ETF Daily Fund Inflow Report

Date: August 28, 2025

Headline: Equity and Crypto ETFs Attract Strong Inflows Amid Risk-On Sentiment

Market Overview
Today’s fund flows reflect a risk-on tilt, with significant inflows into broad equity, technology, and alternative asset ETFs, alongside moderate demand for investment-grade bonds. The top two ETFs by inflow—SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)—highlight continued appetite for large-cap equities and growth-oriented tech stocks. While bond ETFs such as iShares’ LQD and IGIB also drew capital, their ranks were lower in the inflow hierarchy, suggesting a secondary focus on fixed income. The absence of major macroeconomic announcements or earnings seasons in recent days leaves the flows likely driven by ongoing positioning in assets with strong year-to-date (YTD) performance and perceived growth potential.

ETF Highlights
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) led inflows with $3.08 billion, reinforcing its role as a core proxy for U.S. large-cap equities. With YTD gains of 10.72% and $659.10 billion in assets under management (AUM), SPY’s inflow may indicate sustained confidence in the broad market’s resilience amid a mixed macroeconomic backdrop. Similarly, the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) attracted $598.83 million, reflecting continued interest in Nasdaq-100 growth stocks, which have surged 12.88% YTD. QQQ’s $366.61 billion AUM underscores its scale as a bellwether for technology-driven equities.

Investment-grade corporate bond ETFs iShares iBoxx USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond (LQD) and iShares 5-10 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond (IGIB) saw inflows of $450.72 million and $380.24 million, respectively. LQD, up 3.14% YTD with $29.45 billion AUM, and IGIB, up 4.28% YTD with $16.27 billion AUM, likely benefited from a search for yield in a low-interest-rate environment, though their lower rank in the inflow list suggests a secondary role in portfolio construction.

Alternative assets also drew attention, with the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) securing $314.89 million in inflows. ETHA’s YTD gain of 32.74%—the highest among the top 10—may have attracted investors seeking exposure to a rapidly appreciating asset class, despite its inherent volatility. Similarly, gold ETFs iShares Gold Trust (IAU) and SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) drew $307.92 million and $184.20 million, respectively. Both have surged over 30% YTD, pointing to renewed interest in precious metals as a hedge or inflation play, with GLD’s massive $104.45 billion AUM amplifying its systemic relevance.

The Invesco MSCI USA ETF (PBUS) and iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) rounded out the top five, with inflows of $429.51 million and $267.63 million. PBUS, up 10.85% YTD, mirrors SPY’s broad equity focus but with a slightly different benchmark, while IEF’s 4.09% YTD gain may have appealed to investors seeking intermediate-duration Treasuries. Smaller ETFs like Janus Henderson Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (JMBS) and GLD also saw inflows, though their $6.24 billion and $104.45 billion AUMs, respectively, highlight varying scales of demand.

Notable Trends
The dominance of equity and crypto ETFs contrasts with more modest bond inflows, signaling a potential rotation toward growth assets. The strong performance of both gold ETFs (IAU and GLD) and Ethereum (ETHA) suggests divergent strategies—safe-haven demand and speculative bets—coexisting in today’s flows. Meanwhile, the presence of multiple corporate bond ETFs (LQD, IGIB) and Treasury ETFs (IEF) hints at a nuanced approach to fixed income, possibly reflecting a search for yield across maturities and credit qualities.

Conclusion
Today’s flows underscore a market environment favoring equities and high-performing alternatives, with investors likely extending positions in assets that have delivered strong YTD returns. The robust inflow into SPY, QQQ, and ETHA, combined with gold’s resurgence, points to a blend of growth optimism and risk mitigation. While bond ETFs attracted capital, their lower priority in the inflow hierarchy suggests that yield-seeking demand remains secondary to equity-driven momentum. Collectively, the data may indicate a continuation of risk-on positioning, with investors prioritizing assets that balance growth potential and diversification needs.