Ultrashort Bond ETFs Dominate Trading in Otherwise Subdued Session

Share

Macro Summary

Total ETF market volume registered a subdued $260.31 billion, trading at just 89% of the recent 30-day average. The session was characterized by a distinct risk-off sentiment, with Equity and Commodity asset classes seeing significantly below-average turnover. In contrast, Fixed Income activity was perfectly in line with its average, though this figure masked extreme turnover in specific categories. Alternatives and Multi-Asset classes also saw pockets of elevated interest, trading above their typical daily volumes.

Asset Class Volume 30D Avg. % of 30D Avg.
Equity $170.64B $195.79B 87%
Fixed Income $27.92B $27.91B 100%
Commodities $4.09B $7.13B 57%
Digital Asset $4.79B $4.82B 99%
Currencies $90.4M $116.6M 78%
Alternatives $1.14B $967.7M 118%
Non-Traditional $51.34B $54.33B 94%
Multi-Asset $304.1M $265.9M 114%
Total $260.31B $291.33B 89%

Equity

Equity ETFs experienced a quiet day, with total volume reaching $170.64 billion, or 87% of the 30-day average. Despite the overall lull, several thematic and style categories attracted significant attention. Health Innovation (191% of ADV), Global Ex-U.S. Small | Mid Cap (190%), and Disruptive Tech (137%) were notable areas of activity. Individual fund flows were led by significant outliers, including First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund (FBT) at 825% of its average volume, First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (FTLS) at 597%, and First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund (FXH) at 556%.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Equity: Thematic – Health Innovation 191% $244.3M +1.34%
Equity: Global Ex-U.S. Small | Mid Cap 190% $530.5M +0.33%
Equity: U.S. Small Cap – Growth 142% $455.5M +0.63%
Equity: Sector – Health Care 138% $4.71B +0.39%
Equity: Thematic – Disruptive Tech 137% $6.20B +2.74%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
FBT First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund 825% $76.5M +0.30%
FTLS First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF 597% $47.2M +0.73%
FXH First Trust Health Care AlphaDEX Fund 556% $19.8M -0.48%
IWX iShares Russell Top 200 Value ETF 548% $60.5M -0.01%
IXJ iShares Global Healthcare ETF 493% $110.5M +0.62%
DFIS Dimensional International Small Cap ETF 484% $83.1M -0.44%
RODM Hartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF 476% $17.5M +0.12%
SEIE SEI Select International Equity ETF 463% $11.8M +0.62%
DXUV Dimensional US Vector Equity ETF 450% $12.7M +0.26%
RPV Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF 397% $45.2M -0.32%

Fixed Income

Fixed Income was a tale of two markets, with total volume of $27.92 billion landing exactly at 100% of its 30-day average, yet hiding pockets of intense activity. Ultrashort and Corporate bond funds were the primary drivers of turnover. Key categories showing outsized interest included International bonds (199% of ADV), Corporate bonds (162%), and Ultrashort funds (131%). The session’s most extreme volume spikes occurred here, with Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF (FLUD) trading an incredible 2,890% of its average, followed by Invesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF (VRIG) at 1,796% and First Trust Structured Credit Income Opportunities ETF (SCIO) at 1,639%.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Fixed Income: Taxable – International 199% $104.3M +0.14%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Corporate 162% $6.50B +0.05%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Preferred Stock 141% $309.4M +0.24%
Fixed Income: Taxable – Ultrashort 131% $2.04B -0.02%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
FLUD Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF 2,890% $93.2M +0.02%
VRIG Invesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF 1,796% $151.0M +0.06%
SCIO First Trust Structured Credit Income Opportunities ETF 1,639% $42.1M +0.02%
FSIG First Trust Limited Duration Investment Grade Corporate ETF 1,260% $62.7M -0.21%
CLOI VanEck CLO ETF 1,014% $69.1M +0.03%
FLRN State Street SPDR Bloomberg Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF 901% $231.3M +0.05%
ISHG iShares 1-3 Year International Treasury Bond ETF 857% $51.0M +0.32%
GSY Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF 592% $161.2M +0.04%
SPBO State Street SPDR Portfolio Corporate Bond ETF 589% $108.7M +0.15%
DFGP Dimensional Global Core Plus Fixed Income ETF 446% $41.4M +0.01%

Commodities

The Commodities space saw a very muted session, with total volume of just $4.09 billion representing only 57% of its recent daily average. The lone area of heightened interest was in Agriculture-focused funds, which collectively traded at 146% of their norm. Among individual products, USCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund (SDCI) saw turnover at 307% of its average, while abrdn Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF (GLTR) traded at 273% of its typical volume.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Commodity: Focused – Agriculture 146% $109.2M -0.67%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
SDCI USCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund 307% $21.0M +0.10%
GLTR abrdn Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF 273% $34.5M -1.22%
PDBA Invesco Agriculture Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF 236% $29.0M -0.95%
DBA Invesco DB Agriculture Fund 195% $62.5M -1.10%

Digital Asset

Digital Asset ETFs traded in line with recent trends, posting $4.79 billion in volume for 99% of the 30-day average. The session lacked a broad catalyst, with no specific categories showing unusual activity. The only notable outlier was VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL), which saw elevated interest at 175% 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
HODL VanEck Bitcoin ETF 175% $44.1M +1.19%

Currencies

Activity in Currency ETFs was subdued on the day. Total volume came in at $90.4 million, or 78% of the 30-day average. No specific categories or individual tickers registered trading volume significantly above their recent norms.

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

Alternatives saw an active session, with trading volume of $1.14 billion surpassing the 30-day average by 18%. The activity was concentrated in Absolute Return strategies, with Multi-Strategy funds trading at an exceptional 1,965% of their average and Managed Futures funds trading at 185%. On a ticker level, iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (VXX) was a notable contributor, trading at 152% of its daily norm.

High-Volume Categories

Category Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1-Day Return
Alternative: Absolute Return – Multi-Strategy 1,965% $151.3M -1.11%
Alternative: Absolute Return – Managed Futures 185% $151.6M +0.05%

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
KMLM KraneShares Mount Lucas Managed Futures Index Strategy ETF 172% $11.7M +0.57%
VXX iPath Series B S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN 152% $360.1M -4.00%

Non-Traditional

Non-Traditional ETFs saw a relatively balanced session, with total volume of $51.34 billion coming in at 94% of the 30-day average. While no broader categories stood out, several individual funds experienced significant turnover. Among the leaders were FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF (BUFZ) at 323% of its average, ProShares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF (IQQQ) at 285%, and the leveraged Tradr 2X Long WDC Daily ETF (WDCX) at 219%.

High-Volume Categories

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
BUFZ FT Vest Laddered Moderate Buffer ETF 323% $12.2M +0.27%
IQQQ ProShares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF 285% $8.6M +2.12%
BALT Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF 230% $27.0M +0.03%
WDCX Tradr 2X Long WDC Daily ETF 219% $144.2M +23.66%
ISPY ProShares S&P 500 High Income ETF 203% $9.3M +2.43%
AMZU Direxion Daily AMZN Bull 2X ETF 195% $209.7M +8.08%
OMAH VistaShares Target 15 Berkshire Select Income ETF 173% $27.5M -0.91%
TSPY TappAlpha S&P 500 Growth & Daily Income ETF 172% $8.6M +1.11%
OVL Overlay Shares Large Cap Equity ETF 160% $8.6M +3.75%
SSO ProShares Ultra S&P 500 156% $355.6M +2.99%

Multi-Asset

The Multi-Asset category posted an active day, with $304.1 million in volume representing 114% of its 30-day average. The heightened activity was driven by specific funds rather than a category-wide theme. Notable standouts included WisdomTree U.S. Efficient Core Fund (NTSX), which traded 562% of its average volume, and Amplify CEF High Income ETF (YYY) at 345% of its norm.

High-Volume Categories

No items met the inclusion criteria for this session.

High-Activity Ticker Outliers

Ticker Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return
NTSX WisdomTree U.S. Efficient Core Fund 562% $15.2M +0.97%
YYY Amplify CEF High Income ETF 345% $16.6M -0.17%
RSST Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Managed Futures ETF 336% $11.0M +1.43%

Single-Stock Volume

Single-stock activity was marked by several extreme outliers. Universe Pharmaceuticals Incorporation Class A (UPC) saw astonishing volume, trading over 26,700% of its 30-day average. Honeywell Aerospace Inc (HONA) also experienced a massive surge in interest, trading 1,641% of its norm. Several widely-held stocks were also exceptionally active, including Iridium Communications Inc. (IRDM) at 556% of ADV and held by 161 ETFs, Charter Communications, Inc. Class A (CHTR) at 401% of ADV and held by 225 ETFs, and Comcast Corporation Class A (CMCSA) at 394% of ADV and held across 401 ETFs.

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

Stock Name Activity vs ADV $ Volume 1D Return ETFs Holding
UPC Universe Pharmaceuticals Incorporation Class A 26,732% $654.6M +315.88%
HONA Honeywell Aerospace Inc 1,641% $1.31B 3
OC Owens Corning 596% $765.4M +15.24% 153
IRDM Iridium Communications Inc. 556% $651.5M +25.65% 161
CHTR Charter Communications, Inc. Class A 401% $1.74B +9.99% 225
CMCSA Comcast Corporation Class A 394% $2.97B +4.59% 401
FRSH Freshworks, Inc. Class A 352% $531.9M +3.60% 78
TECH Bio-Techne Corporation 320% $899.8M -0.17% 171
OUST Ouster, Inc. 268% $520.5M +27.57% 72
FCEL FuelCell Energy, Inc. 243% $596.8M +24.16% 37
MLM Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 219% $690.4M -4.29% 230
GLW Corning Inc 205% $5.60B +16.29% 347
VZ Verizon Communications Inc. 195% $2.11B -5.28% 424
RVMD Revolution Medicines, Inc. 194% $947.5M +6.03% 138
Q Qnity Electronics, Inc. 189% $546.8M -0.58% 227

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.