ETF Weekly Fund Inflow Report Date: 2025-11-17 The Weekly Report's Time Range: 11.10-11.14 Headline: Growth and Defensive Bets Split Investor Flows as Tech and Gold Attract Attention

Market Overview
Weekly fund flows revealed a bifurcated investor approach, with capital splitting between growth-oriented equities and defensive assets. Large inflows into semiconductor, international equity, and gold ETFs suggest a mix of optimism for cyclical sectors and caution amid macroeconomic uncertainties. While leveraged tech exposure and emerging markets drew significant attention, short-duration Treasury and gold allocations highlighted a parallel appetite for stability. Year-to-date performance across the top inflows ranged from modest gains in blue-chip trackers to outsized returns in gold and leveraged NVDA plays, reflecting divergent risk appetites.

ETF Highlights
The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) led inflows, likely benefiting from its focus on a sector poised for long-term growth amid AI and tech-driven demand. Its 42.45% YTD gain, coupled with $35.78 billion in AUM, underscores its role as a concentrated bet on innovation cycles.

Similarly, the GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA Daily ETF (NVDL) attracted capital, aligning with NVDA’s dominance in AI infrastructure. Its 41.5% YTD return and $4.9 billion AUM highlight leveraged strategies capitalizing on short-term momentum, though volatility remains a key consideration.

International equity exposure saw traction, with the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) securing inflows. IEFA’s 26.28% YTD performance and $159.65 billion AUM reflect steady demand for developed market diversification, while IEMG’s 29.97% YTD gain and $115.83 billion AUM signal renewed interest in emerging economies’ growth potential.

Broad market allocations remained resilient, with the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) drawing inflows despite their more moderate 14.67% and 14.72% YTD gains, respectively. VOO’s $796.8 billion AUM and IVV’s $713.6 billion AUM emphasize their roles as core holdings for passive investors. The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA), up 10.88% YTD, also saw inflows, possibly reflecting sectoral rotation toward industrials and cyclical plays.

Defensive positioning was evident in the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), which surged 55.27% YTD amid $136.63 billion in AUM. Its inflows may indicate hedging against inflation or geopolitical risks, while the iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV)—up just 0.21% YTD—saw inflows, potentially signaling a flight to liquidity despite its low yield. Smaller inflows into the First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF (FV), up 2.96% YTD, suggest tactical sector-rotation strategies, though its $3.57 billion AUM limits its systemic impact.

Notable Trends
The juxtaposition of leveraged tech and gold inflows highlights a duality in investor sentiment: aggressive bets on innovation coexisted with a reach for safe-haven assets. Meanwhile, the absence of bond-heavy inflows beyond SGOV suggests caution in fixed income remains selective.

Conclusion
This week’s flows may signal a market balancing act—leveraging growth in AI and semiconductors while hedging through gold and short-duration Treasuries. The strong inflows into international and emerging market ETFs further suggest a willingness to diversify geographically, albeit with an eye on macro risks. Collectively, these movements could reflect a strategic pivot toward cyclical and defensive duality, with tech optimism and macro prudence shaping near-term positioning.