World Gold Council: global gold ETF flows flipped positive in June, ending H1 with the highest semi-annual inflow since H1 2020

World Gold Council: global gold ETF flows flipped positive in June, ending H1 with the highest semi-annual inflow since H1 2020

The World Gold Council has reported a significant shift in global gold ETF flows, with a notable positive turn in June. This marks the first time since the first half of 2020 that gold ETFs have experienced such substantial inflows. The positive trend is attributed to various factors, including geopolitical uncertainties and a surge in demand for safe-haven assets.

According to the World Gold Council, global gold ETFs saw inflows of $1.5 billion in June, ending the first half of the year with the highest semi-annual inflow since the same period in 2020. This positive flow is a stark contrast to the outflows seen in the previous months, which were primarily driven by the strong performance of equity markets and the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report highlights that the inflows were driven by a combination of factors, including the ongoing geopolitical tensions, concerns about inflation, and the general desire for safe-haven assets. Additionally, the report notes that the positive inflows were not limited to a single region but were spread across various markets, including North America, Europe, and Asia.

The World Gold Council's report comes at a time when the global economy is still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and investors are increasingly looking for ways to diversify their portfolios. The positive gold ETF flows suggest that investors are turning to gold as a way to hedge against potential market volatility and uncertainty.

In a separate development, the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) ETF, one of the most popular gold ETFs, has seen a significant increase in assets under management (AUM) in recent months. The ETF, which tracks the price of gold, has seen a steady increase in AUM, reaching $76.3 billion in assets as of July 2025. This increase is attributed to the strong demand for gold as an investment vehicle and the growing interest in digital asset exposure among institutional investors.

The World Gold Council's report underscores the importance of gold as an investment asset and highlights the growing demand for gold ETFs as a way to gain exposure to the precious metal. As the global economy continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic, investors are increasingly looking for ways to diversify their portfolios and hedge against potential market volatility.

References:
[1] https://www.etf.com/sections/daily-etf-flows/recs-adds-612m-asset-dow-jumps-400-points
[2] https://www.marketwatch.com/story/defense-stock-surge-triggers-one-of-the-hottest-etf-launches-in-european-history-23aff504
[3] https://coindoo.com/blackrocks-bitcoin-etf-ibit-rises-to-top-3-in-revenue-rankings/