked by extraordinary block-like activity in a pair of ESG funds; the Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (NULV) and Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (NULG) traded at an astonishing 6,293% and 4,385% of their respective norms. Other outliers included the BNY Mellon Global Infrastructure Income ETF (BKGI) at 889% of its average.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Equity: Thematic – Health Innovation 214% $306.5M +1.89%
Equity: Region – Eurozone 133% $526.3M +0.44%
Equity: Region – Asia-Pacific Ex-Japan 132% $172.5M +1.55%
Equity: Global Ex-U.S. Small | Mid Cap 128% $368.7M +0.83%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
NULV Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF 6,293% $255.5M +0.33%
NULG Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF 4,385% $239.9M +0.80%
BKGI BNY Mellon Global Infrastructure Income ETF 889% $125.3M +0.80%
WCMI First Trust WCM International Equity ETF 676% $110.8M +1.55%
GMOI GMO International Value ETF 655% $41.3M +0.31%
VSS Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF 559% $168.0M +0.43%
FNDB Schwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market ETF 542% $33.9M -0.11%
ESGU iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF 533% $303.4M +0.31%
UAE iShares MSCI UAE ETF 493% $18.9M -0.87%
EWG iShares MSCI Germany ETF 476% $161.7M +0.74%

Fixed Income

Fixed Income was a key focal point, trading $28.46B for a slightly above-average 102% of its 30-day volume. The activity was heavily concentrated in government debt, where the Taxable Government Short and Intermediate categories saw turnover spike to 360% and 320% of their norms, respectively. This theme was evident in the most active tickers, with the Schwab Short-Term US Treasury ETF (SCHO) trading 913% of its ADV and the Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF (VGIT) turning over $1.22B (674% of ADV). The day’s top outlier was the Goldman Sachs Municipal Income ETF (GMUB), which saw volume at 2,133% of its average.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Fixed Income: Taxable – Government Short 360% $2.07B +0.12%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Government Intermediate 320% $2.05B +0.35%
Fixed Income: Municipal – Long 238% $131.6M +0.08%
Fixed Income: Municipal – Single State 193% $219.5M +0.06%
Fixed Income: Municipal – Short 134% $254.0M -0.09%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
GMUB Goldman Sachs Municipal Income ETF 2,133% $85.3M +0.16%
SCHO Schwab Short-Term US Treasury ETF 913% $677.6M +0.11%
SPTS State Street SPDR Portfolio Short Term Treasury ETF 834% $270.9M +0.09%
VGIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF 674% $1.22B +0.39%
FMHI First Trust Municipal High Income ETF 582% $31.3M +0.07%
VGSH Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF 560% $967.5M +0.11%
FLRT Pacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ETF 535% $26.4M +0.06%
LMUB iShares Long-Term National Muni Bond ETF 437% $53.8M -0.06%
GVI iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF 379% $42.9M +0.26%
DFGX Dimensional International Core Fixed Income ETF 311% $23.4M +0.38%

Commodities

Commodities experienced an active session, with $9.48B in turnover representing 134% of the 30-day average. The heightened volume was driven by the Shipping Freight (203% of ADV) and Precious Metals (145% of ADV) categories. Large gold funds saw significant interest, with SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) trading $5.52B (155% of ADV) and the SPDR Gold Minishares Trust (GLDM) trading at 258% of its norm. The top outlier in the space was the Invesco DB Base Metals Fund (DBB) at 292% of its average volume.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Commodity: Specialty – Shipping Freight 203% $146.9M -0.89%
Commodity: Focused – Precious Metals 145% $8.15B +0.04%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
DBB Invesco DB Base Metals Fund 292% $12.6M +0.78%
GLDM SPDR Gold Minishares Trust of beneficial interest 258% $866.3M +0.34%
GSG iShares S&P GSCI Commodity Indexed Trust 195% $26.8M -1.81%
AAAU Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF 175% $86.1M +0.33%
COMT iShares U.S. ETF Trust iShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF 171% $12.6M -1.71%
GLD SPDR Gold Shares 155% $5.52B +0.33%

Digital Asset

Digital Asset ETFs posted an active day, with trading volume of $5.32B coming in at 113% of the recent average. Interest was highest in the Altcoin category, which saw 191% of its typical volume, followed by Ethereum-focused funds at 133%. XRP-related products were notable outliers, with the Bitwise XRP ETF (XRP) trading 280% of its norm. The asset class leader, iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), also saw above-average turnover of $2.73B, or 156% of its 30-day average.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Digital Asset: Cryptocurrency – Altcoin 191% $203.1M -0.38%
Digital Asset: Cryptocurrency – Ethereum 133% $936.2M -0.44%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
XRP Bitwise XRP ETF 280% $40.3M -2.01%
XRPZ Franklin XRP ETF 267% $11.3M -1.43%
BSOL Bitwise Solana Staking ETF 177% $50.3M +1.13%
MSBT Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust ETF 161% $16.0M +0.27%
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF 156% $2.73B +0.04%

Currencies

Currency ETFs saw a quiet session with total volume reaching just $69.5M, or 69% of the 30-day average. No specific categories stood out for their activity. The only notable fund-level action was in the Invesco CurrencyShares Swiss Franc Trust (FXF), which traded 310% of its typical daily 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
FXF Invesco CurrencyShares Swiss Franc Trust 310% $10.1M +0.26%

Alternatives

Alternatives saw a very quiet session, with volume reaching just $436.9M, or 60% of its 30-day average. No specific categories or individual tickers registered unusually high trading activity.

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 traded $29.16B, a subdued 67% of their 30-day average. The lone bright spot was the Leverage and Inverse Crypto category, which saw turnover at 166% of its norm. This was reflected in the most active tickers, including the Volatility Shares 2x Bitcoin ETF (BITX) at 213% of its average and the 2x Ether ETF (ETHU) at 165%. The day’s top outlier was the ProShares S&P 500 High Income ETF (ISPY), which traded 319% of its usual volume.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Non-Traditional: Leverage | Inverse – Crypto 166% $857.3M -0.94%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
ISPY ProShares S&P 500 High Income ETF 319% $11.4M +0.21%
GAUG FT Vest U.S. Equity Moderate Buffer ETF – August 269% $7.8M +0.13%
IGLD FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF 240% $15.7M +0.44%
WTPI WisdomTree Equity Premium Income Fund 236% $7.2M +0.17%
BMNU T-REX 2X Long BMNR Daily Target ETF 215% $106.0M +6.20%
BITX Volatility Shares 2x Bitcoin ETF 213% $292.0M +0.18%
BITU ProShares Ultra Bitcoin ETF 194% $95.7M +0.14%
KNG FT Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF 187% $23.9M -0.76%
ETHU 2x Ether ETF 165% $191.7M -1.20%
BALI iShares U.S. Large Cap Premium Income Active ETF 160% $12.0M +0.07%

Multi-Asset

Multi-Asset funds experienced a relatively balanced session, with total volume of $202.5M registering at 91% of the 30-day average. Activity was concentrated in just a couple of tickers, led by the State Street Multi-Asset Real Return ETF (RLY) at 209% of its norm and the Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Managed Futures ETF (RSST) at 170%.

High-Volume Categories

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
RLY State Street Multi-Asset Real Return ETF 209% $12.5M -0.04%
RSST Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Managed Futures ETF 170% $5.5M -0.39%

Single-Stock Volume

Single-stock activity was dominated by a massive move in Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS), which saw extraordinary volume of $4.73B, or 1,567% of its 30-day average, as its shares fell -30.52%. DKS is a component in 172 different ETFs. Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) also saw heavy trading at 312% of its ADV on a +14.05% gain, with $7.41B in turnover; the stock is held by 223 ETFs. Other widely-held names with outsized volume included Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY) at 349% of its average and NIKE, Inc. Class B (NKE), held by 300 ETFs, at 160% of its norm.

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

Stock Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return ETFs Holding
DKS Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. 1,567% $4.73B -30.52% 172
DY Dycom Industries, Inc. 349% $592.4M -6.33% 152
MRNA Moderna, Inc. 312% $7.41B +14.05% 223
SMTC Semtech Corporation 291% $868.1M +7.61% 141
BMNR BitMine Immersion Technologies Inc 206% $1.39B +2.97% 67
BURL Burlington Stores, Inc. 199% $509.6M -3.82% 188
SMR NuScale Power Corporation Class A 185% $514.8M +8.34% 68
ZM Zoom Communications, Inc. Class A 179% $527.7M -5.80% 245
MSTR Strategy Inc Class A 176% $3.51B +3.05% 177
CRCL Circle Internet Group, Inc. Class A 174% $1.57B +4.77% 137
NKE NIKE, Inc. Class B 160% $1.41B -2.98% 300
TEM Tempus AI, Inc. Class A 159% $559.3M +3.49% 87
CDE Coeur Mining, Inc. 150% $919.7M +3.33% 180

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.