The Weekly ETF Market Monitor (Mar 16-20, 2026)

Sector ETF Flows and Performance

Sector allocations showed positive flows across several segments. Industrials led with $3.02bn in inflows, followed by Information Technology at $2.35bn and Financials at $1.72bn. Energy gathered $919.96mn, Health Care $644.66mn, and Utilities $407.14mn.

Real Estate added $181.45mn, while Consumer Discretionary and Consumer Staples recorded $93.64mn and $44.44mn respectively.

On the downside, Materials registered $1.45bn in outflows, and Communication Services declined by $444.78mn.

Performance data showed Energy posting a gain of 2.66%. Materials recorded the weakest return at -15.44%. Utilities declined by -4.49%, and Consumer Staples by -4.09%.

Geographic Equity Flows and Performance

Geographic allocations were led by US-focused ETFs with $62.94bn in inflows. Developed Markets gathered $5.44bn, while World exposures added $2.06bn. North America recorded $886.76mn, Canada $404.52mn, and the UK $277.39mn. Japan and broader Asia saw $184.63mn and $106.92mn respectively.

In terms of performance, Norway posted 2.21%, followed by ASEAN at 1.85% and Singapore at 1.81%. On the downside, Africa recorded -8.51%, Peru -7.26%, and South Africa -6.08%. Sweden declined by -5.10%, and Vietnam by -4.84%. Canada and the US returned -4.09%, while Germany posted -4.03%.

Thematic ETF Flows and Performance

Thematic inflows were led by Global Defense with $3.01bn. Global Infrastructure gathered $612.17mn, while Digital Infrastructure & Connectivity added $473.90mn. US Defense recorded $403.64mn, and Natural Resources $275.21mn. North America Energy Infrastructure saw $167.70mn, Agribusiness $155.87mn, and Nuclear Energy $119.28mn.

On the negative side, Robotics & Automation declined by $98.71mn, Alternative Energy by $78.87mn, and Strategic Metals by $43.11mn.

Performance across thematic exposures showed declines across all reported categories. Strategic Metals recorded -16.81%, Nuclear Energy -6.30%, and Asia Defense -6.08%. Cannabis & Psychedelics declined by -5.52%, Timber & Forestry by -5.10%, and Agribusiness by -4.02%.

Fixed Income ETF Flows

Within fixed income, Government Investment Grade led with $7.17bn in inflows. Municipal Investment Grade gathered $1.96bn, and Aggregate Investment Grade recorded $1.59bn. Corporate Investment Grade added $1.10bn.

Municipal Aggregate declined by $182.34mn, Corporate Aggregate by $399.69mn, and Corporate High Yield by $528.32mn. Government Aggregate recorded outflows of $1.38bn.

Commodity ETF Flows

Commodity flows showed inflows in Multi Commodities at $242.62mn and Agriculture at $231.56mn. Corn added $47.74mn.

Gold recorded the largest outflow at $3.85bn. Silver declined by $560.25mn, Crude Oil by $167.95mn, and Palladium by $75.44mn. Platinum and Copper saw outflows of $61.54mn and $36.08mn respectively.

Cryptocurrency ETF Flows

Cryptocurrency ETFs recorded inflows led by Bitcoin at $324.69mn. Solana gathered $21.09mn, and Ether recorded $20.92mn.

Top ETF Issuers by Net Inflows

1. Vanguard: $31.89bn
2. Schwab ETFs: $18.03bn
3. iShares: $15.06bn
4. VanEck: $3.47bn
5. PACER ETFs: $2.50bn
6. VictoryShares: $2.06bn
7. Alpha Architect: $1.30bn
8. Invesco: $1.12bn
9. J.P. Morgan Asset Management: $937.21mn
10. Fidelity: $893.19mn

Top Performing ETFs

1. Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF (BWET): 50.27%
2. Arm Holdings PLC ADR Hedged (ARMH): 10.81%
3. Teucrium Sugar ETF (CANE): 8.09%
4. United States Brent Oil ETF (BNO): 7.98%
5. United States Gasoline ETF (UGA): 7.76%
6. iPath Bloomberg Energy Subindex Total Return ETN (JJETF): 6.98%
7. Invesco DB Energy Fund ETF (DBE): 6.54%
8. ADRH BP p.l.c. Hedged (BPH): 6.30%
9. Matthews Korea Active ETF (MKOR): 5.49%
10. SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP): 5.42%

Most Popular ETF by Net Inflows

1. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD): $15.77bn
2. State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM): $10.32bn
3. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO): $4.65bn
4. Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI): $3.64bn
5. Vanguard Small Cap ETF (VB): $3.49bn
6. Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM): $3.37bn
7. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH): $3.13bn
8. Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO): $3.09bn
9. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (EFG): $3.06bn
10. iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM): $2.78bn

Please note this article is for information purposes only and does not in any way constitute investment advice. It is essential that you seek advice from a registered financial professional prior to making any investment decision.